Labyrinth (1986) DVD Reviews

Starring	David Bowie, Jennifer Connelly, Toby Froud
Director	Jim Henson
Genres	Children, Family, Music/Musical, Sci-Fi/Fantasy

Critics' reviews (3) of Labyrinth
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The Muppet team go into “Alice in Wonderland” territory as babysitter Jennifer Connelly wishes her younger brother into the Goblin King's clutches and has only hours to rescue him from a castle maze. With plenty of fuzzball gremlins, cute sugar plum fairies and clumsy Hoggle the dwarf to keep the children amused (adults will laugh at David Bowie's Tina Turner wig for entirely different reasons!), Jim Henson's panto Monty Python (written by clan member Terry Jones) is weak on suspense and thrills, but still emerges as firm fantasy fun.
- Radio Times
- Posted 29 Jan 2006
"...A fabulous film...[and] in many ways, a remarkable achievement..."
- New York Times
- Posted 11 Mar 2005
"...[Bowie] looks intriguing..."
- Variety
- Posted 11 Mar 2005
Most helpful members' reviews (3) of Labyrinth
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25 out of 29 people found this review helpful

Nostalgia ain't what it used to be

Surely most people renting this will have fond nostalgic memories of this from watching it first time round in the '80s. The bad news is that this film has aged badly, very badly. My son said of David Bowie 'that man is ugly, and he can't sing.' Indeed. The fact is, that contemporary family movies such as Shrek and the Pixar films have raised the bar far higher than this muppettry.
- - A customer from Sol 3
  - Posted 22 Jan 2007 13:01
13 out of 14 people found this review helpful

Disc details

Note, this is the Collector's Edition, not the Superbit Edition like in the picture.

Extras are:

*'Inside The Labyrinth': a 'making of' featurette

*Behind the scenes photo gallery

*Character, concept art and vintage poster galleries

*Filmographies

*Storyboard

*Theatrical trailer
- - pinksy from Nottingham
  - Posted 26 Nov 2004 10:16
10 out of 10 people found this review helpful

Actually, there are both SuperBit and Collector's editions available...

....but it seems to be pot luck which one you get. See the previous comment for details of the Collector's: the SuperBit may have a better picture (I dunno - not with my cheap telly) but has no extras at all so a bit disappointed there to be honest.

Still the film is the thing - and I can say nothing more than read the reviews. Well worth watching, if only to see David Bowie talking to a grubby Muppet and revel in the retro soundtrack.

d
- - Drew Bolton from eastbourne
  - Posted 06 May 2005 12:24
Most recent members' reviews (2) of Labyrinth
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2 out of 2 people found this review helpful

A wholesome fun family film

Eighteen years on, Labyrinth is still an enjoyable movie suitable for the whole family to view on one of those Sunday afternoons when there is nothing on the TV (although the very young kids may find some parts a bit scary).

David Bowie as the Goblin King does a good job and has good chemistry with Jennifer Connellys' Sarah. As for the story itself, it is pure fantasy as Connelly finds herself in a labyrinth facing all kinds of ugly creatures in the hope of rescuing her baby brother who is in danger of being turned into one of the goblins.

The creatures themselves are very good, but then again coming from the Jim Henson stable, you wouldn't expect anything else.

A great film, great creatures, great music-what more could one ask for?
- - Steve from Cambridge
  - Posted 24 Dec 2004 15:41
3 out of 4 people found this review helpful

david bowie in cod piece shocker

i love labyrinth, its one of my all time faves for nastalgic reasons up there with dark crystal, flight of the navigator and d.a.r.y.l. the puppets are amazing and the reason why i disagree with CGed charactors ( ja ja binks anyone)not only do you get a young jennifer connely (requiem for a dream) but also david bowie prancing around in an obscene cod piece. cant wait for my young un to be old enough to watch this classic. a real family treat(although you may want to shield the kids eyes at said cod piece)you remind me of the babe....
- - nina from essex england
  - Posted 01 Feb 2005 21:02

25 out of 29 people found this review helpful

Nostalgia ain't what it used to be

Surely most people renting this will have fond nostalgic memories of this from watching it first time round in the '80s. The bad news is that this film has aged badly, very badly. My son said of David Bowie 'that man is ugly, and he can't sing.' Indeed. The fact is, that contemporary family movies such as Shrek and the Pixar films have raised the bar far higher than this muppettry.
- - A customer from Sol 3
  - Posted 22 Jan 2007 13:01
13 out of 14 people found this review helpful

Disc details

Note, this is the Collector's Edition, not the Superbit Edition like in the picture.

Extras are:

*'Inside The Labyrinth': a 'making of' featurette

*Behind the scenes photo gallery

*Character, concept art and vintage poster galleries

*Filmographies

*Storyboard

*Theatrical trailer
- - pinksy from Nottingham
  - Posted 26 Nov 2004 10:16
10 out of 10 people found this review helpful

Actually, there are both SuperBit and Collector's editions available...

....but it seems to be pot luck which one you get. See the previous comment for details of the Collector's: the SuperBit may have a better picture (I dunno - not with my cheap telly) but has no extras at all so a bit disappointed there to be honest.

Still the film is the thing - and I can say nothing more than read the reviews. Well worth watching, if only to see David Bowie talking to a grubby Muppet and revel in the retro soundtrack.

d
- - Drew Bolton from eastbourne
  - Posted 06 May 2005 12:24
9 out of 9 people found this review helpful

Timeless

I remember being amazed, scared, happy, excited when watching this film as a kid, and watching it with my niece brought back all the memories. OK so the effects aren’t as good as now, but so what!?

A perfect Jim Henderson product with a very good cast and a great soundtrack.

Get this, rent this and watch this with your kids.
- - James1 from Cheshire
  - Posted 15 Mar 2004 15:57
7 out of 8 people found this review helpful

Bowie in scary trousers shocker..

My other half insisted we watch this in some kind of effort to re-kindle her childhood.. it's the usual Henson adventure about a young Jennifer Connelly searching for her screaming sibling through a Goblin invested (you guessed it) Labyrinth.. fairly amusing characters and some horrible songs along the way.. Bowie on a bad hair day with some of the most ill advised trousers ever to grace the screen? it all ends happily ever after, though children below the age of 5 may be disturbed by the lack of CGI...
- - Mike Conyard from Gosport, Hampshire
  - Posted 17 Jun 2005 15:52
7 out of 8 people found this review helpful

Good for the kids ...

My wife wanted to watch this film. She liked it. I didn't. Returned rapidly.
- - JimmyB from England
  - Posted 27 Dec 2006 19:31
6 out of 8 people found this review helpful

Has not stood the test of time

Remember seeing this at the cinema when it first came out and being suitably impressed. However, 20 years on (released in 1986), and a much wider knowledge of film, this film has not stood the test of time. It looks so mid-80's (Bowie's hair-do especially) and the puppets are dire compared to what you might expect by modern standards. Only see this if (1) you are aged below 14 (even then I wonder) or (2) you have a David Bowie obsession.
- - Colin Walker from London, UK
  - Posted 16 Dec 2006 20:21
6 out of 8 people found this review helpful

Nostalgic review

As the review title suggests, Labyrinth was the movie I watched when I was in my youth- the same as many others.

I was warned against watching it again as it would shatter my nostalgic fondness.... but I love Jennifer Connely and LOVE David Bowie... so how could I not??

And heres my take ....I'll try not to shatter any of your memories.... It's awful. The songs are forgettable, story is stupid, acting is weak and effects far far from special.

BUT... Don't let that put you off. If you force yourself (or your memories are particularly fond) then you can make it through the narrow gap of memory lane. But unless your insane or dead you'll never watch it again. So just indulge that nostalgic curiosity once and then leave it alone.
- - Dante3000 from Liverpool
  - Posted 25 Aug 2007 11:06
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful

OLDIE but GOODIE

Old hat as far as I was concerned. But Bowie must be doing something right, 'cos the kids didn't want to send it back ?!
- - Mark Cleaver from uk
  - Posted 11 May 2005 09:36
5 out of 6 people found this review helpful

The ultimate comfort movie

This is a classic. Wonderful animated puppet creatures from Jim Henderson, a gorgeous David Bowie and Jennifer Conolly, a fantastic array of characters (especially the giant, hairy, soft-hearted monster - Ludo) costumes and scenery. The songs sung by Bowie, and a funny script that has huge quotability. The perfect film to curl up on the sofa to on a Saturday afternoon or if you're unwell. It'll make you laugh, cry and smile and you'll want to watch it again.
- - A customer from Stowmarket, England
  - Posted 12 Feb 2004 12:33

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Critics' reviews (3)
The Muppet team go into “Alice in Wonderland” territory as babysitter Jennifer Connelly wishes her younger brother into the Goblin King's clutches and has only hours to rescue him from a castle maze. With plenty of fuzzball gremlins, cute sugar plum fairies and clumsy Hoggle the dwarf to keep the children amused (adults will laugh at David Bowie's Tina Turner wig for entirely different reasons!), Jim Henson's panto Monty Python (written by clan member Terry Jones) is weak on suspense and thrills, but still emerges as firm fantasy fun.
- Radio Times
- Posted 29 Jan 2006
"...A fabulous film...[and] in many ways, a remarkable achievement..."
- New York Times
- Posted 11 Mar 2005
"...[Bowie] looks intriguing..."
- Variety
- Posted 11 Mar 2005

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- Labyrinth
  
  Jennifer Connelly plays Sarah, a young woman who wishes her baby brother would be taken away by goblins. She gets her wish and now she must rescue him by going through the forbidding passages of a magical labyrinth to reach the castle of the mighty Goblin-King. A delightful rescue movie penned by ...