Director: Jim Henson
Original Release: 1986
Choice: My Wife's
My Overall Rating: 4 stars out of 5
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| via Wikipedia |
Sarah (Jennifer Connelly) is a sullen teenager who accidentally wishes her baby brother away, kidnapped by goblins. The Goblin King (David Bowie - and he really can do those cool tricks with the crystal balls) tells her she must solve a labyrinth to reach his castle in thirteen hours before baby Toby is lost to her forever. Adolescence sure is tricky!
The movie was a box office disaster in its original release. With a $25 million budget, it made barely half that back in ticket sales. I fail to understand why. Okay, Jennifer Connelly was not the most dynamic teenage actress but Bowie's an awesome Goblin King and the movie is peppered with moments of flat-out artistic genius. Dali and Escher influences abound. In my favorite scene, Sarah falls down a hole where disembodied hands grab at her from the sides. The hands form faces in order to speak to her, like so:
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| via Aisling Runs with Unicorns |
Fortunately, the movie has enjoyed cult popularity since its video release and remains, at least to me, yet another strong element of Henson's legacy.
You know, I didn't much care for the movie when it came out; I much preferred The Dark Crystal. But I've been thinking for a while that I should see it again.
ReplyDeleteAnd I've always preferred this one to The Dark Crystal, though I like both.
DeleteLoved this movie and I don't understand why it wasn't a bigger hit.
ReplyDeleteMaybe people expected a "Muppet" Muppet movie ?
cheers, parsnip
Maybe timing. It was released just a week after the much more successful Karate Kid, Part II. Looking at the list for 1986 - not a great year for kids' movies.
DeleteOne of my all-time faves. In a way I'm not surprised it bombed when it came out - it's one of those movies that probably needs to gain a cult following out of the cinemas. But I did see it in the movies again last year. Fun experience. The whole audience sang all the songs. ;)
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like a lot of fun!
DeleteMy older kids loved this so much we wore out a VHS tape. Cult favorite? How could it NOT be, it has it all: beautiful maiden, child in distress, muppets, music and DAVID BOWIE. I believe he may be an actual Goblin King.
ReplyDeleteLove it!
Cherdo
www.cherdoontheflipside.com
Bowie was the perfect casting choice. Even if they were to make the film now, he'd still be ideal.
DeleteHenson is a personal hero of mine too. People laugh when I tell them that, but he was a pioneer of robotics as well as puppeteering. I'll never understand why the movie bombed either. Terry Jones wrote the script? That actually explains a few things.
ReplyDeleteHenson's basic philosophy of children's entertainment - treat kids like intelligent people - was so important. The technical mastery of his art was undeniable, of course, but the spirit which pervaded his work has gone unmatched since.
Delete'treat kids like intelligent people'
DeleteVital for any educator or artist producing work directed at young people.
One would think so, yet that's done little to stem the tide of condescending garbage on offer for our little tykes.
DeleteI don't remember this movie. It looks and sounds very good. I have always enjoyed David Bowie, and, of course, Jim Henson was the best.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
I think it's a great one.
DeleteI wasn't crazy about this one either. Felt like it was made for kids, not for everyone like the Muppet movies.
ReplyDeleteAnd I posted my summer songs today!
I'll be over to check them out soon!
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