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How do!

So next Wednesday, 30 November Disney+ offer us a latter day sequel TV series to Willow.

Now…that’s a film I have a certain affinity for, as it was one of the first VHS I ever bought for myself. And it’s a pretty decent 80’s sword and sorcery flick. And as a result, whilst not exactly as fanatical as my love for Star Wars, I’ve mild hype building for the TV series.

On the wider scene, I’m not sure it’s in itself something that’ll get people signed up to Disney+ in the way The Mandalorian did, as Willow just doesn’t have the same cultural clout.

Anyone else going to be tuning in?

I haven’t seen that movie in decades, but it still has enough nostalgia value I’ll definitely check it out.

Fancy that. I may watch that.

I don't even remember when I watched Willow, but I'd be surprised if it was in this century. Is the movie on Disney+ as well? May be worth catching up as my memory of it is really dim.

 Geifer wrote:
Fancy that. I may watch that.

I don't even remember when I watched Willow, but I'd be surprised if it was in this century. Is the movie on Disney+ as well? May be worth catching up as my memory of it is really dim.

It is in the U.K.

I'll be watching as I also have an affinity for the movie, although it's a shame that cast members like Jean Marsh, Patricia Hayes etc obviously won't be in it.

I think even Warwick Davis' screen time may even be limited as it's supposedly passing on the torch to a new cast.

But, I think there is a lot they could do with it and let's be honest, decent fantasy shows are few and far between at the moment so fingers crossed they get this right.

I'm in.

Love me some willow.

Decent fantasy shows are a dime a dozen. Great fantasy shows are few and far between.

In a world of halfbaked remakes and sequels I FREAKING hope this comes out good. And gets better treatment than the abandoned Dark Crystal series

 Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:

 Geifer wrote:
Fancy that. I may watch that.

I don't even remember when I watched Willow, but I'd be surprised if it was in this century. Is the movie on Disney+ as well? May be worth catching up as my memory of it is really dim.

It is in the U.K.

Well then, I might just have a look in the next few days.

Oh hell yeah

Yes into hindsight the movie is a bit hokey and has "of its time" f/x, but it was still a wonderful effort at a hobbit/lotr style movie before about such things were really practical, and comedy Val Kilmer is the best Val Kilmer, (and despite him not being a well man I really hope they find a way to somehow include him) and Joanne was verymuch teen Turnips cup of tea

I really want this to be good, hopefully the slightly silly fairytale vibe carrys into the show

Wondering if the general (and comparative!) lack of expectation is a surprise boon.

I mean, Star Wars, Star Trek, Middle Earth etc all carry considerable weight of expectation, because they were so formative for so many people, and across different generations.

Willow, whilst seemingly respected as a decent, family friendly fantasy romp is just, well, Willow. A one and done bit of fun that folk enjoyed well enough, and is pleasant enough for for the odd rewatch. And so nobody has set expectations?

The trailers are making it look rather more serious than the original film… hopefully that does not turn out to be the case. For me Willow was at its best being as light hearted as Princess Bride. And I agree, comedy Val Kilmer is the best Val Kilmer as well as Joanne being very much a younger GG‘s cup of tea.

Look you two, I saw Sorscha first, ok?

 Grumpy Gnome wrote:
The trailers are making it look rather more serious than the original film… hopefully that does not turn out to be the case. For me Willow was at its best being as light hearted as Princess Bride. And I agree, comedy Val Kilmer is the best Val Kilmer as well as Joanne being very much a younger GG‘s cup of tea.

Man, may have to rewatch it. I don’t remember it being that level of comedy. But again, decades.

You guys fighting over Sorsha while I, being a man of superior taste, am over here with the well endowed, natural beauty of the one and only "Hilda".

 AduroT wrote:

 Grumpy Gnome wrote:
The trailers are making it look rather more serious than the original film… hopefully that does not turn out to be the case. For me Willow was at its best being as light hearted as Princess Bride. And I agree, comedy Val Kilmer is the best Val Kilmer as well as Joanne being very much a younger GG‘s cup of tea.

Man, may have to rewatch it. I don’t remember it being that level of comedy. But again, decades.

There’s definitely a decent vein of comedy running through it, despite it having some really quite impressive battle scenes. In fact, impressive brutal battle scenes given the certificate they got.

Sod it, I’m gonna watch it, right bloody now.

She was my sun, my moon… without her I lived in darkness.

Peck! Peck! Peck!

Ok, maybe not quite Princess Bride level of comedy but good stuff nonetheless.

I think we can agree Madmartiganwas just a sword slinging Han Solo

 Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:
I think we can agree Madmartiganwas just a sword slinging Han Solo

A fair point, but even at the time was a nice switch from the Arnuld / Sly template of hero

fething love me some Mad Martigan.

I've had time to watch the movie last night and now consider myself fully educated on all things Willow. I'm now prepared to sing praises or spit bile as required when the show is on.

Side note, I completely forgot about him, but the village wizard is just hilarious and the show needs one in kind or it just won't be the same.

I actually put it on the other day to get ready for this and my kids (8 and 12) both got sucked in and managed to stay up past their bedtime enjoying it with me. The updating/enhancing was really excellent and the only thing that truly stuck out as "of it's time" was the moat monster and some of the magic.

I'm really excited for this. I loved Willow as a kid and I'm pretty sure Sorsha started my redhead fetish like so many of my generation. The preview looks in the same vein.

Also the movie wasn't to over the top silly. It was closer to the more reserved marvel movies.

Well, I approve of the first two episodes.

We watched the first episode last night. We liked it. It was more fun than the trailer made us think it would be. I like the main characters more than Mrs. GG does… but at times even I think they can be annoying. The costuming is a bit underwhelming. You can see money/effort was made but not enough distressing and too many generic fantasy elements giving it sometimes something of a larp costuming feel, albeit expensive larp costume.

I thought the writing and directing we pretty tight. Dialogue was a bit contemporary and accents all over the place but you can get away with that in a light hearted and overtly fantasy film like this.

I found the 2 episodes to be okay. My main complaint is the rather horrid ending titles music for both episodes. The show does suffer from looking and sounding (dialogue wise) contemporary. There has been some odd creative choices made regarding this show.

Curious. Did people expect there to be fake medieval parlance? I don't remember any in the movie. If anything the show doesn't sound half as American as you would have expected.

 Grumpy Gnome wrote:

Spoiler:

The stream of brave but incompetent guards kind of annoyed me. Was there even one archer in the attack scene?

 Geifer wrote:
Curious. Did people expect there to be fake medieval parlance? I don't remember any in the movie. If anything the show doesn't sound half as American as you would have expected.

 Grumpy Gnome wrote:

Spoiler:

The stream of brave but incompetent guards kind of annoyed me. Was there even one archer in the attack scene?

Spoiler:

Maybe they actually know what they're doing by eschewing bows? The reavers had bowmen and they did more harm than good.

I was not looking to hear “ye olde speake” but I think the movie has less modern sounding slang terms in it. As for accents, to me there appeared no rhyme or reason for who did and who did not have various accents. Again, I was looking a This compared to the original movie, ie Brownie accents.

Hmm, I'm going to have to pay more attention to slang.

Accents are an interesting question. Did they just cast whoever or did they want to fill their haven with a variety of folks to represent the whole barrier and refuge thing? Could be either. Could be both.

Brownies, yeah. I thought that was it in the movie, and we haven't seen any in the show, so there's that. My memory of the movie is terrible with regard to things that I did not pay active attention to.

Well, to be fair its a generation later. I remember when saying Da Bomb was a thing in my own life time. That gak changes and grows rapidly.

These kids should be talking different.

Any trolls or two-headed moat dragons yet?