Labyrinth

• Title:  Labyrinth
• Director:  Jim Henson
• Date:  1986
• Studio:  TriStar (Jim Henson Productions, Lucasfilm)
• Genre: Fantasy
• Cast:  David Bowie, Jennifer Connelly
• Format:  Color, Widescreen
• DVD Format:  Blu-Ray

"It keeps changing, What am I supposed to do?" - Sarah

Sarah is a young teen-aged woman who enjoys Cosplay (she dresses in a watery green gown that she probably made herself, and wears over her jeans, while reciting lines from her favorite story), her books, her stuffed animals, and her other trinkets of childhood. When her parents ask her to babysit her baby brother, she acts very put upon and even bratty. Finally, she wishes her baby brother away. When the Goblin King takes her brother, she immediately regrets her actions and becomes determined to get her brother back.

Sarah must solve the labyrinth, get to the castle beyond it, and rescue her brother. At first, she constantly asks for help from anyone she meets, but over time she gradually begins to trust her own instincts and solves a series of tests, riddles, and puzzles herself. She makes new friends, and works her way to the goblin castle.

Once at the castle, she decides she must confront the Goblin King herself, uttering the magic words, "You have no power over me," which free her and her baby brother. When she returns home, she begins to pack away her childish things. But her friends from the Labyrinth appear in mirrors to tell her, they'll be there, "should you ever need us."

Labyrinth is a story about growing up. Not only must Sarah learn to care for her baby brother without complaining, but she must learn to trust herself, not others, and rely on her own ability to solve problems. Which isn't to say she must be totally alone - the importance of real friends is another theme of this classic children's/teen movie.

What makes the film stand out, however, is David Bowie's performance as the Goblin King. Bowie sings three songs in the film, all of which are just awesome! The song and dance routines are well integrated into the film - and they make the movie.

The Blu-ray looks really good, though I was disappointed that the songs weren't subtitled. The Firey sequence shows some really bad travelling matte lines and green screen artifacts, though. The rest of the film, which features Jim Henson's signature muppet creatures, and an actor in a suit (Ludo) looks good. That is to say, it's not dated looking. The film references (and has a credit for) Maurice Sendak's Where the Wild Things Are, and the paintings/drawings of MC Escher, both of which are acknowledged in the end credits. I especially enjoyed Sarah and the Goblin King's confrontation in Castrovalva.

I loved this film as a teen - and I might have even owned a copy on VHS at some point. It's been on my "buy when you see it cheap" list for a long time - and I just bought the Blu-Ray on sale for a very good price last month. The film does stand up, which is always a concern with movies you loved as a child or teenager but haven't seen since becoming an adult. I did feel, especially early in the film, that Sarah was a bit of a brat. But, I also felt sad to see her boxing up her toys and stuffed animals at the end of the film.

Recommendation:  See it! Especially good for pre-teens and teenagers

Rating:  PG 

Next Film:  To Catch a Thief