Willow: Special Edition

Twentieth Century Fox | minutes | | | Standard DVD reviewed by: Fusion3600

Queen Bavmorda (Jean Marsh) has ruled her kingdom with an iron hand, but no one has the power to end her tyranny, except for one person. A prophecy has stated that a baby girl should be born and bear a special mark, which means she has the power to defeat Bavmorda. As she wants to ensure this never happens, Bavmorda holds all the kingdom's expectant mothers and when she finds the chosen newborn, it will be killed before her own eyes. Soon enough, the child is found and Bavmorda is sent for, but the midwife manages to smuggle the young babe out of the castle, knowing it means her certain death. As Bavmorda's forces hunt the woman down, she runs until she can't keep up, then she sends the baby down the river, toward an unsure fate, but one better than facing Bavmorda's wrath. The baby floats to shore right by the home of Willow Ufgood (Warwick Davis), an Elven farmer who has dreams of being a sorcerer. As soon as Willow takes in the child, he finds himself thrown into an adventure like no other, where he plays a central role in the future of the kingdom, which means a lot rests on his small shoulders. Can Willow manage to help fulfill the prophecy, even with some help from some powerful new friends?

This movie wasn't a blockbuster at the box office, but it has won over a lot of fans and has become one of the most beloved fantasy films of all time. It's hard to understand why it didn't make a ton of greenbacks, as it has great performances from Warwick Davis & Val Kilmer, solid direction from Ron Howard, and was based on a story by executive producer George Lucas, but for some reason, it never made an impact in theaters. But thankfully, it has made up for lost time on home video and as such, remains a higher profile title. I am a fan of fantasy movies anyway, but even if you're not, chances are that Willow will still manage to impress you. It has the traditional elements found in the genre, but is much brisker and more fun that most fantasy films, as well as having excellent production values. Yes, some of the special effects look dated now, but even so, Willow's visuals still hold up well enough. A change in home video rights landed Willow with Fox and let's be thankful for that, as Fox has given it the treatment it deserves. A gorgeous new transfer, great 5.1 soundtrack, and a nice selection of extras have all been included here. As such, I give this release a very high recommendation, as it is worth every last cent, I assure you.

If anyone was ever born to take on a role, I think it would Warwick Davis, who seems so natural as Willow Ufgood. Of course, one main reason he seems so right is because of his size, which is the perfect match for an Elven, to be sure. But even outside of that issue, he just nails the part and really brings the character of Willow to life, very impressive work. His mannerisms mesh with the way Willow is written to behave, down to the smallest of touches, which makes the character seem realistic, always natural. Even his vocal work is dead on with the role, as he speaks with a certain brand of authority, though is often unheard by those around him. A nice blend of strength and vulnerability, Davis' approach is just as it needs to be, without a doubt. Other films with Davis include The Phantom Menace, Leprechaun, Return of the Jedi, and Harry Potter & The Sorcerer's Stone. The cast also includes Val Kilmer (Real Genius, The Saint), Joanne Whalley (Scandal, Mother's Boys), and Jean Marsh (Return to Oz, Cleopatra).

Willow is presented in a 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer. This new THX approved visual effort is a sight to behold, especially if you're used to other versions, as this is a massive improvement in all respects. The print looks brand new, as if some kind of restoration work has been done, but I can't be certain if that was the case. In any event, the print looks excellent and shows no real flaws, so debris, wear, and grain are not to be seen here. I was stunned by how good the contrast looks also, as previous editions have seemed murky and lacked detail. Not the case here however, as black levels are sharp, refined, and allow for strong detail depth, simply amazing when compared to prior versions. The colors in Willow are suppressed on purpose most of the time, but flashes of vibrance do emerge and when they do, the hues look radiant and flawless. This is a simply gorgeous visual effort and save a couple of dated special effects shots (which cause some visual hiccups), I have no complaints in the least to make.

The audio is not as slick and stunning as the video, but the new Dolby Digital 5.1 track still offers a lot of reasons to rejoice. The mix has a very natural texture, so the surround presence never seems false, with a couple of small exceptions. The front channels hold a lot of the elements and manage them very well, with a strong sense of detail and direction, especially in a few key sequences, which sound excellent. But the surrounds are also used often and to effective ends, with some superb, immersive moments and on the whole, a more than solid presence. I think the bass kicks more often and harder than expected too, a very impressive audio experience. This disc also includes 2.0 surround options in English & Spanish, as well as English subtitles.

Unlike the lame laserdisc "special edition," this is a true Special Edition and fans will be most pleased with the goodies Fox has included. We'll start with two featurettes, one of which is from the time of production, while the other is a newly created look behind the scenes. The older one is Willow: The Making of an Adventure, which is a nice, but promotional series of interviews with cast & crew members, including George Lucas himself. This is a general behind the scenes piece, with a look at both the cast members and the technical side, your typical promotional featurette, in other words. The second piece is Willow: Morf to Morphing, which is a new featurette that focuses on the special effects side of the picture. This also has interviews with Lucas, as well as members of the special effects team, all of whom reveal insight into how it was all done. But the main bonus is still to come, in the form of an audio commentary track with star Warwick Davis, who gives one of the best commentaries I've ever heard. Davis seems well prepared, but not like he is reading off cards, so it is an informative, natural overall session. He talks about his role in the film & how he prepared, as well as production stories, some tough moments on the set, and of course, his thoughts on the film, his costars, and the legacy of Willow. If you're even a casual fan of this movie, you simply cannot afford to miss this track, as it is superb in all facets. This disc also includes a selection of still photos, eight television spots, two teaser trailers, and the film's theatrical trailer.