Labyrinth

Rating:
Summary: Reality vs Illusion
Review: 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."

Rating:
Summary: Movie for all
Review: My oldest fell in love with this movie and David Bowie when it first came out in 86. Now her sisters (10 & 7) feel the same way. I too have always enjoyed this movie. It's kind of hard
having "Magic Dance" blasting on the car stereo and acting cool at the same time but it's a song that stays in your head. So, who cares!? What other movie can keep my whole family including myself (40yrs) happy watching it over & over again?

Rating:
Summary: Bad Pants
Review: David Bowie must have really needed money to appear in this bad movie. His songs were bad, his hair was scarey and oh god did anyone else see the tube sock that he rolled up into his pants???? Please tell me: why was this put onto DVD? So future genrations would be allowed the pleasure of David's gyrating pelvis and sock?

Rating:
Summary: A childhood favorite hits DVD...
Review: I must stress that my score of 4 stars is based on the netire DVD package, not just the movie itself.
Labyrinth is a great film, and the movie that my family watches anually at Holloween since I got the DVD. The acting in the movie is a little cheesy in parts, mostly Jennifer Connely, however David Bowie was compelling in his role the Goblin king... the tights are a bit unsightly though. This movie is an essential must own for Jim Henson fans. It is also the first Lucas film to hit DVD. As the first I suppose one must go easy on the over all DVD, but I've come to expect more out of Mr. Lucas when it comes to "special editions." The transfer is not much better than the VHS version, although the colors are more vibrant and richer, and the widescreen presentation is also a nice touch, it was still a little grainey, and there were parts where it was overly obvious a blue screen and optical print was used, all things which could have easily been corrected at very little cost. The special features are nice, and informative, but not substantial. It would have been nice if this package had been as fully loaded as the Dark Crystal. Still it does have above average special features. And it's definately worth buying, it just could have been better.

Rating:
Summary: What a fairytale....
Review: I first saw this movie when I was about 8yrs old I'm 22 now and I still love this movie. Jim Hanson's puppets and sets are amazing. David Bowies songs are catchy and you will be singing them long after you turn the movie off. This movie is one of my favorites and its not because David Bowie looks OH SO GOOD IN THOSE PANTS I SWEAR!!!!!!!!

Rating:
Summary: You Have No Power Over Me....
Review: This movie is a wonderful one, full of imagination and possibilities. The online fan-fiction world has taken this to worlds beyond the movie, keeping the 15-year-old movie alive. I myself am an avid viewer of this movie, listening to the songs (my favorite is "Within You") and watching the amazing scenery. The Goblin King (Jareth)'s songs have hidden meanings in their lyrics, can you figure them out? In short, an imaginative film by the maker of "Dark Crystal" and the Muppet movies that captivates children and thrills adults alike.

Rating:
Summary: can't give it any less
Review: the only people who will enjoy this are Bowie fans I guess and I'm not one of them.
The Muppets are funny, this is not. Maybe suitable for a 9 year old who likes fluffy things prancing about but then you have the teletubbies for that....
I guess that the only thing that stops me using all the explitives that I should be writing here is the thought that this was meant for children....
Maybe that's how it got the 5 star rating - by eliminating the rude reviews...

Rating:
Summary: Get Lost In The Labyrinth....
Review: Even if only because this movie has David Bowie in it, it is a must see - it is definitely one of my favourite movies of all times. From the first time I saw it, I could only be thankful that it had brought to the screen images that my imagination had been showing me all my life. And David Bowie. Ahem. Anyway, from the puppetry to the sets, the fantasy is complete. The plot may be a little weak, but it is a fairytale, and generally speaking, fairytales are not required to have strong plotlines, just a good story (which Labyrinth provides). The music is groovy (especially the Fieries. And David Bowie), and the Bog of Eternal Stench is something to threaten young children with (not that I would do such a thing, but it might appeal to certain people).

Rating:
Summary: A Gem
Review: *Sigh* I remember watching this movie over and over again everytime it went on television. Just thinking about it get's me all choked up because it reminds me so much of the youthful vitality and imagination I had so long ago. I definitely think this is a movie for all ages and you would fare well to purchase it along with the soundtrack. I won't give away any of the secrets of the movie, because that's half the fun. Enjoy. :)

Rating:
Summary: It's Bowie what more can you say
Review: Labyrinth is a great movie and one of the best things that Jim Henson produced with his puppets and great special effects. Bowie is great as ever. This is a great film for one and all and if you pay attention your likley to see more than you bargined for in this perfect film.