Ahead of the Willow series premiering on Disney+, we revisit the classic film to see whether it holds up all these years later.
There is something uniquely strange, for better and worse, about revisiting the 1988 fantasy adventure film Willow. It is one of those films that has an air of nostalgia around it for its effects and designs. They capture a different era that hadn’t yet fully taken the plunge into CGI spectacle. However, even as Willow is being reimagined as a new TV series, there is still no dancing around some of the original film's weaker elements.
COLLIDER VIDEO OF THE DAY Drawing from a story by George Lucas and directed by Ron Howard, Willow stars Davis as the titular Willow Ufgood. Living in a magical world, he is more than a bit ornery. When we first meet Willow he is an ordinary farmer who aspires to be a sorcerer. Unbeknownst to him, he is about to be thrust into a prophecy that will send him on a grand adventure.
Considering Willow in relation to a film released one year earlier – The Princess Bride – is an interesting exercise. The Princess Bride remains joyous in all the ways that Willow does not. Interestingly enough, both films were shot by the same cinematographer, the late Adrian Biddle, and pack a similar visual fantasy aesthetic. Alas, Willow ends up feeling more like an insufficient imitation as opposed to a film that can stand on its own.
Even when it doesn’t always hold up and you can see the cracks in how it is brought to life, Willow remains a charming artifact. The score by James Horner also does its darndest to drive the story forward, managing to be both somber in some moments and epic in others. When the music rises up, you may even get swept up in the adventure.
This all may sound rather harsh for a frequently sweet fantasy film. The problem still remains that it repeatedly shoots itself in the foot by saddling the whimsy and wonder of the experience with a far too meandering story. The craft and characters are all there, though they are in service of a narrative that just isn’t up to snuff. Watching it decades later just hammers home how much of an achievement The Princess Bride remains and how Willow just can’t escape the long shadow it casts.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Willow Star Reveals Similarities To Her Falcon & Winter Soldier CharacterExclusive: Willow star Erin Kellyman compares Jade to her TheFalconAndTheWinterSoldier character, Karli: Karli 'feels a very strong responsibility to be the voice for millions and millions of people, whereas Jade really only cares about one person.' 😯
Read more »
Erin Kellyman & Amar Chadha-Patel Interview: WillowWe chat with Willow stars Erin Kellyman & Amar Chadha-Patel about the dynamic between Jade and Kit, and how their characters mirror one another's journeys:
Read more »
How Willow Stars Incorporate Sorsha & Madmartigan Into Their PerformancesExclusive: Willow stars Dempsey Bryk & Ruby Cruz share how they incorporate Sorsha & Madmartigan Easter eggs into their performances: 'What was interesting is what we incorporate and what we reject as their kids.' 👀
Read more »
Jon Kasdan Interview: WillowWe chat with Willow EP JonKasdan about how he expanded on the world of the film, and what it takes to balance nostalgia for lifelong fans with accessibility for new audiences:
Read more »
'Willow' fans ask for sequel, get whole series premiering this weekThe series is set 20 years after the events of the film and follows the storyline of Willow and the baby, Elora Danan.
Read more »
Willow EP Explains How The Show Expands On General KaelExclusive: Willow EP Jon Kasdan breaks down how he will expand on the villains of the film through Kael & the Bone Reapers: 'Wouldn't it be interesting to just imagine for a second that the story was from Kael's point of view?' 😦
Read more »