12 Reasons You Should Go Watch Willow Right Now...

Classic adventure story but with more awesome...

1. It stars Warwick Davis as Not-an-Ewok or Creepy Leprechaun

Warwick Davis plays Willow Ufgood the hero of this story. This was Davis' first "real" movie (other than being Wicket the Ewok). He was only 18 at the time. George Lucas wrote this specifically for Davis. To portray Willow properly, Davis had to learn to sword fight, do magic tricks, ride a horse and take care of a baby...

2. Easy-to-hate Evil Queen

Jean Marsh is the crazy evil Queen Bavmorda. She first wins points for having a excellent bad-guy name. She spends the entire movie trying to hunt down a baby that has a strange looking birthmark. This birthmark supposedly foretells that this particular baby will bring an end to her terrible reign. To make sure she finds the right baby she kidnaps and imprisons all the pregnant woman, but of course the prophesied baby escapes. This then justifies Bavmorda sending out her army of scary men, her warrior princess daughter, and a herd of very creepy dogs to hunt down and capture the baby.

3. Val Kilmer: Action Hero

Via static.comicvine.com

Kilmer portrays a recently disgraced yet once epic swordsman Madmartigan. He begins the movie locked in a cage and is all bitter and mean. On his journey through the film he slowly morphs back into his awesome warrior self. He also has long pretty hair...

4. Val Kilmer in drag

Via static.gamesradar.com

The second time we see Val Kilmer, Willow discovers him dressed as a woman (Fake fruit boobs and all...) He is in drag avoid being killed by a wench's huge jealous husband named Lugg. Once found out they then have to escape in a high speed wagon chase.

5. Abominable Snow-Kilmer

Some time after successfully escaping the baddies in the wagon chase, Willow, Madmartigan and the prophecy baby are forced to make a harrowing escape via sled. During which, poor Val Kilmer is knocked off his ride causing him to roll down the mountain and turn himself into a giant cylinder of snow. *Insert cheesy Iceman reference here*

6. Brownies

Brownies are the pint sized minions of the fairy who clues Willow in on the prophecy baby. Played by Kevin Pollak and Rick Overton, the Brownies are the lovable pain-in-the-ass sidekicks who tend to cause more harm than good. Their shenanigans include a Gulliver's Travels inspired kidnapping, swimming in beer, and love at first sight inducing fairy dust.

7. This movie produced real life romance!

Via generalcomputing.com

Madmartigan, the good guy, falls for Sorsha, the daughter of evil queen Bavmorda, and eventually she likes him too! In real life Val Kilmer and Joanne Whalley married after they met filming this movie. It lasted eight years and produced two kids. Warwick Davis also met his future wife Samantha on set, they are still married and have three kids.

8. Cameos!

Since this movie was written and produced by George Lucas it has some famous cameos. The drummer in the bottom right with the beard is none other than Kenny Baker! (aka R2D2) Also pictured is comedian and fellow Star Wars alum Jack Purvis (far right)

9. There are cute animals!

Via i.imgur.com

In the movie good-guy legendary sorceress Fin Raziel is banished and stuck in cute and fluffy form. This particular one is an Australian possum. During her plight to become a real girl again she transforms into a raven, goat, ostrich, peacock, tortoise, and finally a white tiger before finally returning to her human shape. Poor woman... but at least shes cute and fluffy.

10. They named a bad guy after a movie critic

Via img4.wikia.nocookie.net

This is General Kael, Queen Bavomorda's right hand bad guy. He is rumored to be named after movie critic Pauline Kael. Kael was a tough critic in the 70s and 80s and she was not a George Lucas fan. She was apparently not a fan of this either...

11. There's a Dragon! Also named for movie critics...

Via thefilmexperience.net

It's an ugly dragon, but its still a bad ass, two headed, fire breathing dragon. Rumor is that this monster is based on director Ron Howard's brother Clint. Howard often gave his brother cameos in his movies but couldn't find a spot for him in this one. Also, though the dragon's name is never mentioned in the film it's known in the books and comics as Ebersisk. Lucas named it after movie critics Siskel and Ebert.

12. It's George Lucas...

Via phenomena-experience.com

When has George done us wrong? Any thing he writes and produces is great. This movie is also directed by Ron Howard and has excellent music from James Horner

In conclusion

This is a great 80s classic that everyone should see. Not going to lie it did scare the bejeezus out of me as a kid when I first saw it but now that I'm older and wise enough to appreciate it, it has become one of my favs. I highly recommend the bluray, you can barely tell that the bluescreened anything...