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Willow

(1988, Rated PG, Fantasy, Starring Val Kilmer, Warwick Davis, Joanne Whalley)

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 6, age appropriate for kids over 8; suggested age 8.

  • Is it any good?

    4.0

  • Common Sense says

    Magic-filled fantasy adventure for tweens and up.

Why We Rated This on for Ages 8 and Up

The good stuff

  • Messages:

    -Warwick Davis's character models exemplary parenting of his own children and becomes very protective of the baby princess.
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence & scariness:

    Sword fighting, hand-to-hand combat, punching. One scene shows innocent villagers running in fear from soldiers. A wildebeest attacks the midwife who saved the princess baby.

  • Sexy stuff:

    Some romantic kissing. One scene hints of Val Kilmer involved with another man's wife.

  • Language:

    Degradation of main character by his community.

  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Pub scene shows folks drinking.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Willow

Parents need to know that this film starts with the evil queen searching for a baby and planning to kill it. There is a scene where innocent villagers are frightened by soldiers invading their village, looking for the princess baby. It shows a battle scene with sword fighting, men dying, and blood on bodies. There is also some romantic kissing between Val Kilmer and Joanne Whalley's characters. Despite all this, the film is beautifully filmed and shows important moral themes related to good over evil.

Read our full review by Pam Gelman

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about the moral dilemma faced by Willow to deliver the baby princess to safety and yet leaving his own family behind in potential danger. For children who have outgrown Disney adventures and animation, WILLOW is a great entrée into the fantasy genre, brought to the big screen by director Ron Howard and writer George Lucas.
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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Parent Reviewer
    maxine resnck
    Lives in New York
    I rate this title on for age 8 and give it 4.0

    Scarier than I thought.

    Willow. The movie Willow starts out nice, but it gets scarier and scarier. But if you like action, you should watch the movie, Willow.

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate
  2. Parent Reviewer
    ChristianKight
    Lives in Minnesota
    I rate this title iffy for age 8 and give it 5.0

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate
  3. Adult Reviewer
    killda
    Lives in California
    I rate this title iffy for age 11 and give it 5.0

    A good movie

    It was a good movie

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate
  4. Adult Reviewer
    Rachel D
    I rate this title on for age 8 and give it 5.0

    Fantasy for all

    This is one classic kids fantasy I grew up with and absolutely adore. Fun, funny and downright enjoyable. Great acting by Val Kilmer.

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate

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