Directed By: Jim Hensen
Written By:Jim Hensen and Dennis Lee
Staring: David Bowie, Jennifer Connelly, Frank Oz, Toby Froud, and Brian Henson
You have thirteen hours in which to solve the labyrinth, before your baby brother becomes one of us… forever. -Jareth
Review
Labyrinth is one of the most exciting movies of the 80’s stylistically and with an exciting and tangible story about a girl trying to save her young half-brother in a world of magic and goblins. Jim Henson hit every mark on this dark adventure in a fantastical world you’ve never seen before. The suspense and mystery of the Labyrinth is coupled with a light humor and joy that shows in most of Henson’s work and makes the tale that much more complex and compelling. This story will forever be a warning to prove the old saying: “Be careful what you wish for, it may come true.”
The creative life force of the Labyrinth is propelled by it’s amazing animatronics, but mostly by the heart of it’s story. The adventure of the story will have it’s appeal to most children, but the conflict between Sarah and her jealousy of her young brother Toby, while she laments the loss of her mother is it’s most engaging factor. Because Sarah has lost the connection with her father with the addition of his new wife and family, Sarah feels completely alone. In her solitude she escapes into her magical fantasy world to evade her reality, until at some point they intertwine.
The arrival of David Bowie’s character Jareth, “The Goblin King” brings a sinister and malevolent feel to the story, but also a subtle sensuousness. His apparent affection for Sarah, and the fact that she loathes him, but is a part of her is still drawn to him, makes their relationship and his challenge bewildering. This questionable relationship and desires between the two, and Sarah’s apparent attraction to darkness, makes her mission even more daunting without even mentioning the physical conquests to overcome.
The score and soundtrack are just as powerful in this film as the actors, puppets, and story. David Bowie is responsible for some of the catchy and also dark songs that further the passion for the scenes they implement. It evokes a very powerful texture to the story, but also contains a element of fun and pop/rock feel that makes it tangible enough to sing along with.
Some of the most amazing puppet work of it’s time is brought to life in this film. Sarah meets a number of good and bad character’s along her travels, but does manage to find helpful, and sometimes not so helpful companions. Hoggle, Ludo, and Didymus’s character’s felt just as a alive as our flesh characters played by Jennifer Connelly and David Bowie. There is a an intricate and perplexing relationship that all the character’s develop with one another. From the inability to trust one another, to the budding relationships of friendship, the hurt of betrayal, and a sensuous sense of wrong desire, makes for a multiplex of emotions running high throughout the story. It’s incredible that puppets, an abused monster, a character that is a child napper essentially, and a teen girl have so many layers to their persona’s. It makes the movie so much more than a visually cool film that relies solely on it’s puppet magic world to entertain.
There is an element of The Wizard Of Oz and Dorothy here that can’t be ignored, but it’s nowhere near a copy. Obviously, the influence of Oz is here, and unquestionably inspired some of the theme. Sarah meets friends along her journey as well, but her friends aren’t obediently loyal to her and in search of their own rightness. Her friends are troubled beings, outcasts amongst outcasts, and have had to battle good and evil to make their way in the menacing world of the Labyrinth. The dark overtones of the film make it an even more exciting adventure and when mixed with great humor it has all that is required of a great movie. Labyrinth was my favorite movie as a child and is still one of my favorites today. It is an original classic that will forever be remembered as my favorite piece of art Jim Henson left behind.
Do you like the Labyrinth? Rate it.
Strangely twisted movie.
You should do a top ten list about kids movies that scare adults. Those orange dudes always scared me.
The original Charlie and Chocolate Factory – those Oompa Loompa’s are scary things!
Dan recently posted..Top 10 Films of 2003
You know, the first movie that came to mind for me wasn’t Wizard of Oz, it was Alice in Wonderland. This was back when there hadn’t really been a film that properly captured the wonder and chaos of Wonderland – even the Disney version left much to be desired.
Not sure how I feel about David Bowie’s codpiece, but this film really was a window into what Jennifer Connely had to offer the world. A seriously talented actress that had to wade through some real drek before showing everybody her skills.
I bought this last year in the hopes of watching it with my daughter someday… I think that day is still a long ways off.
“It’s the bog of eternal stench!”
Hahahaha………
I worked in video stores during my college years and actually got BANNED from playing this movie so much. After awhile it drove everyone crazy, but I loved it………and still do. I bet your daughter will as well.
This movie is wacked out! I haven’t seen it in years but I remember thinking how creepy it was. Not really the Muppets that I was used to. But now everytime I see David Bowie I can only think of Flight of the Conchords! Maybe I need this movie to remind me how weird Bowie is.
Bowie is totally bonkers, which is why I have this obsession with him, but it began in this film. The music was haunting and his performance was darkly sexual. It was all so wrong, but so right.
I am a borderline obsessive Bowie fan, so this is like Mecca to me. I’m disappointed he never really branched out into acting, but he has managed (despite what the leggings here might say to the contrary) managed to be more dignified than most singers-turned-actors. My favourite Bowie performance is the Prestige, complete with wonderfully strange speaking style (he times his speech as if his English were broken, but doesn’t force an accent… it’s incredible).
I think I fancy the codpiece.
But I agree with both of you. He has certainly acted well when he’s chosen to. I just look at him and see a pure artist in anything he creates or is a part of. I love the Labyrinth for a thousand reasons, but he is the real reason it is as memorable as it is.
@ Darren — Bowie’s been in some good movies playing good parts wonderfully — If he branched out more, he might’ve had some stinkers in there.
And the cod piece: intimidating.