It's Only Forever, Not Long At All
I watched Labyrinth the other night. I bought it from Amazon because I'm a compulsive shopper and I was bored. I found and purchased David Bowie's "Magic Dance" and "Underground," two songs from the soundtrack. Naturally, that got me anxious to see the movie again. It's been awhile. I first saw it in 1986. After that, I probably watched it once a week for about a year. We only got about three channels with an antenna, so my viewing options were limited. I took what I could get, which amounted to about ten bootlegged VHS movies. Anyway, I probably had the movie memorized at one point.
By the time I graduated high school, we had moved to town and had gotten cable. Labyrinth somehow was forgotten, so it's been at least fifteen years since I've seen it. I guess it's kind of like riding a bike. You never really forget, and I found myself remembering most of the scenes as soon as I saw them. There was a nice touch this time around, though. I'm no longer the stupid sixteen year old nerd I was back then.
Now I'm a thirty-five year old nerd. The film is layered with many nuances that escaped me back in the day. Seeing it as a kid, I totally missed the metaphor that permeates the film. That's sad considering that the symbolism is about as subtle as a sledgehammer to the skull.
Sarah, the protagonist, has to save her little brother from the Goblin King, played to perfection by David Bowie in one of his few acting roles. Sarah, being the typical teen, is hung up on herself and actually wishes her little brother away. In her defense, he was a whiny little snot. But still, that doesn't make it right. Sarah embarks on a journey through the goblin world in search of the little rugrat. To find him, she has to traverse the Labyrinth. She encounters many enemies and finds new friends in her journey. She finally confronts Jareth, the Goblin King. The climax is pretty satisfying.
When I was living in Pubertyville, I took the story literally. Now, though, it's obvious that the Labyrinth is a metaphor for life and its many obstacles in general, and the transcendence from childhood to adulthood specifically. Sarah has to make decisions, deal with setbacks, and face the consequences of her actions just as we all do.
Throughout the film, Jareth tempts Sarah with promises of happiness and riches if she will only turn back and forget the child. He promises her his undying devotion if she will only serve him. It doesn't take a genius to realize the blatant allusions to the Bible. Again, though, I seemed to have missed all that when I was a kid. This ties in well with another intended message of the film. Sarah never had any trouble believing the world of the Goblin King existed. And believing in something despite what others may think is the most important act of free will a person can demonstrate.
Finally, I noticed a definite sexual undercurrent between Sarah and Jareth, which is sort of creepy considering that Sarah is a fourteen year old girl and Jareth is played by Bowie, who was pushing forty at the time. I actually noticed this in passing when watching it as a teen, but it's very apparent to me now. The DVD commentary confirmed this, explaining that Jim Henson wanted to convey the dangerous allure of adult relationships that teenage girls face and also to show how Sarah responds to this. This film was much deeper than I could have ever imagined.
Looking back, I realize one of the reasons I loved this film was because of Jennifer Connelly, the actress who played Sarah. She's well known now, but she was just starting out back then. She was only fourteen when she made the film, but her natural acting ability made her seem much older. To be honest, I had a huge crush on Jennifer. I still do. She was absolutely stunning in the film and only got more beautiful and talented as she grew older.
I enjoyed watching Labyrinth again, this time with the eyes of an adult. It just enhanced what was already a very enjoyable movie. It brought back a lot of memories of what I was like and the things I did back then. And I admit that the nostalgia, while cathartic, also made me a bit sad. So much time has gone by, and part of me feels like I've wasted it. I guess I'm stuck in my own Labyrinth. It's time I got back up and started finding my own way. We all have to do it. If I run into David Bowie, I'll give him a toothbrush. Darn Brits, they need more fluoride.
It's Only Forever T-shirts and Gifts
By the time I graduated high school, we had moved to town and had gotten cable. Labyrinth somehow was forgotten, so it's been at least fifteen years since I've seen it. I guess it's kind of like riding a bike. You never really forget, and I found myself remembering most of the scenes as soon as I saw them. There was a nice touch this time around, though. I'm no longer the stupid sixteen year old nerd I was back then.
Now I'm a thirty-five year old nerd. The film is layered with many nuances that escaped me back in the day. Seeing it as a kid, I totally missed the metaphor that permeates the film. That's sad considering that the symbolism is about as subtle as a sledgehammer to the skull.
Sarah, the protagonist, has to save her little brother from the Goblin King, played to perfection by David Bowie in one of his few acting roles. Sarah, being the typical teen, is hung up on herself and actually wishes her little brother away. In her defense, he was a whiny little snot. But still, that doesn't make it right. Sarah embarks on a journey through the goblin world in search of the little rugrat. To find him, she has to traverse the Labyrinth. She encounters many enemies and finds new friends in her journey. She finally confronts Jareth, the Goblin King. The climax is pretty satisfying.
When I was living in Pubertyville, I took the story literally. Now, though, it's obvious that the Labyrinth is a metaphor for life and its many obstacles in general, and the transcendence from childhood to adulthood specifically. Sarah has to make decisions, deal with setbacks, and face the consequences of her actions just as we all do.
Throughout the film, Jareth tempts Sarah with promises of happiness and riches if she will only turn back and forget the child. He promises her his undying devotion if she will only serve him. It doesn't take a genius to realize the blatant allusions to the Bible. Again, though, I seemed to have missed all that when I was a kid. This ties in well with another intended message of the film. Sarah never had any trouble believing the world of the Goblin King existed. And believing in something despite what others may think is the most important act of free will a person can demonstrate.
Finally, I noticed a definite sexual undercurrent between Sarah and Jareth, which is sort of creepy considering that Sarah is a fourteen year old girl and Jareth is played by Bowie, who was pushing forty at the time. I actually noticed this in passing when watching it as a teen, but it's very apparent to me now. The DVD commentary confirmed this, explaining that Jim Henson wanted to convey the dangerous allure of adult relationships that teenage girls face and also to show how Sarah responds to this. This film was much deeper than I could have ever imagined.
Looking back, I realize one of the reasons I loved this film was because of Jennifer Connelly, the actress who played Sarah. She's well known now, but she was just starting out back then. She was only fourteen when she made the film, but her natural acting ability made her seem much older. To be honest, I had a huge crush on Jennifer. I still do. She was absolutely stunning in the film and only got more beautiful and talented as she grew older.
I enjoyed watching Labyrinth again, this time with the eyes of an adult. It just enhanced what was already a very enjoyable movie. It brought back a lot of memories of what I was like and the things I did back then. And I admit that the nostalgia, while cathartic, also made me a bit sad. So much time has gone by, and part of me feels like I've wasted it. I guess I'm stuck in my own Labyrinth. It's time I got back up and started finding my own way. We all have to do it. If I run into David Bowie, I'll give him a toothbrush. Darn Brits, they need more fluoride.
It's Only Forever T-shirts and Gifts
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