Willow (1988)

Directed by Ron Howard. Starring Warwick Davis, Val Kilmer, Joanne Whalley, Jean Marsh, Kevin Pollak, Rick Overton, Patricia Hayes, Billy Barty, Gavan O’Herlihy, Pat Roach, Julie Peters, Mark Northover, David J. Steinberg, Maria Holvöe. [PG]

Boisterous fantasy adventure about a halfling-esque Nelwyn named Willow (Davis), tasked with protecting an infant princess from an evil sorceress queen (Marsh). The story is pretty by-the-numbers high fantasy fare, and recycles many of the same plot elements and character types as Star Wars (no surprise, since the script comes from George Lucas), but that doesn’t mean the movie isn’t still a lot of fun, one of the most enjoyable sword and sorcery outings from a decade full of them. Kilmer brings his usual eccentricities to the rogue swordsman role, and even though his romance with an enemy warrior (Whalley) is rooted in silly motivations, it works because they share a recognizable spark (the actors would later marry in real life). It’s likable and good-hearted Davis, however, that carries our interest through all the action scenes and exposition dumps, the only time the actor ever got a lead role showcase when he wasn’t decked out in green attire and golden buckles. Howard provides journeyman-style direction, but exciting special effects, nifty production design, and an invigorating James Horner score all make this one a cut above the competition…until Peter Jackson came along.

79/100