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 3 people found this review helpful

Fantastical!!!

How can you not love this movie?

Boy does it take me back. Especially good after a having a few.

Completely insane and hilarious characters and the Jim Henson puppetry is so realistic.

One of those films where the humour is great for both adults and kids. You'll laugh your socks off. And it has some great lines. Look out for the worm!
- - foofighter from London
  - Posted 06 Feb 2005 23:07
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful

hmm not once what it was

im pretty sure this film made sense when i was a kid, and im pretty sure i enjoyed it. got it out for nostaliga value and to confirm what people had told me (its the girl from the horrible end scene in requim for a dream). i was hoping for the fantasy adventure i remembered when in fact all i got was laughably bad bowie songs, annoying characters and worst of all, david bowies trousers which leave nothing to the imagination. Im still a fan of the worm near the begginning and the stone face with the northern accent but mostly my enjoyment came from watching the constant switching between puppet and real dog (the that gets riden by the annoying english fox)
- - Megagames2 from York
  - Posted 04 Jul 2008 12:20

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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  Fifteen-year-old Sarah resents her baby brother Toby and secretly wishes that he will just disappear. Her wish comes true when goblins kidnap the boy. Feeling responsible and guilty about his abduction, she sets forth to retrieve him, and finds herself on the adventure of a lifetime. To rescue her ...