Labyrinth (1986)

A well-known classic and one of the finest films that Jim Henson has ever created, Labyrinth not only marks the highlight of David Bowie's acting career but also Jennifer Connelly's first mainstream role. The fantastic imagination and set designs which were created in the mind of one of the legendary storytellers of all time, also brings to us a message of wisdom and a newfound perspective on life.

Sarah (Jennifer Connelly) is a teenage girl who hides all her problems by wrapping herself in a veil of toys and imaginary creatures from the many stories she has read. Frustrated by her existence in a household where she has to take care of her half-brother, Toby while her father and stepmother go out to dinners and resort to being alone without the kids. One day, when the rain starts pouring, Sarah is irritated by her parents' demand to watch her baby brother again and locks herself in her room, wallowing in self-pity and deeming her whole family an obstruction to her happiness. She notices that one of her beloved toys has disappeared from her shelf and finds it in Toby's room. She wishes she could make him disappear and turn him into a goblin just like in one of her books which is called Labyrinth. She goes back to her room and notices that Toby has stopped crying. Upon entering his room, she finds his bed empty and a certain eeriness has fallen over the place. The Goblin King (David Bowie) then appears and she immediately begs for him to bring her brother back, but he asserts that her wish is his command and if she wishes to bring him back, she'll have to go through the maze that leads to his castle. This is where he's keeping Toby and she has just 13 hours to complete the quest. When time runs out, her brother will be turned into a goblin and stay at the castle forever. Along the way, she meets some perplexing and unimaginable creatures who help her in any way they can but ultimately coax her into realizing her own strength and potential to solve this puzzle and help her baby brother. The question is, will the Goblin King hinder her progress in the labyrinth and ultimately destroy all those who are willing to help her along the way. See for yourself and watch the event that occur in this unforgettable story.

For a movie made in the 1980's, where there basically wasn't any CGI, this movie has to take the cake for production and set design. From the clothing to the concept artwork and inspirations, this is the epitome of a fantasy film, which happens to also be aimed at a younger audience. It is one of David Bowie's more well-known roles that also captures his ostentatious stage persona while exuding words of wisdom. Everyone thinks that him wearing tights was a bit risqué for a children's film, but when you look at it from a different perspective, children aren't really going to be overly concentrated on his costume but rather his actions and the other friendly characters who aid Sarah. I could also point out that noble people during the 17th century would in fact wear clothing like tights and it would be acceptable, which might have been the inspiration for the Goblin King and his grandiose appearance and lifestyle. This is without a doubt a work of art in the history of film, and in today's generation where CGI is the predominant form of visual presentation in motion pictures, we should be thankful for the efforts of Jim Henson; for bringing such an impressive level of exertion and creativity to his production in order to bring it to life when there wasn't any advanced technology at hand and nearly everything had to be done manually and by hand. Of course there are some noticeable uses of dummies and questionable backdrops that seem to be inauthentic or fake, but let's not take things for granted and remember that this film did come out in the '80s and definitely is above par for its time. Not only is the creation of the fantasy difficult, but the process of delivering your creation to the masses is an entirely different animal to wrestle with.

Moving on to the symbolism and the message this story teaches to the younger generation, this film had quite a load of it intertwined in its web of fantastic imagery. One of the most memorable scenes would probably have to be the dream sequence of Sarah's character taking part in an extravagantly lavish party that also includes the Goblin King. It sort of symbolizes her desire to live life like an adult and go to parties, mingling with the other participants and getting away from the family she despises. But while there, she slowly gets a wake-up call that being a grown up is not what it seems. The drunkenness and lewdness of the guests at the party make Sarah want to escape the atmosphere and how it all goes around and around without an end. It gives her a different perspective about her current life and her ability to savor the moment while she's still young. Inevitably with age, she will move out and lead her own life, but she shouldn't take her current circumstance for granted and try to shut the rest of the world out of it. Bringing me to another point is the fact that when the movie starts, Sarah's character is oblivious to the world around her and tries to wrap herself in a web of stories, dolls and toys when she could be enjoying her life and helping out the people who she considers her enemies. She is spoiled and sees even the tiniest criticism and request as unfair and contemptible. In the end however, she eventually sees how childish and ridiculous her mindset was towards her family and changes her views about the world and the people in it for the better. Living in the here and now is better than hopelessly waiting for a prince charming to come and rescue you from whatever unfavorable circumstances you think you are in. All you have to do is stay positive and continue down the continuously twisted road we call life because you never know what obstacles and surprises await you.

Overall, this is a great movie for just about anyone even if it's considered a little childish. Believe me when I tell you that this movie not only transcends time, but also the intended demographic. Savvy lessons about life that most teenagers should be able to relate to in the form of a fantasy film from the creator of The Muppets and Sesame Street, with an air of youthful frivolity and catchy musical numbers from one of the most legendary musicians of all time. Let your self fall into the vortex of the magical world which is the labyrinth and you might never want to return again.