Revisit A World Where Heroes Come In All Sizes And Adventure Is The Greatest Magic Of All

Unfortunately, this was the beginning of Lucas’ “tweaking” phase, where he began returning to the original Star Wars trilogy to add new special effects in a now-endless attempt to present the films as he originally intended. (This also gave us one of the great cinematic memes: “Han Shot First.”)

Digressing, Willow received a mixed reception from critics. The New York Times Janet Maslin wrote that Howard seemed overwhelmed by the special effects from Lucas’ Industrial Light and Magic. Roger Ebert had even harsher words for Lucas’ script, which borrowed elements of Tolkien, Snow White, Star Wars and the Old Testament.

Alas, even the largest budgets and the most meticulous special effects are only dead weight unless they have a story to make them move. And at the story level, Willow is turgid and relentlessly predictable. Not much really happens, and when it does, its pace is slowed by special effects set pieces that run on too long and seem to be recycled out of earlier movies.

Yet there are fans of Lucas who believe the man can do no wrong. Those fans accept his revisionist history that Greedo shot first. They also have a soft spot for Willow, star Warwick Davis, Val Kilmer—in his Top Gun-era physical prime—as Madmartigan and Jean Marsh as Queen Bavmorda. To be fair, Lucas’ special effects were revolutionary at the time; they were the foundation for the current advancements in CGI and effects we as filmgoers enjoy today.

The Chicago Cinema Society has partnered with the Patio Theater to screen Willow March 2-4 in a newly remastered DCP print from MGM. Showtimes are 10 p.m. March 2, 2:30 p.m. March 3 and 7:30 p.m. March 4. Tickets are $7.