LTTP: Labyrinth (Henson)

Zan · Jul 29, 2018

So a theatre near me just showed the film and everyone coming out of it seems to love it. Yet for me, I found it to be... OK? Let me explain.

-The puppetry and set design was top notch. Henson and associates busted their balls and it SHOWS.
-Bowie and his acting chops bulged through the scenery, But the songs were just... hit and miss. Dance magic dance was good, but the other ones were a bit more forgettable.
-The main human seemed to be a bit of a whiny type, but became better later on. Standard hero's journey stuff. It feels like it's all a metaphor for growing up, but maybe i'm looking at it wrong? I'd love to know the theorys behind her character.
-Ludo>Hoggle>Fox Guard thing.

I'm thinking that it's a film more for the eyes and ears than just a deep piece, but maybe i'm wrong? I'd love to hear Era's thoughts on it all.

bulge jokes may start... now.

Tex Murphy · Jul 29, 2018

Sarah, forget about the baby.

geomon · Jul 29, 2018

Never seen it

DrForester · Jul 29, 2018

There's a lot of nostalgia to this one. It doesn't hold up as well as say, The Princess Bride.

And yeah, this was full of B-Side Bowie.

Lindsay Ellis made all the good bulge jokes way, way, way back.

PhoncipleBone · Jul 29, 2018

The bulge was actually a small bag of potpourri because of the person hiding behind Bowie actually doing the magic ball stuff. Bowie felt bad for the guy being down there so he stuffed his crotch with potpourri to make it more pleasant.

The MC Escher style finale is still great.

The movie is hit or miss, and I think a big part of how you feel about it depends on when in your life you first saw it. I was a kid when this first hit theaters, so it has a long history with me, and is one of my first memories of Bowie as well.

Also, allow me to sum up the entire universe in one picture:

Dr. Caroll · Jul 29, 2018

It's a crystal. Nothing more. But if you turn it this way and look into it, it will show you your dreams. But this is not a gift for an ordinary girl who takes care of a screaming baby.

Everything that you wanted I have done. You asked that the child be taken. I took him. You cowered before me, I was frightening. I have reordered time. I have turned the world upside down, and I have done it all for you! I am exhausted from living up to your expectations of me. Isn't that generous?

Mona · Jul 29, 2018

Zan said:
-The main human seemed to be a bit of a whiny type, but became better later on. Standard hero's journey stuff.

You dont know Jennifer Connelly?

Metallix87 · Jul 29, 2018

One of my top ten films of all time. A legit masterpiece.

Zan · Jul 29, 2018

Mona said:
You dont know Jennifer Connelly?

Temp blanked on the name.

Deleted member 18407 · Jul 29, 2018

I never liked this movie. I managed to miss seeing it as a child and have no nostalgia for it. When I first watched it in my late teens (must've been somewhere around 18 to 20), I just didn't understand the love the movie gets. It's got some cool stuff, I'll admit, like the hands when she's falling down the pit, but yeah, hard pass from me forever on it.

Dr. Caroll · Jul 29, 2018

There is some degree of creative conflict at the heart of the film because the script was touched to varying degrees by Terry Jones, Jim Henson, George Lucas, Laura Phillips, and Elaine May -- some of whom disagreed about the film's central message. What does become apparent at various points is the theme of manipulation and control that ends up having certain sexual undertones.

UltraMagnanimous · Jul 29, 2018

An amazing movie. they're not even trying to create anything like this these days. Jim Henson was a magician.

Lady Catherine de Bourgh · Jul 29, 2018

Very nostalgic. Watched it a few months ago for the first time in years. The puppetry and attention to detail are great. As mentioned above the acting doesn't hold up to well when rewatching as an adult.

My daughter who was watching along loved it all. Although she started to root for the baby to stay with the goblins. They played and danced with him, making him laugh while Sarah was just yelling at him the whole time.

Also a specific scene made more sense to me now and that is the scene on the garbage heap. Shutting yourself in with beloved possessions and forgetting the main quest was a very good visualisation.

Serena · Jul 30, 2018

It is my favorite movie of all time. I did see it when I was a kid though and it just captivated me. It still captivates me, so I don't think it's just nostalgia. The masquerade scene is absolutely magical. The characters are so fun.

I feel like it's seeing a huge surge in popularity all of a sudden. There have been more screening lately. I've seen a lot more merch too.

Stiler · Jul 30, 2018

For a lot of people it holds a place because they grew up with it, watching it for the first time as an adult might be different.

Have you seen Dark Crystal by any chance?

Nappuccino · Jul 30, 2018

Zan said:
-The main human seemed to be a bit of a whiny type, but became better later on. Standard hero's journey stuff. It feels like it's all a metaphor for growing up, but maybe i'm looking at it wrong? I'd love to know the theorys behind her character.
-Ludo>Hoggle>Fox Guard thing.

bulge jokes may start... now.

Are you a Muppet?

Mona · Jul 30, 2018

UltraMagnanimous said:
An amazing movie. they're not even trying to create anything like this these days. Jim Henson was a magician.

???

gforguava · Jul 30, 2018

Absolutely love the film. Beyond just being a feast for the senses(both in an artistic design sense and with the fantastic puppetry) it is also a wonderful take on coming of age, sexual awakening, and the need to hold onto your imagination even when you are supposed to 'grow out of' such things. The Masquerade sequence is sublime, thank god this was made in the 1980s.

The only negative I have is "Chilly Down", god that song sucks.

Metallix87 · Jul 30, 2018

Mona said:
???

I had never seen this before, and now I'm super excited for this.

Zan · Jul 30, 2018

Nappuccino said:
Are you a Muppet?

A Feeble, actually. (If you got that, points for you.)

gforguava said:
The only negative I have is "Chilly Down", god that song sucks.

oh sweet merciful fuck yes that segment was hell

Nappuccino · Jul 30, 2018

Chilly Down is my favorite song in the movie :(

Also I guess I need to check out the Feeble movie.

Dr. Caroll · Jul 30, 2018

Nappuccino said:
Chilly Down is my favorite song in the movie :(

From memory, Chilly Down was originally shot against a black backdrop with black-clad puppeteers. This was a common visual device used on The Muppet Show. But they were forced to add a poorly composited background for some reason. Either test audiences complained or the producers wanted one -- I can't remember which.

Other than that, it's a fine sequence.

Nappuccino · Jul 30, 2018

Dr. Caroll said:
From memory, Chilly Down was originally shot against a black backdrop with black-clad puppeteers. This was a common visual device used on The Muppet Show. But they were forced to add a poorly composited background for some reason. Either test audiences complained or the producers wanted one -- I can't remember which.

Other than that, it's a fine sequence.

Yeah, the compositing and Jennifer's lack of direction (not her fault) are sticking points, but the song is catchy and the puppets are really fun and impressive.

honest_ry · Jul 30, 2018

I watch it every year and think the music is all top notch.

Magic Dance us the standout but Within You has a dark twisted tone and coupled with the MC Escher stair type scene its just amazing.

Henson was a bonafide genius. The puppetry work on the two door knockers is next level. I need to see how they made them.

Teiresias · Jul 30, 2018

Labyrinth literally got me through college.

I was seven when it came out, so I honestly can't remember if I ever saw it in theaters, but I would beg to rent it all the time as a kid and then, years later, in the last year of my engineering bachelor's degree when I was stressed to all hell with labs, projects and finals, I would put the DVD of it on and work and study with it on and it kept me sane and really helped with my stress levels.

I will always love this movie and watch it just to feel good.

ClamBuster · Jul 30, 2018

i'm 38, so i grew up with willow, the neverending story, return to oz, time bandits, dark crystal, etc... but above all, it's labyrinth that i fell in love with the most

how fun would it have been to go to set everyday with the puppeteers and see the actual physical fantasy world created around you?

P-Switch · Jul 30, 2018

Metallix87 said:
One of my top ten films of all time. A legit masterpiece.

Even when I look at this movie with my adult eyes in 2018, I really don't think I can argue with you

Metallix87 · Jul 30, 2018

P-Switch said:
Even when I look at this movie with my adult eyes in 2018, I really don't think I can argue with you

Oh yeah, I'm saying this through my adult eyes in 2018, having first watched it in the early 90s. I've watched it a handful of times just in 2018 (so far), and it still holds up very well. I can't wait to have kids in the future so I can share it with them.

Dice · Jul 30, 2018

David Bowie ruined my innocence with those pants.

RIP, I miss him so much

I love this movie. It's so weird, it's super creative, surprisingly bleak (till it isn't and that ending party happens). I do think Hoggle kind of sucked; and I laugh that Connoly is totally a LARPer before it came into fashion ...they seriously and literally do not make movies like this anymore...

Anyways...

Dance Magic Dance, y'all!

LookAtMeGo · Jul 30, 2018

Its no Neverending Story, but its good.

Pure nostalgia though.

Deleted member 27246 · Jul 30, 2018

PhoncipleBone said:
The MC Escher style finale is still great.

This scene was pure magic when I saw it as a kid in the cinema!

Jennifer was also pure magic for me as a kid <3

Triggerhappytel · Jul 30, 2018

I love the film, and my eight year old daughter does too. It has magical qualities that CGI-heavy fantasy films nowadays rarely do. Same with The Dark Crystal and Neverending Story.

One thing that has always puzzled me about the film though - when she's asking the two doors which way is forward and she chooses the opposite of what it tells her, I believe she is correct but she falls down. Because of the question she asks ("what would the other door say") her answer will always be filtered through the liar so she should pick the opposite. I don't understand why she gets it wrong.

Deleted member 31873 · Jul 30, 2018

My favourite movie of all time; one of only four movies I actually own.

Deleted member 27246 · Jul 30, 2018

Triggerhappytel said:
One thing that has always puzzled me about the film though - when she's asking the two doors which way is forward and she chooses the opposite of what it tells her, I believe she is correct but she falls down. Because of the question she asks ("what would the other door say") her answer will always be filtered through the liar so she should pick the opposite. I don't understand why she gets it wrong.

She doesn't get it wrong. But everytime she gets smug about the Labyrinth, the Goblin King changes the rules or makes it harder

Stiflers Mom · Jul 30, 2018

Amazing movie. Fell in love with it and Jennifer Connelly after seeing it. Was ten or eleven years old at the time.

siddx · Jul 30, 2018

Movie is heavily powered by nostalgia. Everyone I know who saw it in their childhood are obsessed with it. I didn't see it till I was well into my 20s and it left very little impression on me outside of dance magic dance which is catchy and corny.

I get it though. I love never ending story despite knowing it doesn't hold up well.
Princess bride is still fucking amazing though.

gforguava · Jul 30, 2018

Tence said:
She doesn't get it wrong. But everytime she gets smug about the Labyrinth, the Goblin King changes the rules or makes it harder

Right on, it is Sarah calling the riddle a "Piece of cake" that sends her down the hole.

"Piece of cake" is kind of a key phrase of the film(much like "It's not fair!"). The next time she says it Jareth gives her a "The Labyrinth's a piece of cake? Let's see you deal with this slice." right before shortening the amount of time she has to save her brother.

Shin Kojima · Jul 30, 2018

ClamBuster said:
i'm 38, so i grew up with willow, the neverending story, return to oz, time bandits, dark crystal, etc... but above all, it's labyrinth that i fell in love with the most

how fun would it have been to go to set everyday with the puppeteers and see the actual physical fantasy world created around you?

I love all the movies you mentioned but I don't know Time Bandits. Should I watch that?

Deleted member 21875 · Jul 30, 2018

I love Labyrinth, grew up with it so it's a big nostalgia deal. And David Bowie being involved makes everything great.

TheBeardedOne · Jul 30, 2018

Good movie

My friend and his girlfriend are crazy about it and Bowie. I like it, but it's not a favourite. Seeing it once or twice was enough for me.

Primal Sage · Jul 30, 2018

Shin Kojima said:
I love all the movies you mentioned but I don't know Time Bandits. Should I watch that?

Absolutely! Do you like Terry Gilliam movies, then it's a must see. Several of the Monty Python cast are in it.

It has a wonderfully dark sense of humor and the set design is outstanding.

Agent Icebeezy · Jul 30, 2018

Dance Magic Dance is so fucking glorious.

Tequila Mockingbird · Jul 30, 2018

Zan said:
A Feeble, actually. (If you got that, points for you.)

So you're into nasal sex and snuff movies? Gotcha..

If you watch a kids movie as an adult then you're not going to like it in the same way as people who saw it as kids. My wife only watched Star Wars a couple of years ago and thought it was OK at best. And it is if you look at it objectivley. Never underestimate nostalgia.

P-Switch · Jul 30, 2018

Triggerhappytel said:
One thing that has always puzzled me about the film though - when she's asking the two doors which way is forward and she chooses the opposite of what it tells her, I believe she is correct but she falls down. Because of the question she asks ("what would the other door say") her answer will always be filtered through the liar so she should pick the opposite. I don't understand why she gets it wrong.

The videogame helped me understand this part better as a kid :P

Speaking of...

Anyone else play the Apple IIe game?

It was the first Lucasfilm videogame ever, and also the template that helped pave the way for Maniac Mansion

Oh and whoever was asking about Time Bandits...that's a no brainer, must see movie by anyone with a pulse. It's Brazil for kids.

Matrix Monkey · Jul 30, 2018

Sir Didymus is awesome. You should feel bad for not liking him and referring to him as a fox guard thing.

Laserdisk · Jul 30, 2018

It's 100% about growing up, she starts playing and as soon as she sees the trouser department she puts away the toys and thinks about responsibility, and trouser departments

dreams · Jul 30, 2018

Lol this was my favorite movie when I was 6 until I was a teenager and became embarrassed to say a "kids' movie" was my favorite. But I still love it to this day. I have super nostalgia goggles for it.

Box · Jul 30, 2018

Saw it when I was very young and fell in love with JC. Everything about the film is amazing to me but I haven't seen it in twenty years and have no intention of ever watching it again.
Nothing?! Nothing Tra la la?!?!

MizneyWorld · Jul 30, 2018

To those who grew up wearing out the VHS or just haven't seen it in a while or just love Labyrinth, I highly recommend the 4K bluray. The added detail & clarity is amazing.

It's a great film that was magical when I was a child and moving as an adult.

Jimnymebob · Jul 30, 2018

I saw a bit of this for the first time over Christmas (it was on the TV and had already been on for an hour or so), and it seemed really good.

I defintely wouldn't mind picking it up to watch the whole thing.

I knew about it, but I never realised it was such a children's fantasy movie. I always thought it was a bit darker from what I heard people say about it.

LTTP: Labyrinth (Henson)

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