An original, imaginative and creative coming-of-age adventure of a teenage girl in a magical world full of wonders, new friends and danger.
- Entertainment factor: ★★★★★
- Fun factor: ★★★★☆
- Magical factor: ★★★★★
- Scare factor: ★★★☆☆
- Surreal factor: ★★★★☆
- Originality factor: ★★★★★
Labyrinth is a dark fairytale fantasy horror for the whole family with dark elements, humor and an epic adventure. The eighties were a joy for children who loved scary movies and Labyrinth is a perfect dark tale that combines puppetry and a magical world full of mysteries and strange creatures. All are brought to life by Jim Henson who also created the wonderful world of The Dark Crystal (1982). It stars David Bowie, Jennifer Connelly. Directed by Jim Henson. Written by Jim Henson, Dennis Lee, Terry Jones.
Duration: 1h 41m
Plot
Sarah is sixteen years old and has to babysit her little brother Toby. But she wants to dream about her favorite story about the Goblin King. When she asks the Goblin King to take Toby away, he grants her wish and Sarah has to go to the world of the Goblin King to get him back.
On her journey to the castle she has to find her way through the Labyrinth. She gets help from different creatures, but also has to overcome some obstacles and solve puzzles to finally come face to face with the Goblin King.
Continue reading below this announcement.
Did you know I also make Art & Designs.
This painting “The Sentinel” is made with soft pastels. You can buy this fine art print on museum-quality paper in my shop at Printify. Take a look at my other art prints as well.
Short Review
Labyrinth has created a wonderful and magical world full of strange imaginative creatures. From a cowardly dwarf Hoggle who helps her, Ludo an ape like creature who can communicate with rocks and Sir Didymus a brave knight who looks like a fox and his brave steed, the dog Ambrosius, an actual real dog. It’s a great diverse group who become vast friends. Their designs are amazing and really come to life with each their own distinguished characters.
They have to find their way through the Labyrinth but that is way more difficult than a normal labyrinth. This Labyrinth is alive and changes. It holds all kinds of dangers, like a stinky swamp and of course Jareth the Goblin King wants her to stay lost. He is played by David Bowie in glamrock style and he also gets to sing and dance with the Goblins. Which results in some hilarious slapstick comedy.
The creatures and beings in the Labyrinth are wonderfully designed and very imaginative. A taking caterpillar, helping hands, little men who live under the stones and turn them around, a wise man with a talking hat that looks like a turkey. Crazy singing orange devils, junkyard creatures and gatekeepers. And of course very dangerous creatures like the Cleaners and the Goblins. They either help her, or make her journey more difficult or are even dangerous. The puppeteering is amazing, as expected from Jim Henson. You don’t even notice you are watching puppets.
Sarah’s adventure through the Labyrinth is full of puzzles but also full of illusions. Illusions that Jareth uses to make Sarah forget she has a mission to save Toby. He wants to seduce her, just like she used to swoon away while reading her favorite book about the Goblin King. That presses the fact that it’s also a coming-of-age story about a young girl who is very romantic and doesn’t want to babysit her young brother but wants to have her own life. Although her room is full of stuffed animals and fairytale-like things. But this journey confronts her not only with responsibility but also that she does love Toby and wants him back.
The ending is an epic battle full of humor and living canon-balls and fighting Goblins and the brave group of friends. The castle is another labyrinth but now in Escher style with confusing and surreal stairs. Although is has a dark tone especially due to Jareth, and some scenes can be quite exciting, it all ends well with a great party in Sarah’s bedroom. So Sarah has learned her lesson and is more grown up, but that doesn’t mean she has to lose her imagination.
Labyrinth was one of my favorite films when I was young. It’s exciting, it’s magical it has all kinds of creatures and it does take kids seriously. With humor and scary scenes mixed together and a valuable lesson, this is a fantasy horror for kids that was typical of the eighties.
Did You Know I Also Make Art and Designs?
you can buy my designs on apparel or stationary, mugs and more. You can learn more about it on my art & design shop page or go directly to one of my shops.