Labyrinth
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Movie Reviews of Labyrinth
Movie Review: A sadly overlooked jewel
Summary: 5 Stars
I had an opportunity to meet Gates McFadden (Dr. Beverly Crusher of Star Trek fame) who choreographed this film, and she has nothing but positive things to say. So does David Holman, Palm Springs resident, Emmy winner (1984 Olympics) and Jim Henson's co-producer on The Muppet Show.
I was a fantasy addict as a child and could relate to Sarah. Oddly enough I never paid much attention to David Bowie until this movie, although I'd certainly heard of him. His naturally mismatched eyes and androgynous shape-changing reinventing personality/persona ("artistic promiscuity," he called it once in an interview) make him the ideal performer to portray the mysterious Jareth, who unfortunately gets kiddied up despite the off-the-scale sensuality. Tormenting the one person who knows more about the Labyrinth than anyone, namely Hoggle? Too Saturday-morning cartoon for me. Sadly, all-powerful tyrants do make these kinds of mistakes, but Jareth was less the villain in my view and more an antagonist who had a reason for what he did, unless, like Dorothy, Sarah invented the whole thing in her mind. Considering she was on the verge of womanhood, that would fit, and considering she resented her baby brother in teenage self-absorption, that would also fit. There are actual spiritual Labyrinths that you walk, most notably in the Franciscan churches. So Sarah's journey could have been a dream, except they never stated that expressly.
Assuming that the whole Labyrinth existed and that Sarah's ordeal was real (as if what goes on in our minds isn't just as real more often than not), special effects aside, the Labyrinth's lessons are spiritual touchstones amounting to (a) Kindness rules, (b) Don't give up your dreams, but know the difference between dreams and fantasies, and (c) What the bleep do we know?
And of course...it's just a show, I should really just relax.
Still, it would have been nice if Jareth had been written a little less villainish and more mysterious. Bowie's performance, however, breaks out of the script and gives us a glimpse of someone with an agenda, a mission that gets complicated by his attraction to Sarah. It's an attraction he uses as another test, because clearly she is dazzled by him. After hearing him sing, who wouldn't be?
Sarah's courage (and Connelly's maturity) shines through as she does what must be done and puts her fantasy life in perspective. One can imagine that after this Jareth would only admire her all the more. That's why, nearly two decades after its release, the story still manages to captivate--well, that and the wonderful Muppet creatures, and Jim Henson's sensibilities.
Movie Review: Goblin King! Goblin King! Wherever you may be take this child of mine far away from me!
Summary: 5 Stars
A Fantastical Quest Through the Labyrinth of Time. This Henson/Lucas production isn't quite what you'd expect from these legendary directors. Somehow, it's better.
The genius of Henson and Lucas shines brightly as Jennifer Connelly and David Bowie perpetuate this wonderful tale of fantasy written by Dennis Lee and Jim Henson. Henson's son, Brian (now the head of the Henson Empire), even gets in on the act as the voice of Hoggle.
The story opens in the present, this world, this plane. Sarah (Connelly) is a spoiled rotten little drama queen who thinks she is the center of the universe and the sun around which the world revolves.
In a brattish fit of colossal immaturity, she stumbles upon the correct words to summon Jareth the Goblin King (Bowie) to take her little brother to the Goblin Realm.
Once done; however, she realizes how angry her parents will be and decides that it's more prudent to go "rescue" Toby rather than allow his assimilation into the Goblin fold.
Jareth gives her 13 hours in which to find her way through an impossible labyrinth, fight her way through the Goblin City, and puzzle out the staircases of the Goblin Castle and save her half-brother.
She is punished for arrogance, beguiled in her naivety, confused in her indecision and imprisoned for her quick, thoughtless decisions. "That's not FAIR!" is one of her most used and best delivered lines; used again and again, until it FINALLY sinks in that life just isn't fair.
It is a warm, funny and enriching tale, once started. It's about growing up, accepting responsibility for your actions and choices and making them more wisely in the beginning, rather than cleaning up your messes as you go along.
In the end, Sarah realizes all the infantile tantrums and childish toys are nothing but detritial remains of her otherwise out-lived childhood. She begins to stumble upon the reality that the important things are family, friends, and the responsibility that comes with making mature decisions. She throws away her immaturity and child-like selfishness to save her brother and thereby sets her feet back on the right path to adulthood and maturity.
It's a wonderful "coming of age" movie, and perfect for its target audience: girls 9-13. But I must say that children and adults alike love this movie, worldwide. It's not ONLY for girls, but for anyone who loves fantasy. This movie is far superior to what most consider to be your standard "Muppet Movie." It's one of my favorites.
Movie Review: David Bowie...enough said...
Summary: 5 Stars
I can honestly admit that I had no idea who he was when I saw this movie, but I love him! I remember seeing this movie on the Disney channel when I was about 8 or 9, especially around Halloween. I would watch it and bop my heads to the songs and I really liked this film. It wasn't until I was 19 and I happened to describe this movie to a college friend who instantly recognized this movie as 'Labyrinth' and almost immediately we jumped up and drove to the local Walmart to pick this little number up! I didn't even realize that Sarah was played by a young Jennifer Connelly until then.
David Bowie is timeless and gorgeous in this film! I love his glitzy costumes and everytime he appears on screen my breath hitches in my throat. Bowie's not even from my generation and I'm a die-hard fan-girl of his. His music is sublime in this film especially 'As the World Falls Down' in the fan favorite ballroom scene(the scene I used to describe the movie when I forgot its name). I also like 'Within You', 'Underground', 'Chilly Down', and of course 'Magic Dance'! Yes, if you watch this film and love it the first thing you will want to get your hands on is the soundtrack.
The DVD extra's are heart-warming and I felt priviledged to see the making of the film as well as commentary from the actors and of course Bowie himself. The bloopers are also very fun to watch as well. Oh, let's not forget the fact that this film wouldn't even be possible without master puppeteer Jim Henson.
Jennifer Connelly is so adorable as Sarah. Her character goes through some growth from the start to finish of the movie. She starts out as a selfish, bratty, immature teenaged girl whose tired of her baby brother, Tobey, cramping her life. She wishes him to be taken away by unknowingly declaring the 'magic words' and before she knows it the Goblin King(Bowie) grants her wish. Realizing what she's done she strikes a deal with the duplicitous king and enters the labyrinth as she races against time to save her brother or he will forever remain in the Goblin King's clutches. Along the way she meets and befriends some interesting characters to aid(or sidetrack) her in her journey.
Some may say this movie will have either creeped you out as a kid or seems too strange and corny to watch as an adult. I disagree. This is a fun film to watch and if you've seen it as a kid and watch it as an adult you will be hit with a wave of nostalgia! I highly recommened this film for kids and adults alike(especially if you're a Bowie fan)!
Movie Review: Labyrinth - fantasy and fun
Summary: 5 Stars
The Labyrinth is a delightful movie of fantasy and fun for all ages to enjoy. This has always been one of my favorite films, and going back to it as an adult only makes me enjoy and appreciate it all the more. Jennifer Connelly gives a superb performance as Sarah, the main character, whose baby brother is taken by the Goblin King (David Bowie in one of his best characters - who ironically gives an often sensitive and human performance while being fanciful and fantastic at the same time; he wrote and performed all the music, which is also some of his best work). Sarah must leave her world of make-believe and enter the very real and deceptive Labyrinth to save her brother in time before he's turned into a goblin. Along the way, we encounter a large cast of Jim Henson's puppet-creatures, some of which become Sarah's friends and helpers in her journey. The puppets are so believable that you soon forget that they are not real people. The movie is filled with magic, both on and off screen.
The film is supplemented on this DVD with a "Making-of" documentary - an original feature, narrated largely by Jim Henson himself - made during the actual production of the film (released in 1986). Such a documentary makes one appreciate even more what goes into a movie like this and how complex the creatures are - what goes into their creation, how they operate, and how they interact with the sets and other characters (especially in this case with the live actors). It's a lot of fun to see this "inside" look, and more than anything gives a real sense of who Jim Henson was and how much this all really meant to him. My favorite quote from Jim Henson in this documentary was when he said (about his inspiration and motivation when he makes a movie), "When I go see a film, when I leave the theater... I like to be happier than I was when when I went in, I like to leave with an up feeling, and I like a picture to have a sense of substance, to be about life and the things that matter to me," - a wonderful sentiment to remember in this day and age.
Lighthearted, fun, fantastical, funny, beautiful, exciting, and more "real" than many of today's "realities" - extremely enjoyable and uplifting. As an added bonus, Monty Python member Terry Jones wrote the script (and is interviewed in the documentary). Cheryl McFadden (Star Trek: TNG's Beverly Crusher) also did all the choreography in the film (for both humans and puppets). :-)
Movie Review: A' mazing tale of never-ending fantasy.
Summary: 5 Stars
"Jareth: You remind me of the babe. Goblin: What babe? Jareth: The babe with the power. Different Goblin: What power? Jareth: The power of voodoo. Goblin: Who do? Jareth: You do. Goblin: Do what? Jareth: Remind me of the babe."When I first saw this film as a kid, it was intant love. Jim Henson, George Lucas and David Bowie take you into a dazzling world of fantasy and adventure, "where everything seems possible and nothing is what it seems."
LABYRINTH, is almost completely dominated by creations from Jim Henson's Creature Shop, though it does contains a human or two (David Bowie as Jareth, the Goblin King, and Jennifer Connelly as our modern-day Alice in Wonderland, Sarah). Like many teenagers, Sarah prefers the world of fairytales and make-believe to reality. Saddled with the "unfairness" of having to baby-sit her infant brother, she defiantly wishes that "the goblins would take him away." Little does she know, the Goblin King really does exist and he immediately comes to claim his prize. When Sarah tells him it was all a mistake and she'd like her brother back, he sets her a task: she can get the child back, but only by finding her way through an endless labyrinth to the castle in the center within thirteen hours.
And the labyrinth is impressive indeed. The illusionary world is a wonder to behold, full of Escher-esque columns and archways, immaculate hedge walls, and a massive city in the center of the maze surrounding the castle. Doorways move about, door knockers provide riddles, and traps ofall shapes and sizes abound waiting to... well.... trap you.
Director Jim Henson balances the deliberate rhythms with the intricate and impressive special effects of the time, to create a spellbinding film. LABYRINTH seems to be inspired by the works of Maurice Sendak and Louis Carroll as is evident by the flawless concept design by artist Brian Froud. Ex Monty Python member Terry Jones has written a script full of sly wonder and mischievous marvels. And David Bowie also performs five mystical, magical songs for the film.
Not many extras on the DVD but there is an excellent documentary, "Inside the Labyrinth" featuring tons of behind the scenes footage showing the creation of this incredible looking film.
Bottom Line: a must for Jim Henson enthusiasts and anyone who likes intelligent fantasy.