
Willow
3.1
(1.3K)
Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Action & Adventure
Drama
2023
TV-14
Many years after the events of the original film, legendary sorcerer Willow leads a group of misfit heroes on a dangerous rescue mission through a world beyond their wildest imaginations.
Starring:
Action & Adventure
Drama
Fantasy
Romance
Adventure
Epic Fantasy
Magic
Action
AD
Community ReviewsSee all
"A great series taking place years after the original film, when another prophecy sends the characters both new and old on a quest to understand the new threat to their world. With sorcery, battles and mystery it’s worth watching to see the world expand from the journey of the first film!"
"I was excited when I heard this series was coming out. I was a fan of the original movie, so I was anxious to see what they would do with this. They were able to capture some of the original campy, cheesy goodness of the original, while adding new characters, some cool, some not. What stood out to me was the killer soundtrack, they used some great modern tunes and made it work. Great special effects and some awesome fight sequences. Overall, I enjoyed it but it did fall just a little flat, compared to the original. I give it a 7.5/10."
"While it is nice to see Warwick Davis back in the Willow role, this sequel has more in common with the tried tropes of modern YA fantasy than it does the beloved film. The wit and humor of the original film has been replaced with stilted dialogue that aims for both hip and inclusive but fails miserably at both. The romance between Kit and Jade feels both forced and not nearly as bold as a queer romance should be in the year 2022. Amar Chadha-Patel adds a wonderful zany energy as Boorman; however, his energy is lost amongst all the floundering performances from his cast mates. Dempsey Bryk plays the character Airk like a SoCal surfer with the most jarring contemporary speech patterns. Although the series is hampered by inconsistent performances and interpersonal drama that would be cheesy even on the CW, it does have some killer fight sequences that are beautifully shot. The fantasy worlds are gorgeously rendered with a mixture of practical set design and CGI. Unfortunately, so much of this series is so poorly lit that many scenes are murky and muddy to look at. Ultimately, “Willow” is an underdeveloped legacy sequel that somehow stretches the source material to its breaking point and lacks any of the magic that made the original movie a fun fantasy epic."
"It kept me invested in the story, that's for sure. I wanted to finish & I did.
Let's start off by talking about what makes it good. Those battle scenes! Man, can these people fight. It's like the Star Wars prequels of fight sequences. Those sword battles were so complex & felt real. (That does exclude though the cliche blocking a sword moments from hitting another, since it's clear the attacker was never supposed to hit the person.)
Then, there's the passion the creator clearly had for the original story. It truly tried to capture that feeling of the original & acknowledged when it went away from it. I found it to be a fan's relief. It seemed like it would satisfy original fans of the movie even if I wasn't one of them, but as someone who appreciated the 1st, this one accomplished the task. (Trolls were a nice add-on)
Then, there's the determination to escape cliches. It's a progressive movie, that is for sure, but it also clearly tried to be its own thing. Just like the original proclaimed in its storytelling, this one wanted to live up to its expectations. Maybe it worked on an average watcher, but for me, I saw everything. I knew which way the movie wanted me to look & it failed to misdirect, unlike Willow did in the movie.
Basically, & this is a SPOILER for the 1st episode, I knew who the real Elora Danan was when she left the camp. It was clear, & the barrier confirmed it. Then the man dying after that was also clear if you had subtitles on. While I do think the expectation subversions were clever, they also weren't perfect. Anyone like me is going to see them coming & not fall for them. That includes moments after the 1st episode, but I won't say them to not spoil anything else.
Will it shock you? Maybe. Is it clearly trying to appeal to Gen Z & Millennial? Most definitely. Does it work? Kind of. You're going to enjoy the ride, even if you might want to jump off every now & then. But it has this endearing quality that'll keep you hooked. Just like the 1st."
"Good God, I adored this. Such a beautiful and loving continuation of the story. The world felt the same and the characters felt real. Loved Boorman, so funny. I loved the fact that Val Kilmer's son, Jack Kilmer, did Madmartigan's voice because Val Kilmer couldn't. Also Airk is my new favorite himbo. "