WOW, Labyrinth (1986) hasn't aged well.

EmmanuelZorg · August 1 2009, 08:15 PM

I just watched this movie again after all these years last night and WOW, it has aged badly. I also noticed Connelly's acting was quite awkward, i mean Henson cannot direct live actors but only puppets and David Bowie totally looked all drag-queen like even with that gross bulge in his crotch including big hair. The music sounds nice but the score sounded like a John Carpenter rip-off.

Now "The Dark Crystal" by Henson, "The Princess Bride" and "Excalibur" are all good examples of timeless 80's fantasy flicks. Even the recent "Pan's Labyrinth" is timeless.

Deckerd · August 1 2009, 08:31 PM

I don't think you can put Pan's Labyrinth with the others, since they are all fairy stories and PL is anything but.

Christopher · August 1 2009, 09:07 PM

Heck, I didn't like Labyrinth any more the first time I saw it than I did when I revisited it earlier this year. It's just not that good a film. Bowie was totally ineffective at conveying any kind of menace, especially with those bouncy dance moves. It was too much of a vanity project built around him, his look, his sound, etc., and he was wrong for the role. And Jennifer Connelly was too young; she hadn't yet matured into the striking screen presence she became.

However, I would submit that directing live actors is easier than directing a puppeteered Henson creature. After all, in the former case, you're directing one person; in the latter, you're coordinating the efforts of at least two people, sometimes more. And Jim Henson was very good at getting believable performances out of Muppets and creatures.

sojourner · August 1 2009, 09:59 PM

PL is a timeless fantasy?

Good god! that was one of the most twisted, sick films I ever saw! Please tell me you're not showing that to anyone under the age of 16?

Joy · August 1 2009, 10:05 PM

I only saw Labyrinth for the first time last year. I liked it, but it was definitely an 80s fantasy flick...

It may seem somewhat blasphemous to the fangirls of Labyrinth, but I actually would be interested in seeing a remake, perhaps with Johnny Depp as Jareth. I'd also suggest CG characters instead of puppets, but that may offend even more people than just the fangirls...

Joy

EmmanuelZorg · August 1 2009, 10:53 PM

Do you think "The Dark Crystal" is better?

Anwar · August 1 2009, 11:12 PM

I do, it's one of my favorite fantasy movies.

Aurian · August 1 2009, 11:18 PM

Labyrinth was interesting at best even back in the 80's. The puppets *covers her eyes.. oh dear*.... I loved it for Bowie though.. *sigh*.

Another movie which I loved a lot, but has it's very cringeworthy moments is "Legend".. It has not aged superwell either, but it's IMO far better..

EmmanuelZorg · August 1 2009, 11:29 PM

What about Princess Bride? Now that has aged well.

Worf2DS9 · August 2 2009, 12:49 AM

^ Now that's a classic!

As for Labyrinth, I had briefly considered purchasing the 20th anniversary edition a while back, but my father beat me to it. After watching it with him, for the first time since '87, I was very happy I wasn't the one to spend the bucks on it.

Zion Ravescene · August 2 2009, 01:00 AM

I haven't seen Labyrinth for ages, but I did like it a little as a kid, even though back then I wasn't sure about David Bowie.

I did catch Legend recently, though. Lord of Darkness FTW!

The Princess Bride is another film I saw briefly only a short while back, and loved. Must see it again some day.

Joy · August 2 2009, 01:22 AM

Haven't seen the Dark Crystal; would love to, though. Also haven't seen Legend.

And, yes, of all of the movies mentioned in this thread, Princess Bride is DEFINITELY the one that holds up as a great classic!

I do have to admit that I like a good number of the songs from Labyrinth, and Bowie definitely, to me at least, only looks reasonably sexy when he's in costume... Watching the behind the scenes stuff, I found myself constantly wishing he was in costume when they'd interview him. LOL *shakes head* Just don't understand the appeal... Some fangirls really confuse me.

Joy

Small White Car · August 2 2009, 02:00 AM

sojourner wrote:

Please tell me you're not showing that to anyone under the age of 16?

Uhm, what does this have to do with his post? Did he erase a part about showing R-rated movies to minors that I didn't get to see or something?

Otherwise this has got to be one of the biggest non sequiturs of the week.

Anwar · August 2 2009, 02:40 AM

Legend is good for Tim Curry's character. Best example of the "Evil is Sexy" trope I've ever seen.

sojourner · August 2 2009, 07:28 AM

Small White Car wrote:

sojourner wrote:

Please tell me you're not showing that to anyone under the age of 16?

Uhm, what does this have to do with his post? Did he erase a part about showing R-rated movies to minors that I didn't get to see or something?

Otherwise this has got to be one of the biggest non sequiturs of the week.

Not when he groups it with a movie like Labyrinth implying through comparison that it's on the same level as Labyrinth.

Or maybe I'm just over reacting based on my dislike of Pan's Labyrinth. I have a high tolerance for things in movies, but something in PL just strikes me as ugly on several levels and while I would have no problem showing lots of certain other R movies to someone in there early teens, this one just strikes me as being very strong material for anyone under the age of 16 or so.

August 1 2009, 08:15 PM	#1
EmmanuelZorg Lieutenant Commander	WOW, Labyrinth (1986) hasn't aged well. I just watched this movie again after all these years last night and WOW, it has aged badly. I also noticed Connelly's acting was quite awkward, i mean Henson cannot direct live actors but only puppets and David Bowie totally looked all drag-queen like even with that gross bulge in his crotch including big hair. The music sounds nice but the score sounded like a John Carpenter rip-off. Now "The Dark Crystal" by Henson, "The Princess Bride" and "Excalibur" are all good examples of timeless 80's fantasy flicks. Even the recent "Pan's Labyrinth" is timeless.

August 1 2009, 08:31 PM	#2
Deckerd Fleet Arse Location: in the Frozen Wastes	Re: WOW, Labyrinth (1986) hasn't aged well. I don't think you can put Pan's Labyrinth with the others, since they are all fairy stories and PL is anything but. __________________ They couldn't hit an elephant at this distance.

August 1 2009, 09:07 PM	#3
Christopher Writer	Re: WOW, Labyrinth (1986) hasn't aged well. Heck, I didn't like Labyrinth any more the first time I saw it than I did when I revisited it earlier this year. It's just not that good a film. Bowie was totally ineffective at conveying any kind of menace, especially with those bouncy dance moves. It was too much of a vanity project built around him, his look, his sound, etc., and he was wrong for the role. And Jennifer Connelly was too young; she hadn't yet matured into the striking screen presence she became. However, I would submit that directing live actors is easier than directing a puppeteered Henson creature. After all, in the former case, you're directing one person; in the latter, you're coordinating the efforts of at least two people, sometimes more. And Jim Henson was very good at getting believable performances out of Muppets and creatures. __________________ Christopher L. Bennett Homepage -- Updated 5/28/13 with discussion of Rise of the Federation Book 1. Written Worlds -- My blog

August 1 2009, 09:59 PM	#4
sojourner Vice Admiral Location: I'm at WKRP	Re: WOW, Labyrinth (1986) hasn't aged well. PL is a timeless fantasy? Good god! that was one of the most twisted, sick films I ever saw! Please tell me you're not showing that to anyone under the age of 16? __________________ Baby, you and me were never meant to be, just maybe think of me once in a while...

August 1 2009, 10:05 PM	#5
Joy Commodore Location: Springfield, MO, USA	Re: WOW, Labyrinth (1986) hasn't aged well. I only saw Labyrinth for the first time last year. I liked it, but it was definitely an 80s fantasy flick... It may seem somewhat blasphemous to the fangirls of Labyrinth, but I actually would be interested in seeing a remake, perhaps with Johnny Depp as Jareth. I'd also suggest CG characters instead of puppets, but that may offend even more people than just the fangirls... Joy

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August 1 2009, 10:53 PM	#6
EmmanuelZorg Lieutenant Commander	Re: WOW, Labyrinth (1986) hasn't aged well. Do you think "The Dark Crystal" is better?

August 1 2009, 11:12 PM	#7
Anwar Vice Admiral Location: Regina, SK, Canada	Re: WOW, Labyrinth (1986) hasn't aged well. I do, it's one of my favorite fantasy movies.

August 1 2009, 11:18 PM	#8
Aurian Vice Admiral Location: Stockholm, Sweden	Re: WOW, Labyrinth (1986) hasn't aged well. Labyrinth was interesting at best even back in the 80's. The puppets covers her eyes.. oh dear.... I loved it for Bowie though.. sigh. Another movie which I loved a lot, but has it's very cringeworthy moments is "Legend".. It has not aged superwell either, but it's IMO far better.. __________________ the benevolent bitch..

August 1 2009, 11:29 PM	#9
EmmanuelZorg Lieutenant Commander	Re: WOW, Labyrinth (1986) hasn't aged well. What about Princess Bride? Now that has aged well.

August 2 2009, 12:49 AM	#10
Worf2DS9 Writer Location: Canada, eh	Re: WOW, Labyrinth (1986) hasn't aged well. ^ Now that's a classic! As for Labyrinth, I had briefly considered purchasing the 20th anniversary edition a while back, but my father beat me to it. After watching it with him, for the first time since '87, I was very happy I wasn't the one to spend the bucks on it. __________________ Shorts in: SNW5 \| SNW7 \| SNW9 + Star Trek: Corps of Engineers - "The Light" + Full Throttle Space Tales #3: Space Grunts - "Rush"

August 2 2009, 01:00 AM	#11
Zion Ravescene Admiral	Re: WOW, Labyrinth (1986) hasn't aged well. I haven't seen Labyrinth for ages, but I did like it a little as a kid, even though back then I wasn't sure about David Bowie. I did catch Legend recently, though. Lord of Darkness FTW! The Princess Bride is another film I saw briefly only a short while back, and loved. Must see it again some day. __________________ All that can be is said.

August 2 2009, 01:22 AM	#12
Joy Commodore Location: Springfield, MO, USA	Re: WOW, Labyrinth (1986) hasn't aged well. Haven't seen the Dark Crystal; would love to, though. Also haven't seen Legend. And, yes, of all of the movies mentioned in this thread, Princess Bride is DEFINITELY the one that holds up as a great classic! I do have to admit that I like a good number of the songs from Labyrinth, and Bowie definitely, to me at least, only looks reasonably sexy when he's in costume... Watching the behind the scenes stuff, I found myself constantly wishing he was in costume when they'd interview him. LOL shakes head Just don't understand the appeal... Some fangirls really confuse me. Joy

August 2 2009, 02:40 AM	#14
Anwar Vice Admiral Location: Regina, SK, Canada	Re: WOW, Labyrinth (1986) hasn't aged well. Legend is good for Tim Curry's character. Best example of the "Evil is Sexy" trope I've ever seen.