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Review

Willow

3 out of 5 stars
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Time Out says

Producer George Lucas and director Ron Howard’s hokey 1988 Tolkien knock-off may pale in the wake of Peter Jackson’s monumental trilogy, but there’s still plenty to enjoy. Built on fantasy stereotypes – friendly little folk, evil witches, misunderstood heroes, guys on horseback with bloody great swords – it nonetheless contains enough epic action, narrative momentum and spit-and-sawdust pre-CGI special effects to hold the attention.

Revisiting the film, a few things stand out. Val Kilmer’s performance as the wisecracking Madmartigan (great name) feels like a true star turn, packed with breezy charisma, in contrast to the more ‘difficult’ persona he now inhabits. The backdrops are a triumph of the matte painter’s art – recognisably fake at times, but beautiful nonetheless. And all of this is undercut by a mile-wide streak of slushy, gushy sentiment – a tendency which mainstream action cinema has mercifully abandoned in the years since.

Release Details

  • Duration:126 mins

Cast and crew

  • Director:Ron Howard
  • Screenwriter:Bob Dolman
  • Cast:
    • Val Kilmer
    • Joanne Whalley
    • Warwick Davis
    • Jean Marsh
    • Patricia Hayes
    • Billy Barty
    • Pat Roach
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