When I was a child, I could not stand the film Labyrinth. Although my sisters loved it, and I tried a dozen or so times to watch it, I just could not get through the whole thing. Now, about twenty years later, not only did I watch the whole movie, but I found myself astounded by the great look of the new Blu-ray release.
Sara (Jennifer Connelly), is a teenager obsessed with theater and fantasy. Her father has recently remarried and fathered a baby boy whom the new parents frequently leave Sara to babysit. During one of her brother’s frequent crying episodes, Sara wishes that the mythical Goblin King (David Bowie) would take away the child. Much to Sara’s horror, the Goblin King does exist, and he grants her wish. When Sara pleads for her brother’s return, the Goblin King tells her that she must walk though the labyrinth to his castle in less than thirteen hours if she ever wants to see her brother again.
When I was younger, I found this story to be a bit too dark. In addition, the film quality was always very poor, which rendered ineffective the points the film was trying to make. Sony’s new Blu-ray has cleaned up the visuals and brightened the colors of Jim Henson’s mystical world and bought it to life. The film’s story still has very dark elements, but is much more entertaining than I remember it, and the suspense is very effective.
Jim Henson, creator of the Muppets, was a genius who passed long before his time. Labyrinth is a testament to how great the man’s work was. My two-year-old daughter sat though the majority of this film, fascinated by all of the movie’s goblins and creatures. The actors did an excellent job in their parts. Jennifer Connelly, in a film that introduced her to American audiences, was probably only about fifteen when this film was shot, and is wonderful as Sara. Rock legend David Bowie was another bit of inspired casting. You really believe that the two characters have a kind of connection that you really can’t put your finger on, but it gives the film a more mysterious feel. With the great sets, a masterful use of puppets and outstanding visuals, the film really comes together as a fantasy masterpiece.
The Blu-ray disc fronts a fantastic picture that really brings out the detail and full effect of the film’s lavish and detailed fantasy sets and visuals. The picture and sound quality are perfect. There are some features which include commentary with costume and conceptual designer Brian Froud, A making of documentary, Inside the Labyrinth and Journey through the Labyrinth: Kingdom of Characters & The Quest for Goblin City. There is also a new Blu-ray exclusive feature called The Storytellers, and a picture-in-picture track which features interviews with some of the filmmakers and cast of the film.
Labyrinth is a film that really defined what the late Jim Henson was all about and how his contributions to the world of puppeteering, really laid the groundwork for the effects of today’s films. The Blu-ray disc is well worth the buy. The quality of the film is out of this world. I honesty felt like I was watching this film for the first time. It is a fairytale that I think will capture the hearts of a whole new generation on Blu-ray.
– Horror Bob
- Interview with J.R. Bookwalter - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Andrew J. Rausch - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Rick Popko and Dan West - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Director Stevan Mena (Malevolence) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Screenwriter Jeffery Reddick (Day of the Dead 2007) - January 22, 2015
- Teleconference interview with Mick Garris (Masters of Horror) - January 22, 2015
- A Day at the Morgue with Corri English (Unrest) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Writer/Director Nacho Cerda (The Abandoned, Aftermath) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Actress Thora Birch (Dark Corners, The Hole, American Beauty) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Actor Jason Behr, Plus Skinwalkers Press Coverage - January 22, 2015
