The Oxford Companion to Fairy Tales

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Willow

Willow (film: USA, 1988),
the counterpart of Star Wars (1977). Premissed on magic rather than technology, Willow is a quest‐story born from the research George Lucas did into folklore and mythology while writing his space trilogy. Among its numerous sources of inspiration are Tolkien, The Wizard of Oz , the Bible, and A Midsummer Night's Dream. Willow Ufgood, a would‐be magician, rescues a birthmarked baby from a river and sets off to find Raziel, the good witch who alone can, through the baby, end the reign of the evil queen Bavmorda. Sometimes helped by Madmartigan, a mercenary who comes to see the point of being compassionate rather than selfish, Willow progresses towards an understanding of true magic.

Terry Staples

[The entire page is 143 words long]

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