Alternative to What: Labyrinth (1986)

Jennifer Connelly
Welcome to Alternative to What: a weekly column that tries to find a great alternative to driving to the multiplexes. Based on releases of that week, the selections will either be thematically related or feature recurring cast and crew. The goal is to help you better understand the diversity of cinema and hopefully find you some favorites while saving a few bucks. At worse, this column will save you money. Expect each installment to come out on Fridays, unless specified. 

THIS WEEK:
Labyrinth (1986)
- Alternative To -
The Maze Runner (2014)


In the grand scheme of things, the only thing as popular as superhero films is young adult dystopian novel adaptations. This week marks the latest with The Maze Runner setting a series of teens loose in a maze to fend for themselves against kooky obstacles. There's metaphors of overthrowing government and living in a world that isn't entirely that safe for the innocent minds that wander through it. Most of all, it looks like a visual stunner with a lot of special effects and intense action beats that make for good quality entertainment.
However, for those that want to have a nice alternative, why not check out another classic maze. Okay, it's not a maze, it's Labyrinth. This iconic classic from Jim Henson is one of if not the definitive achievement of Henson as a movie director. With a cast that includes Jennifer Connelly and David Bowie along with all of the familiar Henson puppeteers, this feels like a wondrous mix of puppetry and fantastical action set pieces. There's a whole lot of weird macabre humor and metaphors about a little growing into a woman. With the plot revolving around Jareth the Goblin King (Bowie) stealing Sarah's (Connelly) baby sister, she must manage to save her by travelling through this intricate labyrinth that is full of colorful, strange characters and traps around every corner.
For those worried that it is simply just another puppet movie, then your familiarity with Henson is greatly undervalued. What made him particularly exciting is not that he helped to create The Muppets, but made puppetry into an accessible form of entertainment by mixing the felt creatures with real people while not drawing attention to any problematic elements. Also, with the assistance of Bowie, there are countless great numbers of songs to be sung in the film while being set to strange music video-esque landscapes. It is wondrous and full of interesting moments. Most of all, it feels lively in ways that few kids films nowadays would even dare to be.


There's an admitted tone difference between the two different films. For starters, while both deal with using a maze as a metaphor involving childhood, they are done very differently. Even if Labyrinth has a tone of seriousness underneath it, there's still the fun bizarre joy that comes with embracing its kid movie ways. Bowie comically kicks around puppets and there's some very smelly bogs that come with the territory. Likewise, The Maze Runner looks to be more of a serious film where the humor is not really humor but simply peril. It could be good, but considering that the trailers sell this bleak post-world structure, it may be geared at an audience that is way different. Also, Labyrinth is just an excellent use of fantasy and explores its themes in exciting, macabre ways that doesn't skimp on the slapstick.
Either way, there's magic in Labyrinth that continues to spark awe in its audience. For starters, Jareth the Goblin King is an iconic character and one of Bowie's more iconic acting performances. The music is solid and the puppetry manages to flow well with the scenery. It does have a creepy vibe to it, but all great children's films should put a little discomfort in them in order to make it feel more edgy and important. Also, it is simply wholesome entertainment that doesn't involve any potential deaths or anything as dour and negative as The Maze Runner.

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