Labyrinth (1986)

A timeless coming of age story, with great music!
Growing up I watched my mom gave me movies that I watched over and over. Movies like "The Princess Bride", "The Wizard of Oz", "Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory", and of course "Labirynth". Unfortunately, Labirynth was one of those movies that I did not not watch at all between the ages of six and twnety. I remembered enjoying it a lot as a young child, but would I enjoy it now that I was twenty?

The interesting thing about Labyrinth is that it not just a children's movie. It has elements of a childrens movie, but it is so much more than that.

The story revolves around Sarah (Jennifer Connelly), a sixteen year old girl who is tired of watching her baby brother on the weekends and spends her free time acting out plays. So, one night after an argument with her stepmother, she runs into her room only to find her favorite teddy bear missing, blames it on her brother and wishes he were gone. Only this time, by chance, she gives the command to let the goblins take her brother away only to regret it immediately. After that it becomes a story of friendship, the power of imagination, faith, and the differences between a girl and woman.

The puppets and the premise make it sound like a mere children's fairy tale, and although it is entertaining for children, it has proven itself worthy for the collection of adults as well. The characters are fun and our heroine is whiney and obnoxious at first, but quickly realizes that life isn't fair, and that's the way it is. She struggles to save her brother so he wont be a goblin forever, at the same time struggling with whether or not she'd like to become the goblin queen. You would think that someone as thin and British as David Bowie wouldn't be so attractive in this role, but he is. I couldn't imagine anyone else in the role. He is very campy, but there is a delicate balance between an unreasonable villain and a man trying to win a woman's heart in the best way he knows; power.

The music written by Bowie is first rate and truly elevates the movie to a level it wouldn't have reached otherwise. Especially, "As the World Falls Down", which is one of the best sequences in the film. Overall, if you love fairytales that are a little more grown up, you will love Labirynth (as long as you don't hate David Bowie).

God Bless ~Amy

Great Movie
This was a DVD replacement for my old VHS. It is a classical favorite of my kids, great nieces, and all their friends. The puppetry is amazing, characters lovable, and scenery delightful.

Great Fantasy with Jim Henson characters
Great Fantasy film, and good for fans of David Bowie, or Jennifer Connelly, or Jim Henson's characters (non-muppet) and innovative art effects.