WILLOW
A film review by Jim Freund
Copyright 1988 Jim Freund
WILLOW is the latest release from Lucasfilms, and their best since RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK.
George Lucas' first solo story since STAR WARS: A NEW HOPE is about a would-be mage halfling, Willow (Warwick Davis, who played Wicket in RETURN OF THE JEDI at age 11), who has adopted a baby found floating on a makeshift raft in the river. It becomes apparent that she is the object of an intensive search set by the evil sorceress, Queen Bavmorda (Jean Marsh), and Willow is sent out with some reluctant companions by their local mage (Billy Barty) to bring the baby to safety. On their way they encounter a rogue, Madmartigan (Val Kilmer), as well as the Faerie Queen, who informs them that their charge is the prophecied Princess who will bring their lands into better times, and adds two 9-inch-tall brownies to their companions (though these prove as much hindrance as help). Impeding their journey are hellish hunting hounds, an evil barbarian general, and the evil Queen's beautiful daughter, Sarsha (Joanne Whalley), who is a great warrior herself. Add to this formula a benevolent enchantress, a troll-beset castle, and many of the classical trappings of faerie-based sword & sorcery, and you have WILLOW.
If the plot (and characters) more than superficially resemble those in Star Wars, that's OK; those created for A NEW HOPE *were* faerie-tale archetypal characters to begin with. They seem just as home, here, if not more so. The story-line is fresh (for Lucasfilms) though, and a welcome change. What WILLOW is missing, however, is not so much the required sense of wonder, as a sense of *awe*. (Remember the first time you saw the Imperial battlecruiser pass over your head?) But the story and action build very nicely indeed, and it works. Needless to say, ILM and Sprocket Systems have again outdone themselves (except for some minor quibbles I have, which may be edited out or changed for the release prints that will go to theatres later this month when the film opens.)
With WILLOW, Ron Howard becomes the current premier director of science fantasy films, and his direction is just fine. (There was talk that Lucas had taken over direction at one point during the Directors' Guild strike last year, but I don't think that counts for too much. Anyway, the two have been close friends ever since Howard starred in Lucas' second feature, AMERICAN GRAFITTI.) The photography by Adrian Biddle is lovely--his work on ALIENS and THE PRINCESS BRIDE must have prepped him well for this effort. Bob Dolman's screenplay is witty. Outside of writing for WKRP in Cinncinati, and the recent cable series POISON, I doubt he has too many credits behind him. (The production notes don't even take the time to fill us in on him.) James Horner's soundtrack is little more than a John Williams rip, (which is a redundancy in and of itself,) and that's too bad--I expected a little more from him. Still, I suspect he was working to order. The incidental music in WILLOW's village festival sequence is written and performed by Ian Anderson and Robin Williamson, and is delightful.
Overall, I enjoyed WILLOW very much, and could see it a few times (an important criteria for Lucasfilms' productions.) Despite the reported $40 million expense of making this film, I don't think they'll have too much trouble making it back. The ranch is saved.
- Jim Freund -
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