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Yet another movie I somehow missed in childhood was Labyrinth. I always meant to watch it once I found out it starred David Bowie but never got around to it. Luckily, Ric asked for it for his birthday this year, so I finally got to see it!

Jennifer Connelly stars as Sarah, a girl who is annoyed with her life and the fact that she's babysitting her crying baby brother. She makes a wish, and her brother is stolen away by the goblin king, Jareth, played by David Bowie. Jareth holds baby Toby in his castle and tells Sarah she must find Toby in 13 hours or he will be turned into a goblin. The only problem is that the castle is at the center of a giant labyrinth - and one that doesn't even play fair at that.

I really liked this movie despite some of the dated music. I mean, I love David Bowie, but his singing scenes were a little bit much at times. Thankfully, the story mostly sticks with Connelly and the labyrinth. I loved the creativity and dynamics of the sets, especially when she would try to mark which way she had already traveled and the tiles would get moved by little creatures. The hole she falls into that's filled with hands is impressive as well. The movie was directed by Jim Henson, and it does feel like it's got his touch. It reminds me, too, of something Terry Gilliam might make. Maybe I just have him on the brain since I went to see his latest movie.

The climactic minutes before time runs out are exciting too, especially the MC Escher-esque stair sequence. And of course, the sort of music video that occurs due to Bowie's glass ball is extravagant and awesome (pictured above).

It's weird, creative, and adventurous, which is what kid movies ought to be. It's so interesting that the 80s had some pretty raggedy-looking adventure stories. Everything is so glossed over these days that it was refreshing to see something a little more... textured. Hooray for Ric's birthday!