Willow
WILLOW (PG)
D: Ron Howard
MGM/Lucasfilm/Imagine (Nigel Wooll)
US 1988
126 mins
Fantasy/Adventure
W: Bob Dolman [story by George Lucas]
DP: Adrian Biddle
Ed: Daniel Hanley & Michael Hill
Mus: James Horner
PD: Allan Cameron
Warwick Davies (Willow Ufgood), Val Kilmer (Madmartigan),
Joanne Whalley-Kilmer (Sorsha), Jean Marsh (Queen Bavmorda), Patricia Hayes (Fin Raziel), Billy Barty (The High Aldwin)
George Lucas recycles his Star Wars plot for this Lord Of
The Rings-meets-The Wizard Of Oz interpretation.
A newborn baby is the prophecy which spells the end for
the reign of a wicked witch and a peace-loving dwarf must transport the innocent child to a good witch so evil can be vanquished once and for all. Along the way, Willow Usgood (the dwarf)
enlists the help of a roguish warrior and a pair of pocket-sized sprites to aid his journey.
The theme borrows heavily from other, better fantasy
stories and doesn't really do anything different to improve upon them. Warwick Davies, whose tiny size ensures he's always had work as tiny characters does a good job in the lead and Val
Kilmer makes a good scoundrel. Many of the other performances are irritating or excessively hammy. Despite featuring some good visual effects, the film merely lacks the magic it takes to make
it truly memorable.
Perhaps it came too late for George Lucas (or too early
for director Ron Howard).
6/10
