"Disappointing box office numbers" and, "poor reviews," have absolutely NO bearing upon either my childhood experience or memories of Willow, Legend, Krull, Time Bandits, Labyrinth, or The Dark Crystal. All of which helped to shape my early adolescent life during the mid 80's. (And I would bet any amount of money are collectively responsible for much of the inspiration of most of today's generation of film-makers.)
I looked to see if someone else had mentioned this already, because it's so obvious now. But yeah... It's so ironic that "Labyrinth," and "Dark Crystal," failed in the theatres so hard as they did. Because if you ask moviegoers and many adult-nerds about those two movies today, they'll almost unanimously proclaim those two films as two of the greatest fantasy-films ever made! I'm one of them. Both movies were utterly brilliant for their time. I feel like if they came out for the first time nowadays, they would have enjoyed FAR more resounding success at the box office. Because it feels like movie fans nowadays CRAVE fantasy films (probably thanks in no small part to "Lord of the Rings," which started that trend)!
Warwick Davis is an amazing actor. You never question that he’s a married man with children in this role. Everyone is stunned to find out he was still in his teens when he made this film. Legendary.
My big brother bought, Willow on VHS in the summer of 1989, that summer my brothers, cousins, friends and I watched it every day, no lie. I was enamored and enthralled by this story, it's really the first and only film of it's kind, it was an amazingly unique film especially for the time, I am eternally grateful for the existence of, I wouldn't be who I am without "Willow". I did read the book as well. Edit my brother died unexpectedly aged 47 last year and a few days, makes this film more than special to me. Love you Dave hope you found peace.
@@mabdewn 10. It farts loudly 9. It shits liquid sandcastles 8. It's weapon is acidic diarrhea 7. It killed 13 people 6. It smells like pizza 5. It tastes like bacon 4. Chicks dig it 3. It has a great sense of humor 2. It's a big GODZILLA fan 1. It eats fingers
The camaraderie and chemistry between Warwick Davis and Val Kilmer is one of the highlights of the film, whether they are bickering or bro-ing out. Their real life friendship is pretty great, too. “Blackroot? I’m the father of two children, and you never, ever give a baby blackroot.” - Willow “Well my mother raised us on it. It’s good for you! It put’s hair on your chest, right, Sticks?” - Madmartigan “Her name is not Sticks! She’s Elora Dannen, the future empress of Tir Asleen and the last thing she’s gonna want is a hairy chest!” - Willow
Certainly beginning with LOTR fantasy has soared in quality and become far more mature and expansive and blown away anything produced in the 80s on various levels. But 80s fantasy maintains its charm due to all the in-camera work that doesn't date, the genre being new on film and people willing to try out many wacky ideas, and its sort of 'small-scale' feel that is unlike the feel of the huge fantasy epics. Also, the kid-friendly attitude means a lot of people see these films when they are kids, and anything someone sees when they are a kid will always feel special. Even if it really isn't ;)
Imagine a day and age when you could watch a movie that had a clearcut beginning, middle and *gasp* end... No pandering for a sequel, no cliffhangers, no bull.
@@korie4198 exactly. Where Hollywood misses the point is that back in the day a movie earned a sequel by deserving one. People wanted one. Now that announce a sequel before the first one it's even out. They jump the gun. Each film should stand alone on its own. No "..." at the end
You speak craziness sir. Willow X episode 9 the directors cut extra features edition (the one where Madmartigan shoots first) would have been amazing...but alas.
Man, this brings me back. I worked with Val Kilmer at The Colorado Shakespeare Festival of 1988. He did Hamlet. I played the Ghost, his dead dad. We got to be good friends, and I met Joanne not long after that. The movie came out while we were rehearsing. I liked it alot; had always been a fantasy addict, packing my JRR Tolkien Trilogy wherever I went, ha. Val was a very generous actor and human being, very kind. He went on to the heights of stardom, and I stayed in the belly of New York City doing weird theatre.
"Willow"s music is so beautiful, so memorable, that I'm amazed it's not mentioned more often. It was the first movie soundtrack I ever collected on CD, because from the time I first watched the film, at the age of 9, I loved every note of it. Most notably the "title" soundtrack, which to this day haunts my dreams of nostalgia.
Lady Hawk. Dragonslayer. Krull. Legend. Labyrinth. The Dark Crystal. Special effects technology from 30 years ago! Attention to the smallest Detail makes these movies Timeless Classics. Thanks again for flashback.
Yeah, I love how he referred to that as an unsuccessful trend. In terms of profit maybe? All of those movies were great. I still keep telling people to watch return to oz too.
Willow is the very first movie I remember watching and falling in love with as a child. It still has a huge piece of my heart. I've introduced it to my 3 sons throught the years and they have equally fallen in love with the story, music, characters, and beauty. I wish they made movies like this nowadays. Thank you Minty for bringing a reminiscent smile to this girls face.
I am 18 and saw this movie at 4 and it was not till now that this gem was refreshed in my mind for the worst. I now remember the hairy dog rats, the hairy ape men, and the terrific werepig transformation. Other than that the movie was awesome and now I understand my film and novel tastes after see this again. It really shaped my personality when it came to hobbies. Loved it.
Fact #11, the Time Bandits appear in the movie. In the background of the film, there's a band playing at the festival, those band members were most of the Time Bandits.
This movie was an enormous part of my childhood, I remember watching it daily. I'll even use some of the silly quotes still to this day in every day life... Sound bits from the movie linger in my memory and probably will until I die. Raziel shouting "Hurry hurry" in that high pitch voice. The music from the party in Willow's village in the beginning of the movie. The sounds from the fight scene between Bavmorda and Raziel(which is pretty hilarious actually). Madmartigan was that guy I wanted to be like one day, and Willow's heart was so inspiring, the two meshed so well with one another. And of course the Brownies just always being on point to make me laugh hysterically. And yes, Sorsha being my absolute first movie crush. What a phenomenal movie this is. I can't wait to introduce it to my 8 month old boy when he's a older.
Kep2k I’m a huge fan of Willow myself. I’ve watched this movie so many times I know every word and still to this day. It’s just a fun movie to watch and remember. I hope your son will enjoy the movie as much as you do.
I LOVE Willow. It's sad that it didn't get the recognition it deserves. Start making more good, unique fantasy adventure movies again! Since LOTR we haven't had much at all.
Wheels of time is not bad, but definitely not as good as lord of the rings. At least the show just rushes the story a bit. Otherwise it's worth a watch. :)
If any of you have Netfilix and want to Joanne Whalley again, check out season 3 of Daredevil where she play a nun and is an integral of the plot of Daredevil S3.
Hate to be a dissenting voice here, but I couldn't get through the first one. I was extremely disappointed with the choices Clairmont and Lucas made. To my mind, it felt like they immediately did away with everything I loved from the movie, and wrote a story with no relation to its world and characters.
Well, Warwick Davis also met his future wife Samantha on this film as well (although they wouldn't start dating until they worked together again on Jim Henson's LABYRINTH where they both played goblins).
@@tonyuk6396 You must be trolling because I refuse to believe that you are actually that ignorant and hateful as you make you seem to be with that comment.
@@tonyuk6396 I generally don't use swear words but for you I'll make an exception, F**K YOU. What other eugenic based opinions do you have? Never mind I don't need to hear any more filth from people like you.
@@corvus1253 Yeah! producers should be happy with losing millions for the sake of the few people who saw and liked a movie! why don't you take out a loan and go fund a movie yourself?
I loved Willow. I saw it only a couple times. I rented it the first time in the early 1990s. I tried for all those years to talk my wife into seeing it. I think I was close. But she passed away Jan 3 2019...a few weeks ago after 31 years of true love. My soulmate missed out on Willow. And the new Top Gun. I love you sweetheart. And all those movie 'failures' at the end were all good movies.
This movie will always have a place in my heart. I watched it countless times growing up. it's been so many years since I've seen it but I could probably still recite the entire script along with the actors.
General Kael is probably up there as one of the coolest looking villains, IMO. Bavmora waz an awesome villain, and I think we need more like her! The huge fight between the two elderly sorceresses was fantastic, as well! My personal favorite exchange in the movie: Bavmora: Put the baby on the table, peck. Willow: ...No. Bavmora: No? Willow: YOU STUPID HAG!! I don't know why, there's so many great lines in the movie, but that exchange always cracks me up.
The special effects were groundbreaking at the time, especially the CGI morphing with the good witch transforming seemlessly into various animals before being restored to her old wrinkled human self (although she wished to be young and beautiful, in her own words, lol). The magical battle between her and Bavmorda was likewise awesome and is definitely the precursor to the spellcasting fight between Gandalf and Saruman years later in the Lord of the Rings.
I know this post is old, but your quote made me spit my menudo a little bit! My dad would quote that "hag" line to my mom and she'd get SO pissed!!😳🤣 Definitely the best movie of my childhood.... the bones have spoken 💙
Sorsha definitely gave me a "hottie in armor" fetish, as for lydia deets, Winona was hot there, but way hotter in brahm stokers dracula, specifically the scene where she's kneeling on the bed in the very thin nightgown with the light shining throughfrom the other side of her. that's a hot body right there
I’m almost 40 years old so I’ve seen a lot of movies-and I must say that Madmartigan vs. Kael is one of my favorite fights of all time. The MUSIC in the end while Mads uses his quick genius tactics to defeat Kael is just so satisfying. I cannot imagine anyone else but Val Kilmer in the role, he brings a unique kind of ownership and charisma to every character he plays. Willow is an amazing film because of several phenomenal high-quality talents involved. Not just George Lucas, Ron Howard, James Horner and all the actors, but also all the special effects people, the makeup artists, the costume designers-everyone! I truly feel without any one of those people it could have been just another mediocre kiddie fantasy film. But no, Willow was a labor of love that truly stands the tests of time because all the perfect people came together at the right point in time to create this masterpiece. Honestly, I’ve loved this movie since I first saw it in 1989 and it will always be one of my favorite movies of all time ♥️
To any 'Willow' fans, do yourselves a favor and look up the anniversary release interview with Val Kilmer and Warwick Davis. It's hilarious as those two have a really good rapport with each other. Shooting the movie must have been fun for those two. Kilmer MADE this movie work with his constant comic relief broken only by swashbuckling. He's the anti-hero that we all know and love today. Can't believe this classic didn't do well at the box office-it was a movie the entire family could go see and enjoy. I do remember the action figures released with this movie. I remember renting this on VHS and watching New Year's Eve 1988 11 years old.
Couldn't agree more with you mate. Not sure when I saw it myself but I reckon I had definitely seen it by age 11 as well but that would have been in 1990 when we finally got a VCR. Video shop rentals back in the day lol. Another thing that really helped this film was the very good CGI (for the time) and how it made that 2 headed beast look so real as well as how the 2 brownies fitted in so well too. I have seen a lot worse in films that came out a way more recently than this TBH. It also might have helped that Val Kilmer and Joanne Whalley did actually fall for each other as well but that all pales in comparison to how the rest of the movie was presented throughout. It really looked like they pulled out all the stops for this and I'm amazed to hear (only now) that it wasn't a big hit back in the day :(. No accounting for taste it seems...
@@Irishdrivingbloopers As Mark said himself nearly all of the movies he's done didn't do well at the box office but attained 'cult' status with a devoted following. He also said the 80's decade wasn't kind to the fantasy genre as nearly all of them were flops. LOL yes...VHS rentals. Remember the 'Please be kind-rewind' stickers that used to be on them? The brownies were indeed funny-in particular when the one falls in the mug of beer, comes to the surface, tastes it, yells "BEER!!!" and commences to swimming in it. Madmartigan posing as a 'well-endowed' woman catching the eye of the tavern owner and talking in falsetto is always funny.
@@tomservo5347 Yup, I suppose it was caught up in that unfortunate trend of the time. It's a shame cos there was definitely a lot of hard work went into it. I remember seeing quite a few more films back then that didn't look half as real because I was judging the quality based on this one. To add to that, I even thought it was perfectly done where one of the Brownies fell into that beer (like you said) and even the "plop" of beer that came up on screen looked plausible compared to the size of the character that fell into it. Well done again at the time lol. Yup, we had the "Please rewind" stickers over here too lol. I remember nearly having a disaster once where that "tab" wasn't broken off the back of the rental tape and I sat on the remote control for the VCR one time. I heard the VCR gearing up to start recording and just hit the "stop" button on time lol. Imagine trying to explain to the local video shop why you recorded over their movie with the local TV and adverts :O
It doesn't surprise me that "Willow" started as part of the same creative process that birthed the "Star Wars" series. "Star Wars" was always basically a sword-and-sorcery tale in outer space, with the Jedi standing in for sorcerers and the light sabers standing in for swords. Going back to when I was a kid, I remember noticing that every single major character in "Willow" has a counterpart in the original Star Wars trilogy: Willow is Luke, Madmartigan is Han, Airk is Lando, Sorsha is sort of a cross between Leia and Vader, Gen. Kael is the main Vader figure (even his mask looks similar), Bavmorda is the emperor, the brownies are the droids, High Aldwin and Fin Raziel both roughly fill the Obi-Wan/Yoda role. (Heck, you might even argue Willow's friend Meegosh is sort of the Biggs of the film, though he doesn't die.) It was an early sign that Lucas is something of a one-trick pony--he's been telling the same story over and over throughout his career, with varying levels of success. Warwick Davis's commentary for the DVD of the film, I should mention, is by far the best DVD commentary track I've ever heard. Davis was a fountain of information. He also made me conscious of something I never really thought about before: "Willow" is a rare example of a film in which a little person is the main hero. I suppose I took the idea of dwarf protagonists for granted as a kid, especially since I was also watching a short-lived TV series called "The Wizard" (starring David Rappaport, a short actor most famous for his role in "Time Bandits") around that time. I'm surprised Minty didn't mention something which I always found wild about the film: Davis was only 17 years old, yet he was playing a character who seemed much older. His exact age is never mentioned in the film, yet he's a married man with two small children, and he has the feel of someone who's well into his 20s if not 30s. It might be the only example I know of a teenager playing an adult; usually it's the other way around.
George Lucas may have been a 1 trick pony but it was a damn good trick until a certain mouse got involved (even the Prequels were "good" but really all it needed was some tweaks such as removing Jar Jar, turning down the amount of CGI used needlessly, and completely redoing Anakins character to basically how Anakin turned out in the Clone Wars animated TV show)
@@a-drewg1716 I have a somewhat lower opinion of the prequels than you do. Either way, Lucas's problem of repeating himself goes back a long way. Heck, it predates "Willow" and I think it started to be noticeable with "Return of the Jedi" when he recycled the entire plot of the first film (the Empire creates a Death Star that the Rebels must destroy). I still think ROTJ and "Willow" are pretty good films, though they did show signs of wear and tear, and they anticipated his increasing turn to broad, childish humor as in the ewoks or the brownies, which I think were precursors to Jar-Jar and far inferior to the more intelligent, character-driven comic relief of the droids in the original films.
@@Kylopod there is alot more wrong then what I state with the prequels but really the 3 biggest things for me was simply Jar Jar, Anakin, and the overuse of CGI (I could go really into everything that was bad those are just my main 3 gripes) and yes I agree with your other points
Willow is a flawed masterpiece. It depicted a a thorough fantasy world that felt lived in, had interesting characters and lots of adventure. It was ahead of its time like so many movies and deserved a larger audience. The willow game was a proper rpg. I remember playing it back then and enjoying its challenging gameplay.
Did you know they put a mineral mine in the movie so people would not be confused with the title? Personally I never tied the mining operation to the title of the movie. I always interpreted the "mine" as a possessive.
@@stephenolan5539 Yeah, I had read that little bit looking up as much info as I could about this gem of a movie. I thought I read somewhere also that they were gonna call it 'mine enemy' and instead switched it but thought people would get confused by the title. I also was never confused. XD
Why hasn't minty done this yet? I bet he will. It seems like every time I see a comment suggesting a title he winds up making a video about it. Just give him time.
I saw willow in theatres with my family, I was 10. I remember my father singing the main theme when we left the theatre. I kindly remember that because my father is not into movies but this one he enjoyed a lot, so did I! That’s a very sweet memory!!
YESSS!!! The greatest movie EVER! I was completely mesmerized watching in the Theater as a kid. And from that day grew my hair long and tried to emulate Mad Mardigan all the time
In a decade which gave us such a bounty of incredible fantasy movies(princess bride, legend, labyrinth, dark crystal, etc) Willow resides among the very best. I truly hope that modern audiences(children especially) discover this film.
I introduced my daughters to the movie. They both love it and they have been trying to find Warwick Davis in other movies. The oldest was excited when she found him in the Harry Potter movies.
WHY don't more people talk about that movie ??? This is a classic. I watched it so many times when I was a kid, and I still find it super cool. Even the cheesy special effects are amazing.
"Willow was part of an unsuccessful trend of fairy tale movies in the 80s" "Dark Crystal, Krull, Legend, Labyrinth..." When you realize all the movies you remember fondly from you youth were "flops"...
Yeah funny and with Willow being ever just as good as the lord of the rings.. which were so damn cut up and changed in some places that I couldn’t even enjoy it... Lest it be, at the very least that is, the extended versions of the films. I have the books of the lord of the rings and of the hobbit since early grade school and reread them many a times throughout the years and taking them with me like good friends every where I went. The movies though nostalgia middle earth culture and eye candy still ain’t compared to the books at all.. at all. The 1980’s by par was the best decade for movies. From Alligator, Critters, Piranha, Gremlins, AWIL, Howling One, the Living Dead movies, Nightmare on Elm Street, as well as these fantasy films, BeetleJuice, Etc, the crowns starting with Rankin Bass The Hobbit 1977, Herbie, Jaws, Ghostbusters, Teen Wolf, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Hook, Forrest Gump, Rin Tin Tin Canine Cop, Arnold’s movies, Rambo series, Rocky series, Kokomo, Interview with a Vampire, Monster Squad, Fright Night, Goonies, reruns of beloved old classics like Mary Poppins, The Parent Trap, Ect, and ending in 1990 with New Line Cinema TMNT One. Also it was the decade of some badass cartoons (LOZ, HeMan, the Real Ghostbusters, Scooby- Doo Mysteries, Fraggle Rock, the Muppets, the Chipmunks, Masters of the Universe, Thundercats, TMNT, GI Joe, the Flintstones, Peanuts, Ect) and tv shows (Are You Being Served, Keeping Up Appearances, HeartBeat, Beauty and the Beast, Dukes of Hazzard, Smokey and the Bandits, Alf, Family Ties, Who’s the Boss, Taxi, Cheers, Seinfeld, even reruns of The Honeymooners.. I Love Lucy.. The Carol Burett Show, Facts of Life, The Jeffersons, Good Times, All In The Family, Sanford and Son, and the Benji Flipper and Lassie tv movies, Ect) as well, and all is missed for the media we have today passing for so-called “entertainment” is a large load of shit and lazy easy money grabs rather than fun entertaining thought-out heart-felt enjoyment. It all ended in the mid Nineties sadly but began mid Seventies.. who knew?? Such Nostalgia people have for simpler times and for childhood, and also a fun decade that’s sadly gone by, never to be relived again. Fond Memories of Community, Friends, Family, Fun, and sense of societal normalcy and belonging is what these old staples remind us of. Each generation tells this same tale.
Willow always has a special place in my heart. I remember that I was thrilled to know Syakuhachi (尺八), a Japanese musical instrument, was used in one of the music score.
Williow was one of my favourite childhood films. Liked it so much I even learned to play the title theme on my old keyboard. I was surprised to learn it wasn't actually that popular or successful when released! Great Video as always Magic Minty!
I L O V E T H I S M O V I E!!! just watched it for the umpteenth time a couple of weeks ago. "I dwell in darkness and it went away!" Love that line and the way Joanne delivers it is perfection. 💖💖💖💖 {four months later} I love this movie so much I didn't realize I had previously watched this video. Another underrated George Lucas story is "Radioland Murders." Possibly one of the funniest movies ever made.
I loved this movie as a kid. In fact, we watched it so much in my house growing up, my family would quote lines to one another randomly! I also played this movie for my son when he was young too. He loved it as well, and I plan to show it to the grandbaby when he is old enough!
I've always loved this movie and was always surprised that it was considered a 'flop' Once again, a movie that didn't do well when it came out becomes a cult classic. That was the weirdest looking dragon though....
Contrary to critics, I loved 80's fantasy films. My two favorite is Labyrinth and Legend ( I named my one day old black kitten that I had to raise without a mother Lilly because I knew she would be a princess from Legend). The only one I wasn't too fond of was the Black Crystal. Willow was no exception. I also have always thought that Warwick Davis is very handsome as well.
Mama Lilly cat you didn’t like The dark crystal? That was one of my favorites as a kid, even though I was scared with a few scenes of the movie. I’m a huge fan of 80’s fantasy myself.
I actually got to audition for this movie. Was done I think at a hotel near the airport in Detroit Michigan. I forget how old I was, but back then I was and well still am camera shy. I think my Mom still has the letter from Lucas Studios about it. I hope she does and I should ask her about it and if she does I should keep it for my own. Anyways.... I did not get the part I was going for.... and just imagine being a little person and being told I was too tall and too old for the part. Years later though, found out why that was...... when I was auditioning it was for the role of Willow's son. Warwick is not that tall. Course now I am an adult. I am 42 years old and I am around 4 feet tall. I forget what his height is, but back then I would probably been about as tall as him so I get it now about how I was too tall and too old for the part. Sometimes I wonder where things would be for me if I had gotten in the movie.... even for a small part in it. I probably would have gotten considered later on for the Star Wars Prequels? Who knows? Though now with the way "Disney" has turned "Star Wars" into....... I would not want to have anything to do with it.
Thanks for sharing your story Jonathan. That's still a pretty great story, that you were able to audition for Willow, even though (unfortunately) you didn't get the part when you were a kid. If it's something you sometimes still think about and wonder 'what if?', have you considered looking at performing or acting classes, or 'dipping your toe in the water' (so to speak) by volunteering or performing in an ensemble with an amateur theatre company? Just curious to ask. The original trilogy will always be the 'real' Star Wars for me.
"Oh no where did everybody go?" "Maybe it's because something we said!!" That was hilarious.Willow is the real deal.Mr Frodo was so fake.enjoyed it on cinema with my 6 siblings at the time and we still love it
Some of this film was filmed in my village! Llanberis North Wales! They also filmed The keep,Mortal kombat analnation, Clash of the titans remake! All Classics🤔
I remember the first time I saw Willow. It was in school, the day before Christmas break of '89. There were no classes that day, and several classrooms were set up to show different movies. Willow was being shown in the library which had the best AV equipment, including a big-screen, rear-projection TV. The classrooms were set up with the typical TV and VCR on the metal rolling stand that almost everyone can remember. So not only did Willow get a better treatment visually, the sound was incredibly superior as well. The part that still sticks with me to this day, was when Madmartigan is sneaking into Sorshas tent on the mountain. The music was soft and low, then he turns to her and the score had a change with sudden and powerful moment. Like "Bam!" That was it. Every time I watch my DVD, I always set my system to recreate that one beat. just as I heard in that library so many years ago. Thanks Minty!
First video I've watched of urs and very impressed, already subscribed and def will enjoy all ur other reviews. Glad I found your channel, thank U!!💯🤘👏👌💥⭐🔥🖤🥇
Willow was the perfect DnD campaign movie. Great video Minty! ❤ You mentioned nothing about Lenny and Squiggy!?! 😳 From Laverne and Shirley?!? They made that movie hilarious! What the heck dude??? 🤣🤣🤣
Willow is still one of my favorite fantasy movies of all time. I also loved Krull, Legend, and the Labyrinth. In fact I own them all on both VHS and DVD.
I love that you take me back to my childhood! I had no idea parts of it were filmed in North Carolina and I live in South Carolina...will have to dig around and find out where it was filmed.
"Disappointing box office numbers" and, "poor reviews," have absolutely NO bearing upon either my childhood experience or memories of Willow, Legend, Krull, Time Bandits, Labyrinth, or The Dark Crystal.
All of which helped to shape my early adolescent life during the mid 80's.
(And I would bet any amount of money are collectively responsible for much of the inspiration of most of today's generation of film-makers.)
TWSTF 8 I was never so loud in a theater as the chase scene my mom hushed me and was rather serious
Yes!!! You named all my other favorite movie as a kid... brings back so much memories.
fuckin right bro
The Street which chase scene?
Neverending Story too...but not the sequel....
Willow, Labyrinth and Dark Crystal are some of the best movies ever made!
I am glad you didn't put Legend in there. I find that movie almost unwatchable.
You forgot about Krull. That movie had Liam Nieson.
Agreed
I looked to see if someone else had mentioned this already, because it's so obvious now. But yeah...
It's so ironic that "Labyrinth," and "Dark Crystal," failed in the theatres so hard as they did. Because if you ask moviegoers and many adult-nerds about those two movies today, they'll almost unanimously proclaim those two films as two of the greatest fantasy-films ever made!
I'm one of them. Both movies were utterly brilliant for their time. I feel like if they came out for the first time nowadays, they would have enjoyed FAR more resounding success at the box office. Because it feels like movie fans nowadays CRAVE fantasy films (probably thanks in no small part to "Lord of the Rings," which started that trend)!
@@robertpease9834what 😳 legend is amazing top
Warwick Davis is an amazing actor. You never question that he’s a married man with children in this role. Everyone is stunned to find out he was still in his teens when he made this film. Legendary.
My big brother bought, Willow on VHS in the summer of 1989, that summer my brothers, cousins, friends and I watched it every day, no lie. I was enamored and enthralled by this story, it's really the first and only film of it's kind, it was an amazingly unique film especially for the time, I am eternally grateful for the existence of, I wouldn't be who I am without "Willow". I did read the book as well.
Edit my brother died unexpectedly aged 47 last year and a few days, makes this film more than special to me. Love you Dave hope you found peace.
🥀💓🙏
This is a very underrated movie. I'm glad Minty is covering it.
This is a movie that I keep coming back to and watch and enjoy at how brilliant it is. They don't make adventure flicks like this anymore
MY ASS is underrated
@@Godzillafan1980 Sorry to hear that, mate. Quickly name us 10 things we don't know about your sweet ass
@@mabdewn 10. It farts loudly
9. It shits liquid sandcastles
8. It's weapon is acidic diarrhea
7. It killed 13 people
6. It smells like pizza
5. It tastes like bacon
4. Chicks dig it
3. It has a great sense of humor
2. It's a big GODZILLA fan
1. It eats fingers
@@Godzillafan1980 You had me at shitting liquid sandcastles. That's just pure awesomeness
The camaraderie and chemistry between Warwick Davis and Val Kilmer is one of the highlights of the film, whether they are bickering or bro-ing out. Their real life friendship is pretty great, too.
“Blackroot? I’m the father of two children, and you never, ever give a baby blackroot.” - Willow
“Well my mother raised us on it. It’s good for you! It put’s hair on your chest, right, Sticks?” - Madmartigan
“Her name is not Sticks! She’s Elora Dannen, the future empress of Tir Asleen and the last thing she’s gonna want is a hairy chest!” - Willow
"Did you see what he did? He stole our blackroot. I'll get some more, don't worry about it." -- Madmartigan
@Dio Falkner Wicket meets Batman. Warwick played Wicket the Ewok. He never played R2-D2.
LMAO some of those scenes were the best 😁 Will always remember the black root fondly : )
Sticks!? 😄 MM has already given her a name & everything : )
Wicket Y Warwick. The clue was in the Ewoks name
@@deadpaul6472 W. Warwick. Though he didn't get the initial and surname until much later. In Jedi he was simply "Wicket".
Underrated
One of the best movies ever
Never gets boring
Simply awesome
yes. classic, so rewatchable. great chemistry between the cast
Agree. I love it. I watch it at least once a year.
Agree but not so much this review I started to think I must have missed all the gay themes in the movie when I saw it.
Saw it with my mum when it first came out and have the DVD one of my favourite films
I wasn't wrong when I was 4. It is too good.
Willow, Return To Oz,Labyrinth, Dark Crystal, Flight Of The Navigator, Never Ending Story were and still are epic
No love for Time Bandits?🥺🥺
Princess Bride?
Yes! Return to Oz. So many people either have forgotten about it or have never seen it. Glad it made your list.
There was something very special about 80's fantasy films.
I think the 80's had a lot of special things. Movies of all kinds, music, TV shows. Many other things.
Rhiannon Thomas-Williams Deathstalker series anyone? Beast Master? Krull? Pretty amazing indeed.
Certainly beginning with LOTR fantasy has soared in quality and become far more mature and expansive and blown away anything produced in the 80s on various levels. But 80s fantasy maintains its charm due to all the in-camera work that doesn't date, the genre being new on film and people willing to try out many wacky ideas, and its sort of 'small-scale' feel that is unlike the feel of the huge fantasy epics.
Also, the kid-friendly attitude means a lot of people see these films when they are kids, and anything someone sees when they are a kid will always feel special. Even if it really isn't ;)
Even the crap ones were something special, and anything filmed in new zealand is just made of awesome :P
Lots of money around in the 80s. Lots of daring and artistic movies were made that wouldn’t be now.
If anyone ever does say they didn't like Willow, just walk away. You don't need that kinda negativity in your life.
Willow was hitting at a time when I was first getting into fantasy, so it's always gonna be one of my favorites.
Love that movie.
Willow > Jackson’s Hobbit and LOTR movies It has more heart and is more fun.
I wouldn't trust anyone who didn't like Willow.
Agreed!!!
Imagine a day and age when you could watch a movie that had a clearcut beginning, middle and *gasp* end... No pandering for a sequel, no cliffhangers, no bull.
Yet if it had a sequel we would have all watched it anyway because we loved the characters. Imagine Elora as an adult saving the world. 🤩
@@korie4198 exactly. Where Hollywood misses the point is that back in the day a movie earned a sequel by deserving one. People wanted one. Now that announce a sequel before the first one it's even out. They jump the gun. Each film should stand alone on its own. No "..." at the end
You speak craziness sir. Willow X episode 9 the directors cut extra features edition (the one where Madmartigan shoots first) would have been amazing...but alas.
I wish they would do a sequel. Willow should be the High Aldwin, and Madmartigan and Sorsha are king and queen.
Amen!
- take care, slainte chugat
The Brownies are my favorite. "I stole the baby while you were taking a pee pee." Lol
I have not laughing since I read your post.i miss things That made me laugh as a kid
@@chefokazeio always gotta remember what makes you smile or laugh. Or what's the point bro?
Gonzo Indigenous One I forgot about that part! I need to rewatch this movie.. it’s probably been 20+ years since I last saw it.
Where did you get that baby?!
I STOLE IT FROM A STUPID DAIKINI
Excuse me! Are we having a party?!"
Willow is one of the best movies ever made.
You my friend, are a scholar and a poet. I'll buy you a drink. CHEERS!🍻
Wow okay.
One of my all-time favorite movies.
I watch it once a year
I wouldn't say THAT per se...... but it's up there. I hold that title for Princess Bride.
Man, this brings me back. I worked with Val Kilmer at The Colorado Shakespeare Festival of 1988. He did Hamlet. I played the Ghost, his dead dad. We got to be good friends, and I met Joanne not long after that. The movie came out while we were rehearsing. I liked it alot; had always been a fantasy addict, packing my JRR Tolkien Trilogy wherever I went, ha. Val was a very generous actor and human being, very kind. He went on to the heights of stardom, and I stayed in the belly of New York City doing weird theatre.
I saw Val's and your performance 3 times! Best Hamlet ever!!! Big time Willow fan too!
Damn i would've loved to see that! I live hamlet and val
@@mysmirandam.6618 It was a good show.
@@Bootmahoy88 i bet!
Thankyou for your post sir.
"Willow"s music is so beautiful, so memorable, that I'm amazed it's not mentioned more often. It was the first movie soundtrack I ever collected on CD, because from the time I first watched the film, at the age of 9, I loved every note of it. Most notably the "title" soundtrack, which to this day haunts my dreams of nostalgia.
It's definitely magical!
Same here....I'm grateful to Jack Horner for Willow's soundtrack and Krull.....
Lady Hawk. Dragonslayer. Krull. Legend. Labyrinth. The Dark Crystal. Special effects technology from 30 years ago! Attention to the smallest Detail makes these movies Timeless Classics. Thanks again for flashback.
I was going to comment about Dragonslayer. Nobody ever seems to remember that.
I luv that movie it's still one of my favorites
The acting in the first 2 was "yeuh".
Oh yeah! Ladyhawke was a great movie, Legend was just so magical, and Labyrinth had David Bowie awesomeness!
I watched this film all the time back in the day on VHS.
We had it when it came out, unfortunately it took couple of years to get from cinema to video back then
I watched a copy on extra long play, in a two-head VCR. Magical!
@@blidrob MY ASS is magical
Great movie
@@steveoxendine7123 MY ASS was a great MOVIE
I grew up on the 80's fairy tale movies so willow, dark crystal, labyrinth, and ledgend are childhood memories
And dont forget the classic fantasy movie neverending story from 1984.;):)
As did I! :)
@@Royalcheri76 willow is a timeless classic
Yeah, I love how he referred to that as an unsuccessful trend. In terms of profit maybe? All of those movies were great. I still keep telling people to watch return to oz too.
They're all great movies! Except maybe Return to Oz...it was alright. What's this 'they didn't do well' bullshit?!
I remember seeing Willow in the theater as a kid, loved it so much even then. It's still really great now.
Willow is the very first movie I remember watching and falling in love with as a child. It still has a huge piece of my heart. I've introduced it to my 3 sons throught the years and they have equally fallen in love with the story, music, characters, and beauty. I wish they made movies like this nowadays. Thank you Minty for bringing a reminiscent smile to this girls face.
It's still one of my favorites. Both of my children love Willow its still their favorite movie to watch.
Willow, Krull and Legend are all great movies. They are some of my childhood favorites.
Same here, I have seen all of them so many times.
Same here!
Don't forget Labyrinth!
I love Krull. Especially the way those Invaders soldiers screem when die
OMG, I cant believe it's been 30 years since Willow came out. Someone's getting old. Thanks for the review of this amazing movie.
Nine Lives No kidding! I felt old just thinking about how long it’s been since I watched Willow lol
"Did you see what he did? He stole our blackroot."
"'I dwell in darkness' and it just went away?"
Great movie!!
my two favourite lines. My 3rd would be "your mother was a lizard"
My favourite childhood movie along with The never ending story... ❤
The Never-Ending Sory is one of my favorites but only the German-made one. The first one!
Sometimes Minty doesn't cover the movies we asked, but he always covers the movies we need!
Yes Right said.
Why? Because he's MINTY!
(and he may have a butler)
I want to see Warwick Davis as the new James Bond
@Al Bundy for President it would be a small role
He'd be an excellent villain.
Short not stirred
No
In a tiny Aston Martin in a little tux
Thank the MAKER for 80’s fantasy films! They shaped my childhood. Love you minty!!
I am 18 and saw this movie at 4 and it was not till now that this gem was refreshed in my mind for the worst. I now remember the hairy dog rats, the hairy ape men, and the terrific werepig transformation. Other than that the movie was awesome and now I understand my film and novel tastes after see this again. It really shaped my personality when it came to hobbies. Loved it.
If you ever do meet a person who says, "I don't like Willow", just walk away.
If you ever meed a person who says, "What is Willow", just tie them down to a chair and play the movie
They might be talking about a certain host on Penn and Teller Fool Us.
you do not walk away... you toss a magical acorn at them and turn them to stone
@@SgtPnkks lol
Can I kick them in the crotch first?
Fact #11, the Time Bandits appear in the movie.
In the background of the film, there's a band playing at the festival, those band members were most of the Time Bandits.
This movie was an enormous part of my childhood, I remember watching it daily. I'll even use some of the silly quotes still to this day in every day life... Sound bits from the movie linger in my memory and probably will until I die. Raziel shouting "Hurry hurry" in that high pitch voice. The music from the party in Willow's village in the beginning of the movie. The sounds from the fight scene between Bavmorda and Raziel(which is pretty hilarious actually). Madmartigan was that guy I wanted to be like one day, and Willow's heart was so inspiring, the two meshed so well with one another. And of course the Brownies just always being on point to make me laugh hysterically. And yes, Sorsha being my absolute first movie crush.
What a phenomenal movie this is. I can't wait to introduce it to my 8 month old boy when he's a older.
Kep2k I’m a huge fan of Willow myself. I’ve watched this movie so many times I know every word and still to this day. It’s just a fun movie to watch and remember. I hope your son will enjoy the movie as much as you do.
I LOVE Willow. It's sad that it didn't get the recognition it deserves. Start making more good, unique fantasy adventure movies again! Since LOTR we haven't had much at all.
Wheels of time is not bad, but definitely not as good as lord of the rings. At least the show just rushes the story a bit. Otherwise it's worth a watch. :)
@@J.A.M.E.SOh, bollocks. Wheel of Prime is an absolute flaming dung heap!
I still have a crush on Sorsha.
Same
Hell yeah
Me too... and I'm otherwise a totally hetero woman.
I was in love with her!
If any of you have Netfilix and want to Joanne Whalley again, check out season 3 of Daredevil where she play a nun and is an integral of the plot of Daredevil S3.
Willow is one of the best Lucasfilm movies
I see your Willow and raise you a Howard The Duck.
Now THIS movie I think warrants a remake
Being a product of the 80s (born in 1979) I'm really digging these videos.
when he listed the "flops" I realized those ALL are my favorites! guess I like bad movies lol!😂
I loved them all...they were great...just came out at the wrong point in time.
It amazes me they were flops because I haven't met a person who doesnt like them. Or didnt as a child even..
No there's jyst a lotvof dumb critics and oblivious people lol
You are not alone😁👍
Dark Crystal didn't flop.
This is my.child hood movie . And labyrinth. AND the goonies! And The Dark Crystal!!!
Did we just become friends? 😯
Are you me?
@@MattChez I am me, not you. You are you.
Hell ya!
Don't forget Legends with Tim Curry
I always thought Madmartigan was named “Mad Martigan.” Like it was a title.
Ditto
Maria Rosa That’s Ghost.
I did too!! I thought his name was just Martigan, but everyone called him "mad" because he was a "crazy good" fighter or something like that!
@@LordOfAllusion haha. ;)
Bumtown1 right?
I've read the sequel novels. They're a pretty solid continuation of the story from the books, and I suggest anyone who loved/loves the film read them.
adam harp I read them too, Shadow Moon, Shadow Dawn and Shadow Star. I enjoyed them
Hate to be a dissenting voice here, but I couldn't get through the first one. I was extremely disappointed with the choices Clairmont and Lucas made. To my mind, it felt like they immediately did away with everything I loved from the movie, and wrote a story with no relation to its world and characters.
update the willows series is now being made and will stream on disney +
czcams.com/video/F6JtssujLx4/video.html
We went on a school trip to see this film back in the 80's , and I still watch it to this day . Timeless .
Well, Warwick Davis also met his future wife Samantha on this film as well (although they wouldn't start dating until they worked together again on Jim Henson's LABYRINTH where they both played goblins).
Yes but labyrinth came out in 1986 willow came out in 1988 so you just now.;):)
@@markusforsberg6741 Ah, ok. (maybe he got his dates wrong; that's how Davis tells the story)
@@tonyuk6396 What is wrong with you?
@@tonyuk6396 You must be trolling because I refuse to believe that you are actually that ignorant and hateful as you make you seem to be with that comment.
@@tonyuk6396 I generally don't use swear words but for you I'll make an exception, F**K YOU. What other eugenic based opinions do you have? Never mind I don't need to hear any more filth from people like you.
all of the "fairy tale flops" as listed are now considered to be classics.
They were still unsuccessful at the box office...which is all "flop" means
Except for "Return to Oz". Not a great movie. But it did give us Veruca Salt, so there's that.
Fuck the box office! These greedy assholes need to make movies more for passion & less for profit!
IKR! All the ones listed are literally all of my favourite childhood movies!
@@corvus1253
Yeah! producers should be happy with losing millions for the sake of the few people who saw and liked a movie!
why don't you take out a loan and go fund a movie yourself?
Why are there so many great movies from the 80s missing from things like Netflix, Amazon, or Hulu? I want my flight of the navigator!!!
Just watched it on Disney plus! Was better than I remembered
@@pendletonraul Best to Pirate it then than to feed Disney.
Flight of the navigator is on D+??? Looks like a late night for me lol
I got a copy on DVD from my local library. Was great to see it again.
I just saw that on Disney Plus!!
Willow was a movie my dad took me to for my 8th birthday.
I still love this movie. It was incredible and still holds up today
"Wanna breed?".........."NOT A WOMAN! NOT A WOMAN!" Great movie with memorable lines. "YOU'RE ALL PIGS!" The Brownies were funny too.
I know you! I stole a baby from you while you were taking a pee pee.
High voice: Tempting but no! Covers his mustache.
The Brownies are my favorite characters.
"I stole the baby!"
I loved those brownies! "They'll hunt us down, capture us, torture us and probably kill us" "Are you suggesting we go home?" "NAH! This is more fun!"
"WELL WHO'D DO THAAT?!!" Kenny Baker's magical performance.
I loved Willow. I saw it only a couple times. I rented it the first time in the early 1990s. I tried for all those years to talk my wife into seeing it. I think I was close. But she passed away Jan 3 2019...a few weeks ago after 31 years of true love. My soulmate missed out on Willow. And the new Top Gun. I love you sweetheart.
And all those movie 'failures' at the end were all good movies.
Sorry to hear that.
That is so sad 💔
Sorry for you loss. :(
That genuinely moved me. God bless you.
I wept while reading your comment. I am so sorry for your loss.
This movie will always have a place in my heart. I watched it countless times growing up. it's been so many years since I've seen it but I could probably still recite the entire script along with the actors.
Willow was filmed in Wales. Awesome, never knew that. Beautiful scenery in Wales
General Kael is probably up there as one of the coolest looking villains, IMO. Bavmora waz an awesome villain, and I think we need more like her! The huge fight between the two elderly sorceresses was fantastic, as well! My personal favorite exchange in the movie:
Bavmora: Put the baby on the table, peck.
Willow: ...No.
Bavmora: No?
Willow: YOU STUPID HAG!!
I don't know why, there's so many great lines in the movie, but that exchange always cracks me up.
The special effects were groundbreaking at the time, especially the CGI morphing with the good witch transforming seemlessly into various animals before being restored to her old wrinkled human self (although she wished to be young and beautiful, in her own words, lol).
The magical battle between her and Bavmorda was likewise awesome and is definitely the precursor to the spellcasting fight between Gandalf and Saruman years later in the Lord of the Rings.
I know this post is old, but your quote made me spit my menudo a little bit! My dad would quote that "hag" line to my mom and she'd get SO pissed!!😳🤣
Definitely the best movie of my childhood.... the bones have spoken 💙
I think Sorsha might have been my first movie crush.
Whoah same hahaha
And lydia deets haha so different
Same! Just saw her on the new series Beowulf, that took me back to Willow in a childhood crush flashback 😅
Sorsha definitely gave me a "hottie in armor" fetish, as for lydia deets, Winona was hot there, but way hotter in brahm stokers dracula, specifically the scene where she's kneeling on the bed in the very thin nightgown with the light shining throughfrom the other side of her. that's a hot body right there
But leah thomsons scene in 'Howard the duck' where she's in nothing but a camisole and little panties made me wish i was an anthropomorphic duck
“oh no, i’m really scared! NO! DON’T! Someone help! there’s a peck here with an acorn pointed at me!?"
That's my favorite part thank you for posting. 👍
I’m almost 40 years old so I’ve seen a lot of movies-and I must say that Madmartigan vs. Kael is one of my favorite fights of all time. The MUSIC in the end while Mads uses his quick genius tactics to defeat Kael is just so satisfying. I cannot imagine anyone else but Val Kilmer in the role, he brings a unique kind of ownership and charisma to every character he plays.
Willow is an amazing film because of several phenomenal high-quality talents involved. Not just George Lucas, Ron Howard, James Horner and all the actors, but also all the special effects people, the makeup artists, the costume designers-everyone! I truly feel without any one of those people it could have been just another mediocre kiddie fantasy film. But no, Willow was a labor of love that truly stands the tests of time because all the perfect people came together at the right point in time to create this masterpiece. Honestly, I’ve loved this movie since I first saw it in 1989 and it will always be one of my favorite movies of all time ♥️
To any 'Willow' fans, do yourselves a favor and look up the anniversary release interview with Val Kilmer and Warwick Davis. It's hilarious as those two have a really good rapport with each other. Shooting the movie must have been fun for those two. Kilmer MADE this movie work with his constant comic relief broken only by swashbuckling. He's the anti-hero that we all know and love today. Can't believe this classic didn't do well at the box office-it was a movie the entire family could go see and enjoy. I do remember the action figures released with this movie. I remember renting this on VHS and watching New Year's Eve 1988 11 years old.
Couldn't agree more with you mate. Not sure when I saw it myself but I reckon I had definitely seen it by age 11 as well but that would have been in 1990 when we finally got a VCR. Video shop rentals back in the day lol.
Another thing that really helped this film was the very good CGI (for the time) and how it made that 2 headed beast look so real as well as how the 2 brownies fitted in so well too. I have seen a lot worse in films that came out a way more recently than this TBH.
It also might have helped that Val Kilmer and Joanne Whalley did actually fall for each other as well but that all pales in comparison to how the rest of the movie was presented throughout. It really looked like they pulled out all the stops for this and I'm amazed to hear (only now) that it wasn't a big hit back in the day :(.
No accounting for taste it seems...
@@Irishdrivingbloopers As Mark said himself nearly all of the movies he's done didn't do well at the box office but attained 'cult' status with a devoted following. He also said the 80's decade wasn't kind to the fantasy genre as nearly all of them were flops. LOL yes...VHS rentals. Remember the 'Please be kind-rewind' stickers that used to be on them? The brownies were indeed funny-in particular when the one falls in the mug of beer, comes to the surface, tastes it, yells "BEER!!!" and commences to swimming in it. Madmartigan posing as a 'well-endowed' woman catching the eye of the tavern owner and talking in falsetto is always funny.
@@tomservo5347 Yup, I suppose it was caught up in that unfortunate trend of the time. It's a shame cos there was definitely a lot of hard work went into it. I remember seeing quite a few more films back then that didn't look half as real because I was judging the quality based on this one.
To add to that, I even thought it was perfectly done where one of the Brownies fell into that beer (like you said) and even the "plop" of beer that came up on screen looked plausible compared to the size of the character that fell into it. Well done again at the time lol.
Yup, we had the "Please rewind" stickers over here too lol. I remember nearly having a disaster once where that "tab" wasn't broken off the back of the rental tape and I sat on the remote control for the VCR one time. I heard the VCR gearing up to start recording and just hit the "stop" button on time lol.
Imagine trying to explain to the local video shop why you recorded over their movie with the local TV and adverts :O
YES! i HAD a few of those action figures, and they were AWESOME
It doesn't surprise me that "Willow" started as part of the same creative process that birthed the "Star Wars" series. "Star Wars" was always basically a sword-and-sorcery tale in outer space, with the Jedi standing in for sorcerers and the light sabers standing in for swords. Going back to when I was a kid, I remember noticing that every single major character in "Willow" has a counterpart in the original Star Wars trilogy: Willow is Luke, Madmartigan is Han, Airk is Lando, Sorsha is sort of a cross between Leia and Vader, Gen. Kael is the main Vader figure (even his mask looks similar), Bavmorda is the emperor, the brownies are the droids, High Aldwin and Fin Raziel both roughly fill the Obi-Wan/Yoda role. (Heck, you might even argue Willow's friend Meegosh is sort of the Biggs of the film, though he doesn't die.) It was an early sign that Lucas is something of a one-trick pony--he's been telling the same story over and over throughout his career, with varying levels of success.
Warwick Davis's commentary for the DVD of the film, I should mention, is by far the best DVD commentary track I've ever heard. Davis was a fountain of information. He also made me conscious of something I never really thought about before: "Willow" is a rare example of a film in which a little person is the main hero. I suppose I took the idea of dwarf protagonists for granted as a kid, especially since I was also watching a short-lived TV series called "The Wizard" (starring David Rappaport, a short actor most famous for his role in "Time Bandits") around that time.
I'm surprised Minty didn't mention something which I always found wild about the film: Davis was only 17 years old, yet he was playing a character who seemed much older. His exact age is never mentioned in the film, yet he's a married man with two small children, and he has the feel of someone who's well into his 20s if not 30s. It might be the only example I know of a teenager playing an adult; usually it's the other way around.
George Lucas may have been a 1 trick pony but it was a damn good trick until a certain mouse got involved (even the Prequels were "good" but really all it needed was some tweaks such as removing Jar Jar, turning down the amount of CGI used needlessly, and completely redoing Anakins character to basically how Anakin turned out in the Clone Wars animated TV show)
@@a-drewg1716 I have a somewhat lower opinion of the prequels than you do. Either way, Lucas's problem of repeating himself goes back a long way. Heck, it predates "Willow" and I think it started to be noticeable with "Return of the Jedi" when he recycled the entire plot of the first film (the Empire creates a Death Star that the Rebels must destroy). I still think ROTJ and "Willow" are pretty good films, though they did show signs of wear and tear, and they anticipated his increasing turn to broad, childish humor as in the ewoks or the brownies, which I think were precursors to Jar-Jar and far inferior to the more intelligent, character-driven comic relief of the droids in the original films.
@@Kylopod there is alot more wrong then what I state with the prequels but really the 3 biggest things for me was simply Jar Jar, Anakin, and the overuse of CGI (I could go really into everything that was bad those are just my main 3 gripes) and yes I agree with your other points
update the willows series is now being made and will stream on disney +
czcams.com/video/F6JtssujLx4/video.html
Willow is a flawed masterpiece. It depicted a a thorough fantasy world that felt lived in, had interesting characters and lots of adventure. It was ahead of its time like so many movies and deserved a larger audience.
The willow game was a proper rpg. I remember playing it back then and enjoying its challenging gameplay.
Seeing Val kilmer in drag as Hilda was hilarious. 🤣
Please, please, please do Enemy Mine! It's a very good, underrated movie
Did you know they put a mineral mine in the movie so people would not be confused with the title?
Personally I never tied the mining operation to the title of the movie.
I always interpreted the "mine" as a possessive.
@@stephenolan5539
Yeah, I had read that little bit looking up as much info as I could about this gem of a movie. I thought I read somewhere also that they were gonna call it 'mine enemy' and instead switched it but thought people would get confused by the title. I also was never confused. XD
Yes please...Enemy Mine its one of my favorite.
@@alkiramari8193
I'm so glad I'm not the only one who likes this movie!
Why hasn't minty done this yet? I bet he will. It seems like every time I see a comment suggesting a title he winds up making a video about it. Just give him time.
Thank god cusack wasnt cast as madmardigan lol
Cusack great in the 90's, but against Kilmer for Madmartigan c'mon
I saw willow in theatres with my family, I was 10. I remember my father singing the main theme when we left the theatre. I kindly remember that because my father is not into movies but this one he enjoyed a lot, so did I!
That’s a very sweet memory!!
Hands down... this is one of my favorite fantasy movies ever.
Willow was my favorite movie from 1988 until Lord of the Rings came out. Thanks for this video.
LoTR is boring a.f. Willow is far superior.
YESSS!!! The greatest movie EVER! I was completely mesmerized watching in the Theater as a kid. And from that day grew my hair long and tried to emulate Mad Mardigan all the time
Hollywood doesnt realize how big a sequel would actualky be. Id go to the theater for it which is rare
#Metoo
In a decade which gave us such a bounty of incredible fantasy movies(princess bride, legend, labyrinth, dark crystal, etc) Willow resides among the very best. I truly hope that modern audiences(children especially) discover this film.
I introduced my daughters to the movie. They both love it and they have been trying to find Warwick Davis in other movies. The oldest was excited when she found him in the Harry Potter movies.
WHY don't more people talk about that movie ??? This is a classic. I watched it so many times when I was a kid, and I still find it super cool. Even the cheesy special effects are amazing.
"Willow was part of an unsuccessful trend of fairy tale movies in the 80s" "Dark Crystal, Krull, Legend, Labyrinth..."
When you realize all the movies you remember fondly from you youth were "flops"...
Imagine they all turned out to be "hits"...what a different movie history we would have.
In a world where the boring trilogy of Lord of the Rings were world renowned hits and Willow was a flop.
Yeah funny and with Willow being ever just as good as the lord of the rings.. which were so damn cut up and changed in some places that I couldn’t even enjoy it... Lest it be, at the very least that is, the extended versions of the films. I have the books of the lord of the rings and of the hobbit since early grade school and reread them many a times throughout the years and taking them with me like good friends every where I went. The movies though nostalgia middle earth culture and eye candy still ain’t compared to the books at all.. at all. The 1980’s by par was the best decade for movies. From Alligator, Critters, Piranha, Gremlins, AWIL, Howling One, the Living Dead movies, Nightmare on Elm Street, as well as these fantasy films, BeetleJuice, Etc, the crowns starting with Rankin Bass The Hobbit 1977, Herbie, Jaws, Ghostbusters, Teen Wolf, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Hook, Forrest Gump, Rin Tin Tin Canine Cop, Arnold’s movies, Rambo series, Rocky series, Kokomo, Interview with a Vampire, Monster Squad, Fright Night, Goonies, reruns of beloved old classics like Mary Poppins, The Parent Trap, Ect, and ending in 1990 with New Line Cinema TMNT One. Also it was the decade of some badass cartoons (LOZ, HeMan, the Real Ghostbusters, Scooby- Doo Mysteries, Fraggle Rock, the Muppets, the Chipmunks, Masters of the Universe, Thundercats, TMNT, GI Joe, the Flintstones, Peanuts, Ect) and tv shows (Are You Being Served, Keeping Up Appearances, HeartBeat, Beauty and the Beast, Dukes of Hazzard, Smokey and the Bandits, Alf, Family Ties, Who’s the Boss, Taxi, Cheers, Seinfeld, even reruns of The Honeymooners.. I Love Lucy.. The Carol Burett Show, Facts of Life, The Jeffersons, Good Times, All In The Family, Sanford and Son, and the Benji Flipper and Lassie tv movies, Ect) as well, and all is missed for the media we have today passing for so-called “entertainment” is a large load of shit and lazy easy money grabs rather than fun entertaining thought-out heart-felt enjoyment. It all ended in the mid Nineties sadly but began mid Seventies.. who knew?? Such Nostalgia people have for simpler times and for childhood, and also a fun decade that’s sadly gone by, never to be relived again. Fond Memories of Community, Friends, Family, Fun, and sense of societal normalcy and belonging is what these old staples remind us of. Each generation tells this same tale.
Its not that they were bad. Well some were bad. But the fans are just fewer into fantasy n middle earth
All my favorites.🤷♀️. They were out there for us who liked this genre!
This movie should of been way more popular.. A Classic!!!
Willow has always been one of my favorite fantasy movies of all time. I don't care what the critics say. It's a very underrated movie.
Willow always has a special place in my heart. I remember that I was thrilled to know Syakuhachi (尺八), a Japanese musical instrument, was used in one of the music score.
I've never clicked anything quicker than this one!!!!!!!!!
Me neither I just watched this the other day. Still love it as do my kids
Yes, I have never been so sure in my life I was going to like a video than this one once I saw that Willow in that blue shirt.
Mad Martigan: _"Gentlemen? Meet Lug."_
My favourite line.
“NOT A WOMAN!”
You are crawling with brownies!!
"Ruy, you are drunk and when you are drunk you forget that I am in charge." I love saying that one.
Wanna breed?
Tempting, but no.
Not a WOMAN!!!!!!
Williow was one of my favourite childhood films. Liked it so much I even learned to play the title theme on my old keyboard. I was surprised to learn it wasn't actually that popular or successful when released! Great Video as always Magic Minty!
I L O V E T H I S M O V I E!!! just watched it for the umpteenth time a couple of weeks ago. "I dwell in darkness and it went away!" Love that line and the way Joanne delivers it is perfection. 💖💖💖💖 {four months later} I love this movie so much I didn't realize I had previously watched this video. Another underrated George Lucas story is "Radioland Murders." Possibly one of the funniest movies ever made.
I loved this movie as a kid. In fact, we watched it so much in my house growing up, my family would quote lines to one another randomly! I also played this movie for my son when he was young too. He loved it as well, and I plan to show it to the grandbaby when he is old enough!
I've always loved this movie and was always surprised that it was considered a 'flop' Once again, a movie that didn't do well when it came out becomes a cult classic. That was the weirdest looking dragon though....
goblinb it was a monster not a dragon
A movie I actually went to the theatre twice to watch. Never done for any other movie even till now what a great movie.
Contrary to critics, I loved 80's fantasy films. My two favorite is Labyrinth and Legend ( I named my one day old black kitten that I had to raise without a mother Lilly because I knew she would be a princess from Legend). The only one I wasn't too fond of was the Black Crystal. Willow was no exception. I also have always thought that Warwick Davis is very handsome as well.
Mama Lilly cat you didn’t like The dark crystal? That was one of my favorites as a kid, even though I was scared with a few scenes of the movie. I’m a huge fan of 80’s fantasy myself.
As a kid I wanted to live in Willows village. I love this film!
I wish movies can be like this still
I actually got to audition for this movie. Was done I think at a hotel near the airport in Detroit Michigan. I forget how old I was, but back then I was and well still am camera shy. I think my Mom still has the letter from Lucas Studios about it. I hope she does and I should ask her about it and if she does I should keep it for my own. Anyways.... I did not get the part I was going for.... and just imagine being a little person and being told I was too tall and too old for the part. Years later though, found out why that was...... when I was auditioning it was for the role of Willow's son. Warwick is not that tall. Course now I am an adult. I am 42 years old and I am around 4 feet tall. I forget what his height is, but back then I would probably been about as tall as him so I get it now about how I was too tall and too old for the part. Sometimes I wonder where things would be for me if I had gotten in the movie.... even for a small part in it. I probably would have gotten considered later on for the Star Wars Prequels? Who knows? Though now with the way "Disney" has turned "Star Wars" into....... I would not want to have anything to do with it.
Thanks for sharing your story Jonathan. That's still a pretty great story, that you were able to audition for Willow, even though (unfortunately) you didn't get the part when you were a kid. If it's something you sometimes still think about and wonder 'what if?', have you considered looking at performing or acting classes, or 'dipping your toe in the water' (so to speak) by volunteering or performing in an ensemble with an amateur theatre company? Just curious to ask.
The original trilogy will always be the 'real' Star Wars for me.
Wow! Cool info.
How awesome is this! I was about 6 when this came out and loved everything about it. Now I'm 36 and loved reading this
It's worth mentioning that the music in the NES game is also some of the best on the system.
Labyrinth, the Dark Crystal & Krull...plus Willow, were among my children’s FAVORITES!!!
Thank you, Minty! This movie and Labyrinth WERE my childhood!
This was awesome! This is one of my favorite movies of all time.
"Oh no where did everybody go?"
"Maybe it's because something we said!!"
That was hilarious.Willow is the real deal.Mr Frodo was so fake.enjoyed it on cinema with my 6 siblings at the time and we still love it
Awesome production again Minty my fellow, "(Val Kilmor nightmares for years" 😅😅)me too bud...You really are something fucking special Sir x
7:01 It's Batboy from the 80's tabloids!!!
Anyone else remember this???
Some of this film was filmed in my village! Llanberis North Wales!
They also filmed The keep,Mortal kombat analnation, Clash of the titans remake! All Classics🤔
By far one of my favorites along with Legend, D.a.r.y.l., and Cloak & Dagger.
The MUSIC in this movie! I grew up watching this and it's still so good and holds up so well. It definitely deserves better :)
One of my Favorite movies, TY
I remember the first time I saw Willow. It was in school, the day before Christmas break of '89. There were no classes that day, and several classrooms were set up to show different movies. Willow was being shown in the library which had the best AV equipment, including a big-screen, rear-projection TV. The classrooms were set up with the typical TV and VCR on the metal rolling stand that almost everyone can remember. So not only did Willow get a better treatment visually, the sound was incredibly superior as well. The part that still sticks with me to this day, was when Madmartigan is sneaking into Sorshas tent on the mountain. The music was soft and low, then he turns to her and the score had a change with sudden and powerful moment. Like "Bam!" That was it. Every time I watch my DVD, I always set my system to recreate that one beat. just as I heard in that library so many years ago.
Thanks Minty!
First video I've watched of urs and very impressed, already subscribed and def will enjoy all ur other reviews. Glad I found your channel, thank U!!💯🤘👏👌💥⭐🔥🖤🥇
Willow was the perfect DnD campaign movie.
Great video Minty! ❤
You mentioned nothing about Lenny and Squiggy!?! 😳 From Laverne and Shirley?!?
They made that movie hilarious! What the heck dude??? 🤣🤣🤣
Best fantasy before lord of the ring trilogy
Willow is still one of my favorite fantasy movies of all time. I also loved Krull, Legend, and the Labyrinth. In fact I own them all on both VHS and DVD.
Watched Willow with my grandpa every Christmas for over a decade. The movie has a sentimental value for me that just adds to it’s other qualities.
Man I started watching your videos a few weeks ago. And have been ever since. I'm hooked! Keep it up bro!
this definitely was ahead of its time and a gem for any movie buff to collect
Things I Did Know: This Movie is Awesome. Great Theme Music! Warwick Davis and Val Kilmer Kick Ass!
Most Triumphant....
I love that you take me back to my childhood! I had no idea parts of it were filmed in North Carolina and I live in South Carolina...will have to dig around and find out where it was filmed.
This was a gem with Lucas, Howard, Warwick Davis, and Val Kilmer. Pure gold in my opinion.