Willy The Sparrow (1988)
What would it feel like to be a bird and fly over the trees and housetops? A boy named Willy finds out when the Sparrow Guardian turns him into a Sparrow for shooting a BB gun at the little birds. Suddenly, Willy's own cat thinks of him as lunch but, luckily, some new sparrow friends rush to Willy's rescue. They deliver him to a grandfatherly old bird named Cipur who takes Willy under his wing, teaches him how to fly, and so much more. In return, Willy fulfills Cipur's lifelong dream for knowledge by teaching him ow to read. Willy's new friendship helps him understand that all creatures have feelings and deserve to be treated with kindness and respect. Before Willy is turned back into a boy, he leads the sparrows in a brave but perilous plan to retake their home in the barn from Blacky the cat. Finally, the Sparrow Guardian offers Willy a very special opportunity.
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Great Film overall
Good movie but grossly overrated
Funny, strange, confrontational and subversive, this is one of the most interesting experiences you'll have at the cinema this year.
Blistering performances.
I study animation. Since am a little kid I watch this Sparrow animation. I think it's an very good animation, it inspires me enormously. The backgrounds, the music, and all phases of life being abstracted metaphorically. It's not hypocrite, like a lot of animations where, of that time. Kids watching, princes and princesses saving each other, get a wrong "fairy-tail" like impression of life, while this animation gives it a little bit of realism and vision, at least it's how I experienced it at an age of six. Please stop telling me that this animation is the reason for some irresponsible kids spraying poison in each other's faces. If someone is blaming this cartoon for some kids mindless behavior, u need to go to a psychologist for paranoia. Then hide your venomous cans and alcohol, next time u letting your kids play near that stuff. It got nothing to do with this animation.
My son was lent this in first grade. (We can buy it for $10.) There is a part where the older wiser sparrow goes to a bar and gets drunk on alcohol with two (normally drunk in credits) rats, thinking it's the elixir of knowledge. I was greatly surprised at this. But the spraying part is bad too, now that I think about it. With 23 kids in his class at $10 each they spent $230 for this (not very good anyway) movie! And, used of for homework in place of regular homework! I just bought a wonderful geography book (Rand McNally beginners) for this grade (and older) for about $7 because I know they don't teach much at all in school! If they have money for this junk, why can't they spend it on education material!?75 minutes felt a lot longer even to my son. It won't teach respect kindness or desire for knowledge if the person doesn't already have it. By the way; the older wiser characters talk way too fast. Joanne
This film contains a scene where characters spray each other in the face with an aerosol spray can. Unfortunately it taught my small children to do exactly that! This can be a dangerous and life threatening situation. Parents should be strongly cautioned about showing Willy The Sparrow to young children! We originally received this film from a Christian video club that advertised all of their films had high family standards. After the incident with the aerosol sprays occurred we canceled our membership in that club and wrote the club a very strong letter about the nature of the film. The club unfortunately declined to respond to our letter.
It was sometime ago back in the early to mid nineties, my Brother got a copy of it back when he passed the first grade, and I we still own the copy, and we always enjoyed it from time after time. The movie is filled with an equal portion of humor, action, courage, and of course a good influence for young ones of that age. The thing that I didn't know was, that the movie was originally made in Hungary back, in the late eighties. Well, like I say, we always enjoyed it, and so did all my brothers friends of who ever got a copy also, and of course will always be a masterpiece to all those out there, who's minds are just crying out for knowledge.