The 1980s delivered a glorious period of innovative fantasy adventure films, many of which became cult classics in their own right, but few were as satisfying and exhilarating as George Lucas and Ron Howard’s 1988 collaboration in Willow. The film is far from perfect, but it was memorable for its engaging performances from Val Kilmer, Warwick Davis, and Joanne Whalley that have kept fans speculating if Lucasfilm will make a sequel. After more than 30 years, Disney+ has teamed up with Jonathan Kasdan to imagine the next adventure for Willow Ufgood as he once again embarks on a perilous mission to save the world.
Now it should be said that the original willow Not without flaws. It was released after Lucas’ time Star Wars: Return of the Jedi And the Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom With movies like Labyrinth And the Howard the Duck. It was Howard’s first major, sprawling fantasy project after directing The Songs cocoon And the splash. But willow It includes an undeniable charm that was absent in similar projects at the time, which may be why we haven’t seen sequels to other 80s fantasy films. KrollAnd the legendor bestmaster.
Willow undergoes a rather simple task in the new Disney+ series that once again relies on a human in the form of a MacGuffin. Prior to this, he was assigned to protect a little boy named Elora Danan, who was foretold to defeat an evil witch who ruled the land. Now, he must align himself with a new group of young misfits, royals, and wannabe heroes in an effort to save a prince. The series touches on the legacy, as we see what happened to Sorsha, the daughter of the evil witch who has since become a benevolent ruler, and her lover, Madmartigan, who lost him many years ago and left behind two children without children. guidance. These new children are echoes of their parents, and their allies share similar qualities with the ragtag set of the original movie.
The new Disney+ series builds on that nostalgia, and to some extent it works. Executive Producer and Writer Kasdan is clearly a fan of the film, and deserves credit for the work he did with his father Lawrence Kasdan on the film. Solo: A Star Wars Story. Kasdan is overtly a kid from the glory days of Lucasfilm and Amblin with a strong connection to those stories, and willowThe Disney+ renaissance captures the same sentiment.
so he said, willow It has its disappointments, though it’s nice to see Disney+ put effort into high-concept fantasy beyond the Star Wars and Marvel universes. The pilot is clunky and it’s not clear if it’s a victim of bad editing, troubled production (during which several directors joined and exited the project), or visual effects issues, though it’s likely a combination of all three. All the characters and the acting are fine, but there are some moments where the brisk pace is separated by cuts that don’t feel natural or fluid.
The visual dings disappear quickly, however, as the show makes great use of both practical effects and scale, the digital backdrop used in other Lucasfilm projects and made famous by The Mandalorian. Besides the location shooting, the show looks amazing in places, except for the extended fight sequences that take place in the pouring rain. It’s not as bad Game of thrones night scenes, but it’s easy to ignore since it makes the sequence look so memorable.
There’s also the issue of adding popular songs to the franchise – using contemporary music in the franchise willow It just felt out of place, especially considering James Horner’s stunning score in the original film. But now we’re getting needle drops that we feel are derivative Knight’s story. A particular moment in the latter half of the series uses “good vibrations” by The Beach Boys, and while it’s meant to mark a turning point for a pivotal character’s journey, it completely undermines what’s happening on screen.
I am a big fan of willow, but I can also recognize that the original movie had a lot of issues, but when you watch a movie as a kid and watch it many times throughout your life, you tend to accept those flaws for what they are and enjoy the story for what it is and what it means to you. Admittedly, I enjoyed watching Willow’s return on Disney+, just for the nostalgia’s sake.
The story includes stakes related to what has gone before in the franchise and introduces a new set of heroes and villains, placing them in situations that have caused investment in the plot. However, like the original movie, willow It has its drawbacks, and with more and more space-slicing operators in the fantasy genre, such as Dragon house or rings of powerIt’s safe to say that willow They don’t really exist on the same level.
This doesn’t mean the series is bad, especially if you were a fan of the original movie. Like the bizarre quest to protect Elora Danon, this new adventure includes many of the same charms and heartbreakers that made so many of us fans all those years ago. Worth joining willow On another journey to save the world, even if you may not like every decision made along the way.
Rating: 3 out of 5
willow Premieres on Disney+ on November 30, with new episodes airing every Wednesday.
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