Movies
are collaborations, that occur for various reasons. Often, a story
will be the catalyst, which brings a large group of people together.
In some cases though, a concept is all that is needed, to get the
ball rolling. In others, a number of people decide to work together,
and the movie is the vehicle which allows that.
"Labyrinth"
is a showcase of the different talents, held by those involved with
it. On display, is the imagination and expertise of Jim Henson,
creator of the Muppets. You also have the musical gifts of David
Bowie, the acting of Jennifer Connelly, and the guidance of George
Lucas among others. Unfortunately, all of that ability doesn't mask
the fact, that there wasn't a good reason to make the film in the
first place.
Classic
Movie Trailers - Labyrinth (1986)
Puppetry
is just another form of animation. I don't know if it's as celebrated
as computer, or traditional hand-drawn cartoons, but their goals are
essentially the same. Artists that take up the craft, bring life to
inanimate objects. If we look at animatronics, the difference between
that and puppet work, is that the latter isn't trying to fool you.
The practice isn't about trickery; it's a performance art like
acting, singing or comedy.
Puppeteers
want to amuse us, with the mannerisms and behaviors they can give, to
their sculpted and stuffed characters. They move the arms, mouths,
eyelids, and bodies of their figures in a skillful way. When the
curtains are drawn, the creations are imbued with personalities that
weren't there before. If it's skillfully done, it is a joy to see.
After
an hour goes by however, you might decide that you have seen enough.
Puppets are puppets; we know what they are, and they can only hold
our attention for so long.."Labyrinth" takes a great deal
of time, to show off the work of the animators. I would even argue,
that the plot of the film was merely an excuse, to do just that.
The
presence of David Bowie, was the other major selling point. Plenty of
musicians have turned to acting, at some point in their careers, and
though the results have been mixed, I thought his work was
commendable. Unfortunately, we aren't ever allowed to forget who
David is. Half of the movie could have been cut out, and turned into
music videos for him.
There
is yet another attraction to note, and it's the performance from the
main actress. It's just as enjoyable as the music and the puppetry,
but those elements weren't used, to create something separate and
worthwhile on its own. A strong screenplay would have been the twine,
that tied all of the good things together. Contrary to that, the
final cut of the film shows, that the blueprint behind it is the
weakest link in the chain.
It
was still a treat to revisit the movie, and appreciate the good parts
of it. I don't think it's something to be watched multiple times, or
even watched in its entirety. I think of "Labyrinth", more as
a collection of good moments. You can get the most out of it, by
viewing those moments on their own, instead of experiencing them
together.
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@ChannelSeals
See
"Labyrinth" on Netflix!
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