Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) released Willow on May 20, 1988. Ron Howard directed the film starring Val Kilmer, Joanne Whalley, and Warwick Davis.
‘Willow’ Plot Summary
Willow begins during a time of dread. Seers have foretold the birth of a child that will bring the downfall of the evil Queen Banmorda. When that child is born, her midwife flees with her, but dog-like creatures hunt her down. Before they kill the midwife, she puts the baby on a wooden raft which flows downriver. Willow Ufgood, a farmer and aspiring magician, finds the Daikini baby when it later washes up on the river’s bank. His wife falls for the little girl, and she decides to take care of her. However, when those same dog-like creatures show up in the Nelwyn village and ransack it, Willow reveals the baby’s presence to the town’s council.
The town’s sorcerer, High Aldwin, decides that Willow and a group of small volunteers needs to take the baby back to the crossroad of the Daikini land. There, they are to deliver her to a responsible Daikini. Unfortunately, the first person Willow meets is a caged-thief named Madmartigan, and he believes the criminal is not the right person to take the girl. However, his friend in the accompanying group convinces him to give the baby to Madmartigan. Soon a fairy named Cherlindrea tells Willow that the baby is Elora Dana and is a very special baby that he needs to protect. She tasks him to deliver the girl to the sorceress Fin Raziel so that she may raise her. Willow continues on his journey with Madmartigan and two Brownies named Franjean and Rool. Hot on their tail is Queen Bavmorda’s daughter Sorsha and the evil General Kael. They will stop at nothing to make sure the prophecy remains unfulfilled.
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Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) released Willow on May 20, 1988. Ron Howard directed the film starring Val Kilmer, Joanne Whalley, and Warwick Davis.
Good timing on this podcast – Disney+ just officially greenlit the Willow series this week, with Jon Chu to direct. I was lucky enough to see Willow on 70mm two years ago with a Q&A with Ron Howard afterward(screening was sold out – a lot of Gen X’ers love this movie).. He was pretty. cool as you may guess. Was really thrilled by the packed theater.
and oddly enough I also saw a screening of another movie you mention here – Kill Me Again with a Q&A with the director, producers, writers (pretty sparse crowd for that unfortunately). None of those involved in the Q&A were big fans of working with Kilmer, I get the sense he was always a nightmare to work with.
Really surprised Matt put this in his top 100. Guess it’s a nostalgia pick since he was so young when he saw it(and sort of funny to see him pick it cause of his dislike of Star Wars. most of the reviews of the time compared it to Star Wars for obvious reasons)