Labyrinth

Rating:
Summary: Wonderfully pleasing
Review: Have ever read a book and felt like you were in it? Meet Sarah, a young woman whos life actually becomes part of her favorite book after she makes an unreverseable wish. As Sarah (Connelly) is lovingly noticed by Jared (Bowie), the goblin king, she has a fantasy wish come true. She has wished that the goblins would take her baby brother away so that she can have time and attention to herself. What she doesn't know is that Jared has heard this wish and makes it come true. As Sarah trys to explain that she did not mean for the wish to actually happen, Jared only allows the unhappy Sarah 13 hours to find and retrieve her baby brother, Toby. Can she do it? Well you'll have to watch it and see for yourself and Sarah attempts the impossible and meets interesting friends along the way. This movie is filled with myth and unimaginable ideas. Jennifer Connelly and David Bowie do an astounding job with the help of a few muppet friends who play the crazy and kooky goblins. The tale of love, friendship, and attempting the unattemptable leave your heart feeling warm and wanting more.

Rating:
Summary: Pure Family Fun
Review: I remember renting this movie at least ten times when I was a young adult. I finally purchased the movie and watched it with my children, and I'm proud to say that it has been nicely passed on to the next generation. As a matter of fact, my kids are watching it again as I type this review.

Labryth does more than entertain. It exercises the mind. Besides being incredibly enjoyable to watch, the storyline is nice and written in such a way, that it can be followed by viewers of all ages.

Sara, played by Jennifer Connelly, is forced to travel through the labrynth to save her brother Toby from the Goblin King, played by David Bowie. Along the way, she encounters many pitfalls as well as quite a few very interesting creatures. Having never been a fan of Bowie's music, I am pleased to say that the ones in this film did appear to be appropriate and did not hinder the overall quality of the film. Actually, the music helped move the story along nicely.

The puppets were nothing less then fantastic, and probably the best to ever come out of Jim Henson's studio. Not only was the detail behind them amazing, but the voices chosen were so appropriate that it gives them a genuine quality to their specific characters.

On the whole, the acting was good, although you can definately tell that it was a movie from the 80s. The storyline was drawn out really well, and the puppets were superb. I would definately recommend this movie for anyone with children. It just leaves you feeling good.

Rating:
Summary: Cool movie
Review: This movie is so cool! When I was 10, my friend had a sleepover and her dad rented this movie for everyone to watch. My mom wouldn't let me go because she thought the movie looked "evil." So, when I saw it now, as an adult, I had to buy it! I love it....and, actually, my mom does, too. I think she was just freaked out by David Bowie's spiky hair.

Rating:
Summary: A Classic Treasure.
Review: I am 24 years old and have loved this film for the last 14 or so. I had this movie on video and would watch it over and over until I knew the entire dialogue. I even got my little neices and nephews into it and now that they are teenagers they still love it. Last night I watched it for the first time on DVD with my 4 year old daughter. She was a little bit scared at first but she couldn't take her eyes off the screen. Today she talked about how beautiful Sara looked in that white dress. I loved the special features on this DVD that showed how they made all the puppet characters. I hightly recommend that you buy this movie, if you don't like it, someone in your family will.

Rating:
Summary: You remind me of the babe....
Review: I first saw this movie when I was about eight-years-old. Now I'm 20 and it is stil one of my favorite movies. I recently bought the DVD from Amazon and have made a point to introduce it to all the children I baby-sit for and even some of my deprived college friends.(They have ALL loved it). Frankly, it's a film for "children" of all ages- one that parents will actually enjoy watching with their kids over and over again. The storyline is classic and the musical numbers, especially those featuring David Bowie, are wonderful (I still can recall all the words). Jennifer Connely is perfect as an ordinary teenager in extraordinary circumstances and nobody could have played "The Goblin King" like Bowie. What a wonderful, wonderful film!

Rating:
Summary: Not as good as Dark Crystal
Review: Coming a couple of years after the far more accomplished Dark Crystal this is relatively straight-forward but still a helluva lot more imaginative than any family movie of recent years. You could call it a modern fairy tale, but it's just not deep enough. And for a film called Labyrinth, it's strangely uncomplicated.

Jennifer Connelly (younger and prettier, though her acting is questionable) stars as Sarah, a teenager who bizarrely doesn't have a boyfriend and ends up living in her own fantasy world. Her dad and stepmother go out, leaving her to babysit her baby brother. Annoyed with his crying she utters a magical spell, wishing the goblins to take him away. Sure as sugar, the Goblin King himself (Tina Turner, oh sorry...I mean David Bowie) turns up and takes away the screaming tot.

In order to get him back she must solve 'The Labyrinth' (cue dramatic music) and reach the Goblin King's Castle within 13 hours. Along the way she meets new friends (of the Jim Henson variety) in the form of Hoggle the dwarf, big, hairy and cuddly Ludo and cute little fox Sir Didymus. It's pleasant enough entertainment but there are some serious problems.

The most serious of them all is David Bowie's attire. Most specifically, his trousers, they are a little revealing in the crotch department to make an understatement. You'll cringe, you'll avert your eyes, yet you'll be mesmerized. Come on, how could this have been allowed in a family movie. Plus, Trevor Jones' score is disappointingly unmagical and the filmmakers have given in to the urge to have David Bowie crank out some dreadfully 80's tunes that stagger the action and hold up the plot.

It's a shame to call Labyrinth nostalgic. But if it were made today it would be full of hollow CGI. There's something charming in practical effects and puppetry (or is that Muppetry?) that no computer graphic can generate. The photography and is stunning and it captures landscape and fantasy perfectly. And all those cute Jim Henson characters are far more interesting than any Hobbit.

Filmed in Panavision, the 2.35:1 anamorphic picture looks good. But not exceptionally so. Columbia are so hyped up over their Superbit releases. And that's fine when considering newer movies. But for a film like Labyrinth we really should have a brand new, hi-def remastering. THAT would have looked super. What we have however is just a good-looking movie. There's hardly any grain, no dirt (surprising considering the age of the print) and perfect colors.

Originally recorded in Dolby Stereo, the first DVD release was in 2.0 surround only. For this Superbit release Columbia have given us a full 5.1 track in Dolby Digital and DTS. How does it sound? Like 2.0 surround. There is hardly any deep bass. It's front speaker biased, with little or no surround use and there's practically no difference between the Dolby or DTS tracks. We could have been given a full 6.1 track with stronger remastering of the original sound elements. How cool would that be?

As this is a Superbit, there are no extras. The original DVD release had an hour long documentary on it. But this Superbit is only slightly better in quality, so it's up to you to decide which one you want. Also, there is a Collector's Edition coming soon which includes this version plus loads more.

Rating:
Summary: Dream Fairytale
Review: I first saw Labyrinth when I was about ten years old and it has been my dream fairytale ever since.

The story was simple -- big sister has to grow up, learn her responsibilities and rescue little brother from becoming a goblin.

But what was magical about the whole show was the brilliant M.C Escher sets, marvelously entertaining puppets created by the father of all puppets, Jim Henson, and the beautifully romantic interludes between Jennifer Connelly (Sarah) and David Bowie (Goblin King).

Present-day computer animation can make dinosaurs almost real but I preferred the cute and adorable puppets that created my own make-believe of a world of magic, fantasy and adventure. I could almost see myself running around in that maze, dodging the boobie traps and having great companions like Hoggle, Ludo and Ambrocious with me.

I admit I was pretty charmed by David Bowie's portrayal of the Goblin King but who wouldn't be? Powerful, mysterious and not bad-looking, he seemed to be in the classic Prince Charming genre, except that he was also a little diabolical compared to those in Cinderella and Snow White etc.

Labyrinth is a classic and will always be my dream fairytale, and I am still watching it over and over every now and then. Most of all, like Dark Crystal, it is one of the signature performances by the late Jim Henson and his wonderful family of puppets.

Rating:
Summary: Crystals And Magic
Review: This is a very good movie for fantasy lovers. It's great for children and adults.
The movie isn't just about magic. It's more about growing up and putting behind childhood dreams. No mater how painful that is.

Rating:
Summary: Favorite Movie of All Time
Review: Okay, now I remember seeing this movie when i was really little (im 15 now so it wasn't that long ago...haha) because my mom is a huge David Bowie fan. I liked it, and thought the songs were cool, but now as i go back and watch it, I see the wonders of the Labyrinth.
There is just something about the muppets, even though some are hideous because they have to be....they're goblins, that amazes me. This was done mid 80's and it looks fantastic! When you first see Hoggle, the dwarf that helps Sarah along the way, he isn't an immediate favorite, but by the end he's the most loveable little dwarf ever! Forget about the hobbits in Lord of The Rings! I much rather prefer these muppets. The big, but still loveable Ludo has the same feel. But the one that gets me cracking up hysterically (well it actually is two) are Sir Didymus (i like to call him "Little Fox Dude" haha) and his dog, that acts as a horse, Ambrocous. It's HYSTERICAL to see him taking on Ludo and popping out of every little corner! I love it!
The scenery is incredible as well. I especially love the one part where you see David Bowie's face in rock, and it seems like it's just one big statue, but because things are never what they seem in the labyrinth (huge creatures that are kind hearted, a little fox that will take on a hundred-goblin army all by himself) the camera pans around and you see that there are multiple rocks that from facce on seem as one. Amazing for the 80's!!!
Now onto David Bowie. I guess the hair and outfits aren't for everyone. Personally, I love him in this movie. The hair is so amazing, especially in "When the World Falls Down" when he has the tiny blue streaks to match his outfit. Personally, I love seeing him in the tight pants...it was the 80's!!! But there is always something extravagent about each outfit that can take away from the pants, if that's not your cup of tea. Like the wonderful jackets (once again, especially in "When the World Falls Down") and make-up...nothing better than a guy that looks fabulous wearing make-up!
There is the once scene though, that still boggles my mind. It is when Sarah gets to the Labyrinth and is trying to get to her little brother. There are random stairs everywhere. You see a shot of Sarah on the top side, and David Bowie on the bottom, all at once, and then From the bottom, Bowie swings around to the top. It is amazing! If you don't like anything else about the movie, this scene is sure to blow you away. I also love other things like the near misses between David Bowie and Sarah, and the end when he is begging for the baby. For a few seconds you feel bad for Bowie..well Jareth...and how hard he tries, until 5 seconds later you realize he really is a bad guy.
It's a wonderful movie!!!

Rating:
Summary: gotta rave
Review: I admit, the story may not be the best story in the world. I have to say that David Bowie's clothing (which has come under attack in other reviews) isn't that surprising for the time. Welcome to the 80s. Every rocker's crotch was on display. I remember being horrified by seeing the Rolling Stones in lycra.

But Labyrinth is a classic movie, the second work by Brian Froud and Jim Henson. Brian Froud's fantastic artistic work resulted in amazing muppets and puppets done by Jim Henson's studio. The story itself is based upon the concept of changelings, that the Goblin King could steal away a child. The older sister has to go on a quest to take back her wish to be rid of her little brother. The fantastic sets, and fantastical creatures within the Labyrinth are both worth buying this set. The additions on the dvd of images and galleries, and the film cell are a must for collectors of either Henson's work or Froud's.