Labyrinth

Directed by: Jim Henson
Screenplay by: Terry Jones
Story by: Dennis Lee, Jim Henson
Produced By: Eric Rattray
Starring: David Bowie, Jennifer Connelly, Toby Froud, Brian Henson, Shari Weiser, Warwick Davis, Natalie Finland, Frank Oz, Karen Prell, David Barclay, Anthony Asbury, David Shaughnessy, Shelley Thompson, Kenny Baker, Christopher Malcolm, Ron Mueck, Michael Henbury Ballan, Katie Purvis, Alistair Fullarton, Malcom Dixon, Cheryl Henson, Danny Blackner, Louise Gold, Peter Wilkinson, Toby Philpott, Rollie Krewson, Nicholas Read, Caroline Pope, Elfrida Ashworth, Kevin Clash, Timothy Bateson, Rob Mills, Danny John-Jules, Charles Augins, Dave Goelz, Steve WhitmirePeter Burroughs, Denise Bryer, Michael Hordern, George Lu
Music By: Trevor Jones
Production Company: Henson Associates, Inc. Lucas Film Ltd.
Release date: June 27, 1986 (US), December 2, 1986 (UK)

Plot: Sixteen-year-old Sarah Williams recites from a book titled The Labyrinth in the park with her dog Merlin but is unable to remember the last line; they are watched by a barn owl. She realizes that she is late to babysit her infant half-brother Toby. She rushes home and is confronted by her stepmother, who leaves for dinner with Sarah's father. Sarah finds Toby in possession of her treasured teddy bear, Lancelot. Sarah is frustrated by this and Toby's constant crying, so she rashly wishes Toby be taken away by the goblins from her book. Toby disappears and the Goblin King Jareth appears. He offers Sarah her dreams in exchange for the baby, but she refuses, having instantly regretted her wish. Jareth reluctantly gives Sarah 13 hours to solve his labyrinth and find Toby before he is turned into a goblin forever. Sarah meets a dwarf named Hoggle who aids her to enter the labyrinth. She has trouble finding her way at first and meets a talking worm who inadvertently sends her in the wrong direction.

Sarah ends up in an oubliette where she reunites with Hoggle. The two are confronted by Jareth, escape one of his traps, and encounter a large beast named Ludo. Hoggle flees in a cowardly fashion, while Sarah befriends Ludo after freeing him from a trap but loses him in a forest. Hoggle encounters Jareth, who gives him an enchanted peach and instructs him to give it to Sarah, calling his loyalty into question, as he was supposed to take her back to the beginning of the labyrinth. Sarah is harassed by a group of creatures called The Fire Gang, but Hoggle comes to her aid. She kisses him, and they fall through a trapdoor that sends them to a flatulent swamp called the "Bog of Eternal Stench", where they reunite with Ludo. The trio meet the guard of the swamp, the anthropomorphic fox Sir Didymus and his sheepdog "steed" Ambrosius. Ludo summons a trail of rocks to save Sarah from falling into the bog, and Didymus joins the group. The group gets hungry, so Hoggle gives Sarah the peach and runs away as she falls into a trance and forgets her quest. She has a dream where Jareth comes to her at a masquerade ball, proclaiming his love for her, but she rebuffs him and escapes, falling into a junkyard outside the Goblin City near Jareth's castle. An old Junk Lady fails to brainwash her, and she is rescued by Ludo and Sir Didymus. They are confronted by the humongous robotic gate guard, but Hoggle comes to their rescue. Despite his feeling unworthy of forgiveness for his betrayal, Sarah and the others welcome him back, and they enter the city together.

Jareth is alerted to the group's presence and sends his goblin army to stop them. Ludo summons a multitude of rocks to chase the goblins away, and they enter the castle. Sarah insists she must face Jareth alone and promises to call the others if needed. In a room modeled after M. C. Escher's Relativity, she confronts Jareth while trying to retrieve Toby. She recites the lines from her book that mirror her adventure to that point, but she still cannot remember the last line. Jareth offers Sarah her dreams again, but she remembers the line: "You have no power over me!" Jareth is defeated at the last second and returns Sarah and Toby home safely. He turns into the barn owl and flies away.

Review: Sixteen-year-old Sarah Williams recites from a book titled The Labyrinth in the park with her dog Merlin but is unable to remember the last line; as they are watched by a mysterious barn owl. She realizes that she is late to baby-sit her infant half-brother Toby. She rushes home and is confronted by her stepmother, who leaves for dinner with Sarah's father. Sarah finds Toby in possession of her treasured teddy bear, Lancelot. Sarah is frustrated by this and Toby's constant crying, so she rashly wishes Toby be taken away by the goblins from her book.

Toby disappears and the Goblin King Jareth appears. He offers Sarah her dreams in exchange for the baby, but she refuses, having instantly regretted her wish. Jareth reluctantly gives Sarah 13 hours to solve his labyrinth and find Toby before he is turned into a goblin forever. Sarah meets a dwarf named Hoggle who aids her to enter the labyrinth. She has trouble finding her way at first and meets a talking worm who inadvertently sends her in the wrong direction. From there she struggles to find her way through the maze. Thankfully she is helped by friends she makes along the way. Also she slowly learns to think independently and to learn self reliance. She finally confronts her own misgivings and self doubts.

This is a wonderful movie that will entertain the whole family.

M J Flack