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Willow (Special Edition) |  | Director: Ron Howard
Actors: Val Kilmer, Joanne Whalley, Warwick Davis, Jean Marsh, Patricia Hayes
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Category: DVD
List Price: $14.98
Buy New: $10.49
as of 9/6/2010 13:07 CDT details
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Seller: Amazon.com
Rating:  378 reviews
Sales Rank: 1075
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD, Special Edition, Subtitled, THX, Widescreen, NTSC
Languages: Spanish (Subtitled), English (Original Language)
Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Region: 1
Discs: 1
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Running Time: 126 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.4
Dimensions (in): 7.4 x 5.3 x 0.6
MPN: FOXD2002617D
UPC: 002454302617
EAN: 0002454302617
ASIN: B00003CXDD
Theatrical Release Date: 1988
Release Date: November 27, 2001
Shipping: Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
In the dungeons of the castle of the evil queen-sorceress bavmorda a prisoner gives birth to a child who according to an ancient prophecy will put an end to the reign of the queen. A midwife saves the child from the wrath of bavmorda but is forced to throw her cradle in a river. Studio: Tcfhe Release Date: 09/05/2006 Starring: Val Kilmer Warwick Davis Run time: 126 minutes Rating: Pg Director: Ron Howard
Amazon.com
This epic Lucasfilm fantasy serves up enough magical adventure to satisfy fans of the genre, though it treads familiar territory. With abundant parallels to Star Wars, the story (by George Lucas) follows the exploits of the little farmer Willow (Warwick Davis), an aspiring sorcerer appointed to deliver an infant princess from the evil queen (Jean Marsh) to whom the child is a crucial threat. Val Kilmer plays the warrior who joins Willow's campaign with the evil queen's daughter (Joanne Whalley, who later married Kilmer). Impressive production values, stunning locations (in England, Wales, and New Zealand) and dazzling special effects energize the routine fantasy plot, which alternates between rousing action and cute sentiment while failing to engage the viewer's emotions. A parental warning is appropriate: director Ron Howard has a light touch aimed at younger viewers, but doesn't shy away from grisly swordplay and at least one monster (a wicked two-headed dragon) that could induce nightmares. --Jeff Shannon
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 25
 ripped off August 30, 2010
Ali
Illegally sold outside of USA or Canada, unable to be played in Australia. Complete waste of money.
 Awesome fantasy story August 29, 2010
Abdul Fazrul (Malaysia)
I have been waiting for bluray of this movie and I just lost my patience and went ahead and bought the DVD. One of my favourite movie when I was a kid.
Buy it, you'll want to watch it again and again... August 27, 2010
C. Killough (Truckin' USA)
I can't believe anybody CAN'T like this movie! It's one of my top ten favorites! And I think this is Val Kilmer's best... next to The Doors.
 3 1/2-4 stars for this still charming flick July 26, 2010
Robert Badgley (London,Ontario,Canada)
The 80s saw a renaissance in the medieval genre of films with such product as Ladyhawke,Name of the Rose,etc.George Lucas decided also to enter that area with his presentation of Willow(released May/88).Lucas(with one of director Ron Howard's earlier efforts)tries to present an epic sweep to his film from photography to music and generally succeeds in both.The film unfortunately has a tendency to lag in its plot development at times but its overall charm and the competency of its' actors helps it overcome the hurdles in the end.
The story involves a marked baby who is destined to rule the land,but the current Queen Bavmorda(Jean Marsh) has different thoughts on that.She tells her guards,led by her daughter Sorsha(Joanne Whalley),to seek out and bring the child to her.On her command they comb the castle dungeons and out into the hinterland for the baby.However the baby has been smuggled away and nows drifts down a river and onto the banks near a town inhabited by small Nelwyns.A farmer and wanna be sorcerer by the name of Willam(Willow)Ufgood finds the child and before he knows it is sent off with a band of his fellow villagers to return the baby to the Daikini("normal" sized humans)from whence it came.
After a few harrowing incidents on the way they finally arrive at a crossroads between their land and the Daikinis.Willow tries to give the baby to the passing Daikini soldiers but to no avail.The only Daikini willing to take and look after the child is one Madmartigan(Val Kilmer),who is trapped and hanging in a crows cage at the crossroads.After much deliberation Willow releases him and hands the baby over,extracting his word he will look after the child.
While walking back home with second thoughts who should be seen being carried by a hawk is the baby.The hawk is being piloted by two small Brownies Rool and Franjean(Kevin Pollack and Rick Overton).Willow follows the hawk and arrives at the Brownie encampment only to come face to face with Cherlindrea,the Queen of the Fairies.She tells Willow he has been chosen by Elora Danan(the baby)to protect her and help fulfill the prophecy by living up to his potential as a sorcerer.He must take her and a wand she gives him,to an island where the sorceress Fin Raziel resides.As aides to Willow Rool and Franjean tag along on his journey.
They come to a tavern patronized by Draikini and quickly become persona non grata.By chance they run into Madmartigan again,who is in a pickle with a local female and her jealous husband.After a fracas involving the husband,Madmartigan and the Queens troops,Willow,Elora and Madmartigan escape and head for the island of Raziel.When they find the island Madmartigan again parts company with Willow and his charge,and Willow sails over to the tiny island.At first it appears there is no one there but a talking possum appears to tell Willow she is Raziel who has been transformed to that shape by the wicked Queen.Willow tries to transform her back but fails not once,but on two more separate occasions.Back on shore the Queens troops led by Sorsha appear with Madmartigan in hand and capture Willow and the baby also.
At an encampment Willow,Madmartigan and the baby,with the help of the Brownies,escape.They flee to a castle called Tir Asleen,where they had hoped to find help but everything has been turned to stone.From here they defend themselves from the evil Queens troops who descend upon the castle in droves.During the melee Willow accidentally transforms a Troll into a huge two headed creature which breathes fire,which now gives them two different enemies to battle.A pitched battle ensues but it is for naught as one of the Queens top guards steals the baby and returns it to the Queens castle.However when the dust settles Sorsha has fallen in love with Madmartigan and they now all vow to rescue the baby.
With the help of an old friends army Madmartigan,Willow,the Brownies and Raziel confront Queen Bavmorda outside her castle gates.In response she turns them all,but Willow,into pigs.Willow now finally is able to transform Raziel into her human self and with her help and a clever ruse,they are able to storm the gates and fight their way inside to the castle keep where Bavmorda is ready to destroy Elora on an altar.Raziel fights a pitched battle with Bavmorda while Willow tries to sneak the baby out.Bavmorda catches Willow who smartly switches the baby and makes it look like he just made it disappear into thin air.As she shrieks her spell backfires and she is killed and disappears.
The movie ends with Willow departing his now good friends Sorsha and Madmartigan and returning back home and reuniting with his friends in the village and his family.
As I mentioned the movie has an epic look and feel to it but it also resembles a cross between The Lord of the Rings and Lucas's own Star Wars.I also mentioned the movie has a tendency to lag and this occurs more often than not between the action sequences when the plot is being advanced,usually when they are on their way from one point to the next contemplating the validity of their role and the journey itself.Other than that it moves along fairly well and Val Kilmer as Madmartigan gives one of the better performances of his career.Kevin Pollack and Rick Overton are the comic relief Brownies while wonderful Billy Barty appears as the village Gandolf-like wizard Hi-Aldwin.
Technically the movie has been transferred beautifully and has never looked better and is in a nice 2:35:1 a/r.There is a commentary track,two featurettes,one new one and one from the 80s,the theatrical trailer and a stills gallery.
All in all I recommend this still charming film.Not quite four stars but better than average,this film takes you for an enjoyable two hour+ adventure courtesy of George Lucas and company.
Original, hilarious, touching, and forever re-watchable! July 14, 2010
Margaret Fiore (N. Granby, CT USA)
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
One hero of this drama is a dwarf, another is an old lady, the romance at its heart is between a bad guy and bad girl, who both end up on the good guy side, and comic relief is provided by a couple of pint-sized, rascally brownies .... and the Amazon review calls this a "routine fantasy plot"???
This wonderful movie (which does, indeed, engage the viewer's emotions!) is wryly humorous, and filled with action and pathos. There are too many great scenes to mention them all, but the drunken brownies arguing about who is the leader is unforgettable, as are Willow's desperate flubs at transforming Fin Razeal, their "good witch" back into her own form, and Fin Razeal's (Patricia Hayes) tart comments on his lack of skill. There is the hilarious spectacle of Val Kilmer poorly disguised as a girl, turning down a barbarian's advances ("Wanna breed?" "Um, no!"). There is also the excellent climactic match between Fin Razeal (Patricia Hayes) and the evil sorceror queen BavMorda (Jean Marsh), which degrades from a classic sorceror's battle into an out and out cat fight between these two excellent actresses... I could go on and on. Sorry - I guess I have...
This movie is still gathering new fans, and continuing to satisfy its old fans, year after year. I just watched it one more time...
Showing reviews 1-5 of 25
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