Willow (1988) review

Farmer and wannabe wizard Willow Ufgood (Warwick Davis) - of the diminutive Nelwyn clan - is assigned the task of protecting a female baby that Queen Bavmorda (Jean Marsh) wants destroyed because of a prophesy that says that very child will take over her kingdom - there to lend assistance in the matter are swordsman Madmartigan (Val Kilmer), soldier Airk (Gavan O'Herlihy) and powerful sorceress Raziel (Patricia Hayes).  It's based on a story by George Lucas and strictly for the kids, who might be enthralled with the 'little people' and (now-dated) special effects - for everyone else, it's just bits of other fantasy stories (Raziel is a Gandalf-type figure, "The Brownies" could have come out of a certain Jonathan Swift novel) cobbled together and stapled to a leisurely storyline.  What bothers me more than anything is how useless Willow is: while clearly exhibiting paternal love (his major strength), he constantly needs to be rescued himself.  Here's a bit of trivia worth noting: one of the bad guys in this is named General Kael, which was a slap at Ms. Pauline, the legendary critic for The New Yorker ... who screened it and then dismantled Mr. Lucas in print form.