Willow is, arguably, the greatest fantasy movie of the late-80s — easily the best fantasy film of 1988 specifically. It’s the best movie George Lucas ever made not starring Harrison Ford. It’s one of Val Kilmer’s finest performances, and it just turned 25. TWENTY FIVE. God, that makes me… well, much older than that.
There’s a fantastic little video made by Val Kilmer and Warwick Davis (the hero, Willow) announcing the special 25th Anniversary BluRay DVD release and just watching that makes me nostalgic for the days when Val Kilmer was as funny and bad-ass as any human being could get.
1988 was an amazing year for funny bad-asses. Die Hard, Young Guns, Bloodsport, and Above the Law — all required watching for 80s action films — came out that year. Willow holds its own against any of those.
It saddens me that all my heroes got old. Because it means, of course, I got old too. But hell, that’s life, right? At least I’ve got my DVD player and my memories. Remembering Willow’s not a bad way to spend an evening at all.
‘Course… I’m gonna have to go get me the BluRay now…! 
