Labyrinth (1986) / Fantasy-Adventure

MPAA Rated: PG for some scary images
Running Time: 101 min.

Cast: Jennifer Connelly, David Bowie, Toby Froud, Shelley Thompson
Director: Jim Henson
Screenplay: Terry Jones

Jennifer Connelly (A Beautiful Mind, Hulk) is cast in one of her first starring roles as Sarah, a teenaged girl who has grown tired of babysitting her infant brother.  In a bout of exasperation, she wishes him away, and inadvertently summons the mythical Goblin King (Bowie, The Hunger), who kidnaps the baby and steals him away into his fantasy realm.  There, the baby boy remains hidden in a dangerous castle in the middle of an ornate labyrinth, and if Sarah wants a chance at getting the brother she really didn't want to go back, she must traverse the enigmatic before midnight, or the Goblin King gets to keep him forever.

Labyrinth is a highly imaginative fantasy adventure filled with delightful performances and wildly conceived characters. Parallels abound to "Alice in Wonderland" and The Wizard of Oz, although not exactly up to that caliber of storytelling, mostly due to some occasionally slow pacing and with some music that isn't particularly inspiring or memorable. Regardless, Bowie and Connelly are excellent in their respective roles, and the film as a whole is championed by outstanding sets and designs. Labyrinth is a wonderful adventure that seems to get better with age, and highly recommended for children of all ages.

Qwipster's rating:

©1999 Vince Leo