Labyrinth (1986 film)

I'm watching this film as I'm writing this as I didn't realize how long it's been since I've seen it until I thought of putting this film as my next entry. But I remember my first reaction to this film. I thought it was extremely Python-esque I thought was odd until I found the Terry Jones who wrote this script was the TERRY JONES. And imdb tries to marginalize his credit on the film saying the ending had lots of rewrites but the humor is Python just as assuredly as it has Henson's charm and Lucas' production value. It would be unethical if I said finding out a Python heavy weight had a hand in this made me love this film more but it did move Terry Jones up a notch in MP rankings (below Palin and Chapman but decidedly above Gilliam, Idle, and Cleese being the underdog helps in the raking) Before this the only Terry Jones affiliated film outside the MP was Erik The Viking which I never finished although I was enjoying it, at least more the other person sitting in the living room with me. Luckily my sisters do love the Labyrinth so I can watch it anytime in leisure. The wonderful M. C. Escher design and Terry's humor working a parallel magic with it's logic, wordplay and counterarguments that are MP trademarks especially at the 2 doors with two guards. The 80s had some great rock musicals (The Blues Brothers, Purple Rain, This Is Spinal Tap, Pink Floyd:The Wall, Stop Making Sense) and while this may not be a rock musical David Bowie certainly helps with a funny Muppet chorus song "Dance Magic Dance". Lovable Muppet characters like the Don Quixote type shaggy knight, a miserable miserly helper and a pet dog like giant give another great credential along with loads of odd side Muppets like the headless flamingo type creatures and the ominous Easter Island heads. Also the Bog Of Stench is funny. But the best treat might be the most basic movie treat available, an adorable and yet paradoxically sexy teen star in Jennifer Connelly's early career who thankfully survived child/teen stardom. Sweet, moody, naive, poutty complexingly simple. Gentle green eyes and long luscious raven hair like the lost maiden of a Poe tale which works naturally for the theme of this film. Labyrinth deserves a shot for anyone who likes family entertainment, comedy, music, sci-fi, fantasy or any form of intelligent light entertainment.