Common Sense Note
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 who see this movie might want to discuss 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.
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Pam Gelman
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.
Willow 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 played by 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. The film ends with good triumphing over evil; Willow is a hero; and the baby princess is left in the loving arms of Sorsha and Madmartigan.
The adventure is easy-to-follow and full of school-aged humor. There are two forest fairies who use slapstick silly humor, speak in strange voices, and trade snappy one-liners. Willow has the Lucas stamp of fantasy with interesting-looking characters and villages, gothic castles, and most of all, magic. There are no big surprises in this movie; 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.
Rate It!
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Sexual ContentSome romantic kissing. One scene hints of Val Kilmer involved with another man's wife. |
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ViolenceSword 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. |
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LanguageDegradation of main character by his community. |
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Social Behavior-Warwick Davis's character models exemplary parenting of his own children and becomes very protective of the baby princess. |
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Drug/Alcohol/TobaccoPub scene shows folks drinking. |
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