Labyrinth
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Movie Reviews of Labyrinth
Movie Review: A piece of your childhood regained
Summary: 5 Stars
I still cannot believe how many people do not know that this movie exists. I wonder if this film would have ever been released if it was not for the current trend in cult releases on DVD and tape. It may not be the best movie ever made, but it is definitely one of the best fantasy films of modern cinema. Sure, maybe some of the effects may be dated by today's standards or the film may have been marketed for children, but ... who cares? The work on the design of this production alone should have won it several awards, David Bowie's performance still stands out as incredible, and the story itself is a lot deeper than most will admit. But hey, at least that fact has not hurt the film's popularity. Only something as well done as this could withstand the tests of time in a film industry like ours.
Regardless of anyone who might disagree as to how good or bad Labyrinth is, no one can deny it's power to generate a fan base that could survive without any means to purchase a copy for so long. Only something that can touch people's hearts and minds could do something like that. The eighties heralded so many well done fantasy productions that I wish it would become a filmmaking trend again someday.
Labyrinth, The Never Ending Story, The Princess Bride, Return to Oz, and Legend were truly some of the most painstakingly detailed, amazingly directed, and beautifully scored films that I can think of. I may have originally viewed them as a young child, but over the years not one of them has disappeared from my memories. As one grows older one forgets the unmemorable, but not works of art like these. After just viewing Labyrinth again, I can see that even though I've grown and I've learned many things about filmmaking itself, this movie still amazes me. Even if some have a problem with the pace or are avid haters of muppets, they should sit down and give this film a chance. At times it almost seems as if the characters in the film are just walking through a wonderfully done canvas of colors, and I am not talking about the matte paintings.
There are points where the viewer just forgets that they are even viewing a film and become mesmerized by the music, visuals, and feel of Labyrinth. One might think that Bowie's music, having been a fad of the eighties, would have also been awkward after a decade or so, but that is not the case either. The music just seems to fit as if it were never part of the real world at all but just more of what one would expect from mischievous goblins out to have fun or Jareth's attempts at wooing the heroine.
If I had to pick one thing about this film that will truly leave anyone in awe, it is the ballroom sequence. I have not seen many films in my life that have given a feel of a hypnotizing dream like Frank Oz and Jim Henson did in that scene. The symbolism equally matched with a romanticized score, perfectly timed dance choreography and unbelievable costume designing make for one of the grandest scenes I have ever viewed.
I'm very happy that now after more than a decade, this film has been restored and given a chance at new life. Maybe now more will learn of it and give it the appreciation it deserves.
Movie Review: Get Lost in the Labyrinth!
Summary: 5 Stars
Sarah is a beautiful but delusional teenage girl living with her overbearing parents and incessantly crying baby brother. She immerses herself in a world of fairytale fantasy to forget her day-to-day strife, and rehearses lines from books in the hope of one day becoming a great actress like her real mother. But on one particularly stormy night, Sarah is left alone to tend to her baby brother yet again, and the assignment is more than she can bear. She finally makes a hasty wish for the infant to be taken away by goblins, to trouble her no more! --- Her wish is granted. --- Sarah suddenly finds herself alone in a fairy kingdom on a magical quest to save her brother, journeying beyond the gates of the goblin city and to the castle of the very Goblin King himself, but to get there she first must solve the Labyrinth!
From fantasy masters Jim Henson and George Lucas comes a film that delighted a generation! Labyrinth is a magical fantasy that combines the Wizard of Oz, Alice In Wonderland, and the Return of the Jedi, with an 80's twist in the form of David Bowie's one of a kind musical style. The film follows Sarah's transformation from bratty teenage girl to sympathetic and endearing heroine, as she makes her way through all the traps and twists the Goblin King sets before her, picking up new friends as she goes, from the ugly but good-hearted dwarf, Hoggle, and an enormous, hairy simpleton called Ludo, to brave Sir Didymus the fox and his noble steed, Ambrosius the dog. Almost the entire cast is direct from Jim Henson's creature shop, featuring an assortment of weirdies and baddies the likes of which you've hopefully never seen. And there's more magic still, thanks to the sorcery of Jareth, the Goblin King, portrayed beautifully by the hypnotic personage of David Bowie. Jennifer Connelly holds her own as Sarah though, looking more beautiful than I have ever seen her, and far too hot to be the staying at home and reading Tolkien on a Friday-night type, but we'll let that slide in lieu of the gorgeous eye-candy. If Henson and Lucas were aiming for a timeless classic here, ala "The Wizard of Oz," they may have missed the mark, as the music of the film dates it as unmistakably 80's. Nevertheless, it is without a doubt a masterpiece of filmmaking in true Jim Henson style, a great trip for the 80's fantasy enthusiast, and an excellent piece of fantasy entertainment for anyone who is a fan of the genre. More than a few elements from the world of Harry Potter were clearly inspired by this film, just as it was inspired by the classic fantasies that came before it. "Labyrinth" is a true work of art, and a true milestone of fantasy entertainment!
The DVD is in widescreen, featuring a fullscreen theatrical trailer, and a long and informative behind the scenes featurette that includes interviews with the performers and creators, not to mention more lovely footage of Jennifer Connelly. Cast and Crew "Talent Files" are also included. Don't hesitate to add "Labyrinth" to your collection today!
Movie Review: Favorite Movie of All Time
Summary: 5 Stars
Okay, now I remember seeing this movie when i was really little (im 15 now so it wasn't that long ago...haha) because my mom is a huge David Bowie fan. I liked it, and thought the songs were cool, but now as i go back and watch it, I see the wonders of the Labyrinth.There is just something about the muppets, even though some are hideous because they have to be....they're goblins, that amazes me. This was done mid 80's and it looks fantastic! When you first see Hoggle, the dwarf that helps Sarah along the way, he isn't an immediate favorite, but by the end he's the most loveable little dwarf ever! Forget about the hobbits in Lord of The Rings! I much rather prefer these muppets. The big, but still loveable Ludo has the same feel. But the one that gets me cracking up hysterically (well it actually is two) are Sir Didymus (i like to call him "Little Fox Dude" haha) and his dog, that acts as a horse, Ambrocous. It's HYSTERICAL to see him taking on Ludo and popping out of every little corner! I love it!
The scenery is incredible as well. I especially love the one part where you see David Bowie's face in rock, and it seems like it's just one big statue, but because things are never what they seem in the labyrinth (huge creatures that are kind hearted, a little fox that will take on a hundred-goblin army all by himself) the camera pans around and you see that there are multiple rocks that from facce on seem as one. Amazing for the 80's!!!
Now onto David Bowie. I guess the hair and outfits aren't for everyone. Personally, I love him in this movie. The hair is so amazing, especially in "When the World Falls Down" when he has the tiny blue streaks to match his outfit. Personally, I love seeing him in the tight pants...it was the 80's!!! But there is always something extravagent about each outfit that can take away from the pants, if that's not your cup of tea. Like the wonderful jackets (once again, especially in "When the World Falls Down") and make-up...nothing better than a guy that looks fabulous wearing make-up!
There is the once scene though, that still boggles my mind. It is when Sarah gets to the Labyrinth and is trying to get to her little brother. There are random stairs everywhere. You see a shot of Sarah on the top side, and David Bowie on the bottom, all at once, and then From the bottom, Bowie swings around to the top. It is amazing! If you don't like anything else about the movie, this scene is sure to blow you away. I also love other things like the near misses between David Bowie and Sarah, and the end when he is begging for the baby. For a few seconds you feel bad for Bowie..well Jareth...and how hard he tries, until 5 seconds later you realize he really is a bad guy.
It's a wonderful movie!!!
Movie Review: As the World Falls Down
Summary: 5 Stars
I don't know what it is about fantasy movies from the 80's, but so many of them are THE best of the genre. Return To Oz, The Neverending Story, Legend, The Dark Crystal, etc. Each of them have a charming and captivating quality that fantasy adventure flicks of the last 2 decades don't possess. Same goes for the 1986 Jim Henson classic Labyrinth.
Loosely based on Maurice Sendak's children's book Outside Over There, Labyrinth follows spoiled 15 year old Sarah (played by a young Jennifer Connelly) who's too obsessed with fairy tales and her stuffed bear Lancelot to think about others. The immature brat whines and complains about having to babysit her baby brother Toby while her father and stepmother go out on a date. Wishing to be rid of the screaming infant, Sarah calls for the Goblin King to take the child away forever. Turns out he's not just a character in a fairy tale, because King Jareth himself (the glammed out David Bowie) grants her wish and baby Toby vanishes. Immediately regretting what she's done, Sarah is told that she must travel through the Labyrinth to rescue him within 13 hours. If she fails, little Toby will become a goblin forever. No pressure, right?
The Labyrinth is a ginormous, mind-boggling maze with so many twists and turns that will make your head spin. Invisible pathways within walls, dead ends that switch from one area to the next, and several traps. Along the way, Sarah befriends the curmudgeonly, jewelry loving gnome Hoggle, large yet lovable creature Ludo, and tiny fox-life knight with loads of courage Sir Didymus. Fearing the girl might succeed, Jareth places several pitfalls to defeat or distract Sarah from her goal.
I have to say the whole look of the film from the Escher-styled sets to the Muppets themselves are fantastic. Quirky, offbeat, and reminiscent of the darkness surrounding the timeless fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm. The soundtrack is amazing as well. The funky opener and closer Underground, silly sing-a-long Magic Dance, and lissome Within You. The best song hands down is the dreamy As the World Falls Down. My absolute favorite scene (and I've got alot of them!).
The dvd extras are top notch too with the behind the scenes documentary Inside the Labyrinth revealing how the special effects were pulled off. Did you know that Michael Jackson was originally considered for the role of Jareth? It would've been interesting to see how the late King of Pop would've portrayed the character, but Bowie was tailor made for it imo.
Inspired by The Wizard of Oz and Alice in Wonderland, Labyrinth is an original and underrated fantasy adventure movie that will enthrall children and adults alike. If you haven't seen it yet, what are you waiting for?!
Movie Review: Reality vs Illusion
Summary: 5 Stars
Labyrinth is about a young girl called Sarah (Jennifer Connelly) who lives in two different worlds- the real world, where her mother is not present in her life, she has a stepmother she hates, and a baby brother Toby that she's forced to baby-sit for. The other world is the fantasy world she's created for herself, in which she dresses like a Princess, names her pets and toys after storybook characters (a teddy bear called Launcelot and a dog called Merlin) preforms to her stuffed toys, and quotes lines from her favourite book - "The Labyrinth". It is obvious which of these two worlds she prefers.One night babysitting however, her exasperation with her brother causes her to invoke the goblin king Jareth (David Bowie) and wishes him to take her brother away. He, being strangely in love with her, is only too happy to oblige, and sends out his goblin followers to snatch the baby. To Sarah's horror, she finds that her fantasy world is all too real, and to save Toby from being changed into a goblin, she must accept Jareth's deal: to rescue Toby she must travel through the labyrinth to the goblin city at it's centre. On the way she is joined by such friends as Hoggle the dwarfish creature with a big heart hidden behind a gruff exterior, Ludo the large, loveable 'monster' who can call the rocks, and Didymus the knightly fox on his steed - the sheepdog Ambrosius.
This is a family movie, with lots of laughs and thrills, brilliant costumes and set designs, and Jim Henson's puppets are still amazing to watch preform. But adults might pick up on the subtle similarities between Sarah's 'real' world and her 'Labyrinth' world, recognising the theme of reality and illusion. For instance, some of the toys in her room bear the same resemblances to Hoggle, Ludo and Didymus, Jareth is identified with the white owl that follows Sarah around the park, both Sarah's dog Merlin and Didymus's dog Ambrosius are English Sheepdogs, in Jareth's 'dream sequence' Sarah wears the same dress as the dancer in her music box, Sarah comes across the image of her own room in a dump-heap while in the Labyrinth, and at the climax of the movie she directly quotes her book 'The Labyrinth' in her final defense against Jareth.
So this movie is not just a kid's fantasy movie, it requires lots of 'reading between the lines' to pick up on the intended similarities between the real world, and the one that Sarah creates.
To end with Sarah's own quote, from her book 'The Labyrinth': "Give me the child. Through hardships untold and dangers un-numbered I have fought my way here to the castle beyond the goblin city to take back the child that you have stolen. For my will is as strong as yours, and my kingdom is great. You have no power over me."