Labyrinth
Directed by Jim Henson
written by Dennis Lee and Jim Henson, screenplay by Terry Jones.
Starring: David Bowie (Jareth The Goblin King), Jennifer Connelly (Sarah), Toby Froud (Toby), Shelley Thompson (Stepmother), Christopher Malcolm (Father), Fairy (Natalie Finland), Shari Weiser (Hoggle), Brian Henson (Hoggle/Goblin), Ron Mueck (Ludo/Firey2/Goblin), Rob Mills (Ludo/Firey), Dave Goelz (Didymus/The Hat/The Four guards/Left door/Firey 3), David Alan Barclay (Didymus/Firey1), David Shaughnessy (Didymus/The Hat/The four Guards/Goblin), Karen Prell (The Worm/The Four Guards/Goblin), Frank Oz (The Wiseman).
The story begins with Sarah (Jennifer Connelly) enacting a part in her favorite story called the Labyrinth. A storm is on the way and she continues with the riddle that came from the book. The rain starts slow, but realizing she is late, Sarah (Jennifer Connelly) runs home. Her Stepmother (Shelley Thompson) angry about her lateness, Sarah storms to her room. Angry, about babysitting her step-brother Toby (Toby Froud), she recites the words from the book she loves, the Labyrinth.
Meanwhile in a magical distant land, goblins peer into Sarah's room. They hear her call, but the words are wrong, the goblins laugh, almost snicker at Sarah (jennifer Connelly).
The Goblin King Jareth (David Bowie) enters the room in a form of an Owl. He tells her that he has taken Toby. Sarah upset realizes that she had made a horrible mistake tries to take back what she had said. The Goblin King disagrees and sets a time of 13 hours. Sarah (Jennifer Connelly) must find her way to the castle, a labyrinth she must enter in order to save baby Toby from the evil Goblin King, Jareth.
The Labyrinth is large, the vast walls stretch, turn, into an ongoing abyss. 13 hours is the time Sarah has to defeating the King and learn the secrets to the Labyrinth, before its to late. The Goblin King sends Hoggle (Shari Weiser) as a guide that leads her to a dead end. Hoggle must delay young Sarah before she reaches her goal. Hoggle must also take her back to the beginning of the labyrinth. On the way this thief, liar, becomes Sarah's friend. Values are learned from both characters, trust, and friendship are more important than greed, and deception.
Let's begin with the very large puppeteers in the film, there efforts and hard work are noted, because without them there is no movie. I will begin by calling them Muppets, because i grew up with the Muppet's and i will call them Muppet's. Anyway, i would like to give a huge thank you to the Late Jim Henson, because he brought real magic on film, and a smile to all kids back in the 80's who are now adults. The creature ideas are amazing, so a big thank you to his son, Brian Henson who continues to bring us a wonderful magical place that everyone loves.
The film from start to finish was really good, a bit to dated for me, but still good. The Labyrinth brought me back to the 80's again, it had magic then, and it continues to bring the magic back, no matter what age you are. Special effects aren't bad either, because they used puppets in all of the scenes; the sets were built to give the film a realistic look, even in a fantasy setting.
The bad parts, or the issues i have in the film are very simple. Dialog is simple, but then again its a children flick. Sarah played by Jennifer Connelly complains to much, her character is pretty darn annoying, and in almost all of the scenes she gets under your skin. Love the story, but her complaining really makes the film slow and almost not watchable. Remember the scene with the Four guards, well she assumes she is right, and that assumption lands her in the oubliette. The hands grab her, they ask her to answer a question which is simple but she hesitates and it kills me because the answer is right in front of you, she proceeds and tells the hands down. knowing that down isn't the way, its up, not really hard but i guess she thought unlocking the Labyrinth secrets and finding her brother is in a dark place. The answer was not only the wrong one, but a dumb one. so the hands let her go, and falls to her doom. I would answer up, and that would take her back to the path. Not, complaining but that's the only real problem i found with the film. I'm sure, there is more issues, but i felt this one was just to exposed to just let go.
All in all this film is good for kids, and for those of you who grew up back in the day, you know who? you are, remember this film, and sit back, relax, and imagine yourself in a Labyrinth.
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