I found this film to be humorous to watch with moments that made me smile. It wasn't laugh out loud material but I loved watching the performances. All the actors involved did a great job of bringing to life their blend of neurotic, paranoid and quirky characters. Rosanna Arquette played a delightful if slightly annoying vague waitress/escape artist who is very funny to watch. Her friend played by Eszter Balint was also wonderful as she played a kind of morose and sarcastic side kick with some very funny lines. Of course David Bowie plays the male lead and he is very good in this. I think he's quite underrated as an actor and he should do more comedy. He delivered his lines very well and was genuinely cute with his humour. I actually think this is one of his best performances and it's a shame the film didn't do well for him. All in all the story was fun to follow but it's the performances that made for a delightful if not light comedy.
Reviews
2 Reviews
Labyrinth
(1986)
Adult film disguised as a children's fantasy.
3 January 2009
There is so much more to this movie than meets the eye. It's an adult film disguised as a children's fantasy. There is enough there to captivate children and lure them into a magical world, but as an adult there is quite a bit of subtext involving Sarah's (Jennifer Connelly) coming of age and dealing with reality as someone who is not a child but not considered an adult. She has to deal with feelings of a sexual nature that she's not sure about, (hence an older man in the Goblin King played wonderfully by David Bowie) and she must make choices that bring her closer to leaving her fantasies behind and becoming an adult. All of this will go over your children's heads, especially the Ballroom scene and the now famous tights. They will simply love the film for it's magical and romantic properties. It is wonderfully brought to life by Henson, Froud, Terry Jones of Monty Python fame and the two main actors, Connelly and Bowie, who both do a fantastic job. Connelly playing the perfect teenager who grows wiser and Bowie being the best romantic villain put on screen.
Just a bit about Bowie's acting. He was slated for this film by music and film critics alike when it was released. But what more could one want? It's still a children's film, albeit with adult undertones. He couldn't be too evil yet was still bad enough to be seductively watchable. I think he played it for all it was meant to be and possibly more..(perhaps the producers and Henson didn't realise how sexual he came across).
As for the songs... please try and put them into context of the scenes they appeared in, (and also the time period). Magic Dance was in a raucous, mischievous party like scene... the lyrics were full of childish magical terms. Worked very well in the scene and lets face it...it is infectious. As the World Falls Down, a beautiful lullaby placed in a scene where Sarah is "dreaming", (well hallucinating due to being drugged..;)) and invokes a sad mood regarding a lost girl physically and emotionally who is confused and craves the love of her Prince but knows she shouldn't. It is quite possibly one of his most romantic lyrics ever and his voice is divine. Chilly Down was just for that scene and that scene alone. Perfect characterisations of the puppets mentality. (Remember David is writing for the film). Within You was written just for the scene where he is confounded by Sarah's attempts to deny his affections. Quite sad when viewed in the film. Underground neatly wraps up the film with tales of another land inside and outside ones mind. His vocals on this song are brilliant and even reminds me of something off of Young Americans. So you see I believe he did a fantastic job with this movie both acting and music wise. It was what was needed from him and he delivered ten fold.
I really hope Bowie and Connelly are not embarrassed by this film. I think they should be proud to have been in something that has captivated generations of slightly alienated young pre sexual girls (and a few boys), and has lead many of them onto their careers...what more could you ask?
Just a bit about Bowie's acting. He was slated for this film by music and film critics alike when it was released. But what more could one want? It's still a children's film, albeit with adult undertones. He couldn't be too evil yet was still bad enough to be seductively watchable. I think he played it for all it was meant to be and possibly more..(perhaps the producers and Henson didn't realise how sexual he came across).
As for the songs... please try and put them into context of the scenes they appeared in, (and also the time period). Magic Dance was in a raucous, mischievous party like scene... the lyrics were full of childish magical terms. Worked very well in the scene and lets face it...it is infectious. As the World Falls Down, a beautiful lullaby placed in a scene where Sarah is "dreaming", (well hallucinating due to being drugged..;)) and invokes a sad mood regarding a lost girl physically and emotionally who is confused and craves the love of her Prince but knows she shouldn't. It is quite possibly one of his most romantic lyrics ever and his voice is divine. Chilly Down was just for that scene and that scene alone. Perfect characterisations of the puppets mentality. (Remember David is writing for the film). Within You was written just for the scene where he is confounded by Sarah's attempts to deny his affections. Quite sad when viewed in the film. Underground neatly wraps up the film with tales of another land inside and outside ones mind. His vocals on this song are brilliant and even reminds me of something off of Young Americans. So you see I believe he did a fantastic job with this movie both acting and music wise. It was what was needed from him and he delivered ten fold.
I really hope Bowie and Connelly are not embarrassed by this film. I think they should be proud to have been in something that has captivated generations of slightly alienated young pre sexual girls (and a few boys), and has lead many of them onto their careers...what more could you ask?
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