Willow **** (1988, Val Kilmer, Warwick Davis, Joanne Whalley, Jean Marsh) – Classic Movie Review 1614

Director Ron Howard’s lusty 1988 fantasy spectacular Willow is lovingly made, full of Industrial Light and Magic special effects and a deliciously rousing experience to watch. It was nominated for two Oscars: Best Visual Effects and Best Sound Effects Editing.

Warwick Davis plays the tiny elf Willow Ufgood and Val Kilmer stars as the master swordsman Madmartigan, who together set out on a quest to end the reign of evil queen / sorceress Bavmorda (Jean Marsh) and protect the baby Elora Danan, who is prophesied to bring about Bavmorda’s end.

Howard delivers a most engaging, entertaining adventure movie for teenagers and all young-at-heart adults, with a screenful of bright performances, knockabout action, exciting stunts and clever trick work in Dennis Muren’s and Phil Tippett’s Oscar-nominated Best Visual Effects. And now and again there is even the occasional touch of real magic too.

With his chiselled good looks, the young Kilmer makes a fine, dashing hero and babe magnet with a tough exterior who ends up being sweet. Davis is lovely too, Marsh is outstanding as the villainess, and there is essential support work from Patricia Hayes (Fin Raziel), Billy Barty (High Aldwin), Pat Roach (General Kael), Gavan O’Herlihy (Airk Thaughbaer), Kevin Pollak (Rool) and Rick Overton as Franjean.

Also in the cast are David Steinberg, Phil Fondacaro, Mark Northover, Maria Holvoe, Julie Peters, Mark Vande Brake, Dawn Downing, Tony Cox, Robert Gillibrand, Michael Cotterill, Zulema Dene, Joanna Dickens, Jennifer Guy, Ron Tarr, Sallyanne Law, Ruth Greenfield, Kate Greenfield, Kenny Baker, David Sibley and Kim Davis.

Willow is directed by Ron Howard, runs 125 minutes, is made by Imagine and Lucasfilm, is produced by MGM, is written by Bob Dolman, from a story by George Lucas, is shot by Adrian Biddle, is produced by Nigel Wooll, is scored by James Horner, with visual effects by Dennis Muren, Phil Tippett, Michael J McAlister and Christopher Evans, and production designs by Allan Cameron and Kim Gunter.

With a PG certificate, it is a bit too violent and full of scary scenes for younger children.

Kilmer’s love interest Joanne Whalley (as Sorsha) hooked her co-star for real and for a time became Joanne Whalley-Kilmer, though they later divorced. They married on 28 February 1988 and divorced on 1 February 1996, and had two children: Mercedes (born 1991) and Jack (born 1995). She had her dark brown hair dyed bright red for her perhaps best known role of Sorsha. She paired up with Kilmer again as a con artist in Kill Me Again (1989).

Bob Dolman’s screenplay is based on a story by George Lucas, whose company Lucasfilm produces Willow with Howard’s company Imagine.

Howard revealed in May 2018 that he is thinking about a Willow sequel: ‘There is a little talk of Willow. We wouldn’t call it Willow 2. I think it would focus a lot on Elora Danan, although Willow would have to be significantly involved.’ Presumably, the potential Willow sequel would focus on a grown-up Elora Danan. Warwick Davis has stated several times saying he has hopes for a sequel, so hopefully he would be back in a Willow sequel.

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