Labyrinth (1986)
Where nothing is what it seems
Starring: David Bowie, Jennifer Connelly, Toby Froud, Shari Weiser, Brian Henson
Director: Jim Henson
Running Time: 98 minutes
US MPAA rating: N/AUK BBFC rating: u
Adventure, Fantasy
On DVD Long before FX departments started relying on computers to supply their more weird and wonderful characters, Jim Henson was using good ol' fashioned puppetry (or should that be 'muppetry'?) to bring his fantastical tales to life.
While that inevitably means parts of this 1986 fairy-tale adventure have aged better than others, the ambitious Terry Jones-scripted "Labyrinth" remains as enjoyable as ever. Jennifer Connelly plays Sarah, the tantrum-throwing teen whose baby brother Toby gets on her nerves once too often during another night's babysitting. If truth be told she's a bit of a weirdo, hence her decision to wish for goblins to come and take her bothersome sibling away. Of course, when her wish comes true she lives to regret it, and what's worse is she only has 13 hours to retrieve the squealing tot before the goblins get official custody (which would surely never stand up in court).
Helping - and occasionally hindering - Sarah as she fights her way through goblins, caverns and even the Bog of Eternal Stench (hold your nose for that one) are fairy-hating midget Hoggle, gentle giant Ludo, and a talking dog named Sir Didymus.
David Bowie dons an uncomfortably-tight set of leggings and a Kajagoogoo-style spiky mullet for the role of Jareth the Goblin King, who it has to be said has a slightly unhealthy interest in our 15-year-old heroine. Thankfully, she's having far too tough a time making her way through the maze outside the Goblin Castle to take any notice of Jareth's increasingly desperate advances. Perhaps he should consider getting a nice haircut and a new wardrobe?
DVD Extras: Theatrical trailer, filmographies, and a 56 minute documentary which, amongst other things, reveals that Sting and Michael Jackson were also up for the role of Jareth. Given one particular scene where Jareth throws the baby around the Goblin Castle, it's probably for the best that Jacko was kept away from this one.
It's Got: A cracking soundtrack from David Bowie - who performs five original songs during the film.
It Needs: More extra sections for DVD viewers.
Alternatives:
Summary: At times extremely dark but always hugely entertaining, another winner from The Jim Henson Creature Workshop.
Review by Gary Panton
Review Date: 1st May 2003
External Links
Labyrinth at the IMDB
Comments10 Comments |
| I LOVE LABYRINTH!!! Jareth and the worm are my favorite characters. |
| Comment by:- Amber | | 04 September 2004 | ip: logged |
| WHATS WRONG WITH YOU STUPID PPL? |
| Comment by:- Amber | | 11 September 2004 | ip: logged |
| The labyrinth is my 2 favorite movie i love it!!!!!!!! i love the worm and the firy creatures that are ornge and red and ludo they are my favorite and i think that jareth is hot in that movie who is david bowie |
| Comment by:- kayla | | 23 September 2004 | ip: logged |
| I love labyrinth!!!!!!!!!!!! I love david bowie!!!!!!!!!!! My favourite film along with the rocky horror picture show! The sound track to labyrinth is fantastic and i am frequently known to my friends for burstin out in song with 'You remind me of the babe...' |
| Comment by:- Kirsten | | 28 September 2004 | ip: logged |
| Labyrinth is the best film ever!!!! I love the film!! I have the film on DVD and think Jennifer Connelly is a terrific actress! My favourite character's are Sarah and Hoggle. I also have the Labyrinth Soundtrack and the best song is "Underground". Great film, great actors, great songs... GREAT!!!! |
| Comment by:- Darryl | | 25 October 2004 | ip: logged |
| this movie is BORINg hehe |
| Comment by:- bobby | blah blah | 09 November 2004 | ip: logged |
| ahhh i get soo excited when i watch this movie it has been my favorite movie since i was three and its still my favorite and me nd my friend talk about it all the time and we know everything about the movie !!!!!!!!!! |
| Comment by:- Anonymous | | 14 November 2004 | ip: logged |
| I love this movie. I first watched it when I was four, and have seen it many times since. The songs are great too :) And the worm is the BEST character ever. I want one as a pet - it has such a cool little scarf. Anyway... |
| Comment by:- lily | | 10 December 2004 | ip: logged |
| And yeah, Bowies leggings are kind of... tight. Hehe. |
| Comment by:- lily | | 10 December 2004 | ip: logged |
| I have to say that for an 80's movie this was very well made since it still has such a varied fan base. I have always been a David Bowie fan even before I was born! My mum was pregnant and went to a bunch of his concerts so I guess it was instilled in me. And while the tights are a bit distracting I wouldnt have it any other way. Im so obsessed that I own several copies of everything he has ever made... So I guess to cut short this ramble I am reviewing Labyrinth in a positive light. It is a fun filled movie that will def. get your mind thinking about what can/will happen next. (Any one else want to see a sequel? Cause it just left off at a great point to expand... though it would take some of the magic out of the movie...*sigh* such a dilema) |
| Comment by:- Kayla | | 25 December 2004 | ip: logged |
