Labyrinth
|
List Price: Our Price: $3.98 You Save: $11.01 (73%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $1.74 (click here) Category: DVD See more DVD releases |
|---|
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
Movie Reviews of Labyrinth
Movie Review: "Lessons about growing up?" Hmph...
Summary: 5 Stars
Yes, the movie has those lessons, but, as the Door Guards say, "That's only half of it." This is quite strange, actually, but there exist certain works of literature and cinema, certain paintings also that happen, by accident or not, to approach very nearly some fundamental truths. Unrelated to each other, with the authors usually unaware what comes out as side effect, they stretch in a kind of string across the ages. The ancient Babylon had them, and medieval England, and England of Queen Victoria, and, hard as it is to believe in this desperate age, the United States in 1980s.
I will not give examples: you, reading this, either already know what I'm talking about, or don't, and then you shouldn't bother. In brief, all such works deal with what we can call Man's Relation to the Strange - the comings and goings, the gestures, dangers and requirements of a rite of passage. The relation itself does not fundamentally change, but it dresses in metaphors congenial to the era. Before long we shall probably have a cyberpunk "Labyrinth," where a hero or heroine finds her way through machine-land, resists its charms but carries back to the human world a diplomatic understanding. And an ability to call for help.
And that's enough; like I said, either you know what I mean or not. The point of this review is to ask that you, Mr. Viewer, watch the movie VERY CAREFULLY and try to understand what each scene tries to accomplish and how. Not everything will make sense, there is a lot of sheer fun going on here, and laughs, and crazy puppets. Good things all, they keep up the mood. As I said, Henson hardly intended to make statements with the movie, other than that we need imagination in our daily lives, or something like that. But this is NOT what I'm talking about. Pay attention rather to the Labyrinth itself, to its challenges, to Sarah's responses. To the baby, too. What is the role of that toddler? Why is he completely passive - kidnapped, held, recovered, and nothing else? What does he stand for?
Look for symbols with moderation, of course, and don't forget to have fun. The first time through you'll probably have nothing else. But neither should you forget that there is more to the picture. It deserves multiple viewings... dig in it for precious nuggets.
Movie Review: Henson+Lucas=The Perfect Team
Summary: 5 Stars
Labyrinth to me is one of those movies that seem to stay with you forever. The entire concept of the film is unique is it's nature. Imagine making a wish that The Troll King would come and take a loved one away. What if it actually did happen?? What if you had to go and rescue the loved one?? Well, in this, Sarah (Jennifer Connelly of "A Beautiful Mind" fame) wishes her baby brother Toby to be taken away, only for it to happen. Upon talking to The Troll King, played amazingly by David Bowie, she must travel through the Labyrinth to the Goblin City and face off against The Troll King to reclaim him. Over the course of her journey through the maze she encounters many interesting characters (Hoggle, Sir Didymus, Ludo, The Bog of Eternal Stench, "False Alarms" & others). Friendship, deception and betryal are just some of the obstacles that Sarah and her companions must overcome. Eventually she does make it to the castle and meets The Goblin King face to face for the fate of Toby in a battle of the minds. Will she win, or will Toby remain with the goblins forever?? You will just have to watch the movie to find that one out. But I can say that the movie is indeed a classic. It is one of the best fantasy movies of the 80's. Jim Henson and George Lucas have done a superior job of mixing great special effects with a wonderful array of puppetry. The DVD transfer is pretty good too, not top notch, but I find it to be quite well done. The extras aren't too bad either. You get a trilogy of fantasy flick trailers from the Jim Henson filmography. Additionally you get a cast/crew bio feature and a pretty good behind-the-scenes featurette. Overall, Labyrinth is a phenomenal movie that will take you to places you never imagined. I highly recommend it as is destined to be a classic and who knows, after a few viewings you might find yourself with a bit of "Magic Dance" in your soul.Movie Review: The Labyrinth's Winding Ways
Summary: 5 Stars
"Labyrinth" is one of the fantasy movies classics of the '80s,forming a triumvirate with "Krull" and Jim Henson's other classic,"The Dark Crystal." "Labyrinth",in a sense,is the strange middle child. It is in between the childlike fantasy of "Dark Crystal" and the more adult themes of "Krull." A young Jennifer Connelly was starring in her first trippin' film, preparing the way for "Requiem for a Dream","Dark City" and "A Beautiful Mind." How fitting one of her first movies would be about a preteen trying to figure out reality.
"Labyrinth" is about a young girl,Sarah (Connelly) who doesn't want to take care of infant stepbrother,Toby. She calls on goblins to take him away;Jareth (David Bowie),the Goblin King,obliges. Suddenly, Sarah regrets her decision&must venture through a labyrinth to save Toby. "Labyrinth" has more mature themes than children might realize (but it's kid-friendly)There seems to be a mutual attraction between Sarah&Jareth. David Bowie plays Jareth ambiguously,as a seducer,a friend,a villain,and a father figure. He even injects some glam rock into the movie. There's a Freudian quality to Jareth&Sarah's relationship. Jareth's final speech is quite moving,since he tells Sarah all he wanted to do was please her.He comes across as an unrequited lover. The conclusion is rather strange;Sarah rejoices with her friends from the Labyrinth. One can say she has reconciled everyday life with her fantasy life.
"Labyrinth" stands as a timeless fantasy masterpiece. It comes as no surprise that Peter Jackson considered David Bowie for the role of Saruman. The Glam Rock Master of Orthanc,indeed. Jennifer Connelly balances childlike qualities with more mature ones. The Muppets&production are fantastic. "Labyrinth" is a trippin' journey worth taking.
Movie Review: More than meets the eye
Summary: 5 Stars
This movie, like the labyrinth itself, is not always what it seems. It has layers, and depending on where you are in your life, it can mean something different to you. It waits for you to catch up to it. On the surface level, Labyrinth is a fun fantasy movie for kids, and in this capacity, it delivers wholeheartedly. It follows a tried-but-true storyline--a girl finds herself in a fantasy world with a quest to accomplish, sidekicks who help her on the way, and a villain that both terrifies and entrances (and sings!). With fun songs, neat Muppet creatures, and plenty of humor, Labyrinth is an imaginative, yet classic, fantasy story that is always entertaining.
And then you grow up a little, and you realize that Labyrinth is also a coming-of-age story about a girl who's trying to grow up but doesn't know how to let go of her childhood fantasies. And that's what I love so much about this movie--it grows up with you. This is a movie about becoming lost in fantasy, about the dangers of growing up too soon or too late. The labyrinth is Sarah's fantasy, and solving it becomes more than just a matter of saving her brother--she also has to navigate her way to adulthood and responsibility. This may be obvious to an older viewer, but the experience of realizing it for yourself and relating to it as you grow up makes the movie something unexpectedly personal and powerful. It never stops being a fun fantasy movie with goblins, but there are bonus layers--what's real and what isn't? How much does Sarah control her fantasy world, and how much does it control her? What exactly does she have to give up? Labyrinth was one of my favorite movies as a child, and it's still one of my favorites, because I never stop relating to it.
Also, David Bowie is awesome.
Movie Review: It is more deep than it looks
Summary: 5 Stars
While on the surface, this film may appear to be something wholly without sense or worth, it is certainly not as it appears.
Watching it once will not lead you to the deeper meanings inside of it.
This film often has a bad reputation, due to some who feel it was a mistake in David Bowie's career, feel that it was too commercial, don't take the time to actually read into the story, whatnot. However, this bad reputation is undeserved.
The Labyrinth is anything that you want it to be.
Some interpret it to represent people from the Bible.
Some interpret it to be a journey into the underworld of Greek Mythology.
Some interpret it to be a psychologically gripping film about a person's subconscious trying to stop the conscious part of the mind from abusing it.
Some see nothing more than a silly/stupid/sappy/fairly good children's film, with a young girl braving perils in order to save her brother from a terrible fiend, and learning along the way.
I tend to feel it is more about psychology and the conscious/subconscious, therefore I would recommend it for that.
If you are looking for something in which to find deeper meaning, to make you think, something of substance, then I highly recommend this movie.
See it, at least two times, look for what you can find in it. You just might see yourself.
[Also, I highly recommend reading the essay which can be found at the following link: http://www.angelfire.com/mi2/lorelei/labyanalysis.html
Very worthwhile and will give deeper meaning to the film.]