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Willow

  • 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

This review of Willow was written by Pam Gelman

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.

Families Can Talk About

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  • 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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More on Willow

What’s the Story?

Willow (Warwick Davis) is a Nelwyn, a dwarf-like person, who is a farmer and aspiring sorcerer. His children find a baby, a special princess who is the chosen one to bring down the reign of terror by the magical evil queen. The Nelwyn community is frightened by this baby, a Daikini or big person, and commands Willow to return the baby to its kind. The first Nelwyn met is a hooligan named Madmartigan (Val Kilmer). Willow has bonded with the baby and does not trust Madmaritgan. These two pair up to save the baby, meeting forest fairies and a kind sorceress along the way. Madmartigan receives a dose of fairy powder causing him to fall in love with Sorsha, daughter to the evil queen. The powder wears off, but not the affection. In the end, good triumphs over evil; Willow is a hero; and the baby princess is left in the loving arms of Sorsha and Madmartigan.
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Is It Any Good?

For today's Harry Potter generation, a viewing of WILLOW will surely be of interest. There's no more violence in this film than a child sees in Harry Potter or Star Wars, in fact, probably less. Directed by Ron Howard and written by George Lucas, it's a great film for kids interested in fantasy.

The adventure is easy-to-follow and full of school-aged humor, and two forest fairies provide comedy with their slapstick, strange voices, and snappy one-liners. Lucas' fantasy has interesting-looking characters and villages, gothic castles, and most of all, magic. There are no big surprises; we know who is good and who is evil. Though parents may want to fast forward through the fight scenes, Willow is an excellent choice to give young kids a taste of fantasy.

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Movie Details

Studio: Twentieth Century Fox, Director: Ron Howard
Run time: 126 minutes
Theatrical release: 05/20/1988, DVD release: 11/27/2001
MPAA Rating: PG for action violence

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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
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  2. Parent Reviewer
    ChristianKight
    Lives in Minnesota
    I rate this title pause 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
    Rachel D
    I rate this title on for age 0 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
  4. Adult Reviewer
    killda
    Lives in California
    I rate this title pause for age 0 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

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