There are several of us who just really like it... it doesn't take away
from us being Bowie fans... so just let us be... Or so help me, by all that
is unholy I'm going to personally dip you in the Bog of Eternal Stench!
Just a Paisley Rose, kissed by the highland mist
No, honestly!
This message has been edited by PaisleyLdy on Jul 12, 2009 9:41 PM
Re: Guys, come on lay off the Labyrinth put downs....
July 13 2009, 11:38 PM
Well, I didn't like "Dark Crystal" or "Willow" either. "Pan's Labyrinth" is what Mr. Henson was trying for, in my crabby little opinion, but his sensibility just wasn't dark enough.
Annie, I'm disappointed with you, that is no way for a lady to speak.
Labyrinth has a bigger cult following than TMWFTE.
I'm not a Bowie fan who will watch something just because he's in it. His abilities as an actor seem to bear no relation to his musical artistic output. But I understand why the movie is so appealing. It's cohesive, imaginative, amusing, & a gentle piece of escapism with a central character who many viewers could probably relate to on 1 level. I would say that Labyrinth's appeal is more for children, but perhaps it also appeals to the child within many of us.
Interesting how the OST is consistently in Bowie's top 10 albums on the Itunes chart.
Hi Annie, it is nice to have you here. Not all men are gentlemen, and not all women are ladies. I don't think that's sexist.
Anyway..
I'm not saying Labyrinth is a better movie than TMWFTE, but Labyrinth has a massive cult following. The reasons why I think it's cult following is bigger than that of TMWFTE are:
The number of Labyrinth fan websites (67 on the Labyrinth webring)
The annual Labyrinth ball. Been running for at least 12 years now.
The OST being Bowie's most popular album since the 70's, online.
The greater general availability and more numerous versions of the Labyrinth DVDs suggests that it sells more copies than TMWFTE, which implies that it's more popular. Labyrinth is currently number 662 In Amazon's DVD sales rank. TMWFTE is number 4359.
The number of Labyrinth YouTube tributes
The Labyrinth action figures.
That a pub in Shoreditch played the whole album one busy Friday night, probably as it ties in with the '80s revival we've had for a while now.
Labyrinth has the essential ingredient of many endearingly popular children's movies: A central character, whose normal life is mundane and is somewhat downtrodden by their peers or family, discovers that they have a secret power/ or world where they are suddenly a lot more important and have to save people.
I'm thinking this story-line appears in:
StarWars - Luke wasn't just a moisture farmer living with his uncle and aunt, he was a Jedi who had to defeat the Empire and save the universe.
The Matrix - Neo wasn't just a computer nerd, he was 'The One' who discovered this whole world was virtual reality & h had to save everyone.
Harry Potter - locked away boy, turns out to be a wizard.
The Lord Of The Rings - Frodo Baggins goes from unimportant village youngster to saving everyone in Middle Earth by destroying the ring in the fires of Mordor.
E.T. - Elliot had a secret alien pal whom he had to help get back home.
Back To The Future - Marti Mcfly was berated by his tutor, turned away from performing with his band & saw his dad being bullied, but he changed history and saved his family with his secret (that he inadvertently went to the past to save his future).
The Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe..
Wizard Of Oz...
Spider Man....
Labyrinth - downtrodden Sarah, with her wicked stepmother and no boyfriend, befriends the creatures in the labyrinth and saves her brother by defeating the Goblin King.
Children watching movies with this story-line tend to relate to the circumstances and fantasise that something similar may happen to their lives too.
Labyrinth had some great talent involved (Bowie, Jennifer Connoly, Jim Henson, George Lucas & Terry Jones), but unless my kids watch it, I doubt I'll ever watch it again.
This message has been edited by Adadinsane on Jul 14, 2009 11:45 AM
Sorry, I got bored and gave up after the first few lines.
July 14 2009, 11:55 AM
But what IS sexist is you saying that using the word 'shit' is no way for a lady to speak. I suggest you try saying that to a woman in the real world and see what happens.
Your apology is accepted. I'd hardly expect you to accept long-winded, yet sensible reasoning in a disagreement, online.
Just pointing out my thinking (behind why Labyrinth has a bigger cult following than TMWTFE) for the other people who may have stumbled across this thread.
If a woman swears in front of me (in the real world), I will try it. Only the other day there was a woman swearing at her young children for not walking quickly enough. Was that lady-like? I'll leave that for you to decide.
I've told people to not swear before. Parents have been beaten up for doing that before, but I'll take my chances. I reserve my swearing for when I'm really angry, which doesn't happen too often, but I find that I has more impact that way.
Re: Guys, come on lay off the Labyrinth put downs....
July 14 2009, 3:17 PM
Labyrinth is an enjoyable film for me. Some movies don't make you think hard nor do they have a moral to the story (unless not getting angry at your little brother is a moral) but with what I thought were fairly well designed characters, an interesting setting and an equally enjoyable soundtrack, this film was a joy to watch. It also has that element of nostalgia because I watched it a lot as a kid before I was a fan of Bowie.
I sawr it at the picture house with my sweetie.
Great time. Yet NEVER did I place the hair dresser friend
(who so obviously ALWAYS dressed, posed and wore that 'fountain' hairstyle and eyeshadow/makeup getup as Jareth.....'duhhhh' -- 'dumm-dumm timme')..... man
BUT YES, Very influential picture..... it's in ALL the grocer's stores for $9.99can.
...Connelly is a genius since she first hit the screen with 'Mean streets'(?), Bowie is always fine in movies (for me)..... it's POP - - DrinK it already
This message has been edited by Dr.Ink on Jul 15, 2009 5:06 AM
> ...Connelly is a genius since she first hit the screen with 'Mean streets'(?)
Er...Jennifer Connelly was 2 when Mean Streets came out. Eleven years later her first movie was Once Upon A Time In America with Robert DeNiro, but she wasn't in the 1973 film.
Labyrinth DOES have a moral, actually -- the moral is, everyone has to grow up and go through the ch-ch-changes associated with becoming an adult and functioning as such in social company, and everyone has to learn to be a part of so-so-society.
Re: Guys, come on lay off the Labyrinth put downs....
July 15 2009, 10:22 PM
"Labyrinth is an enjoyable film for me. Some movies don't make you think hard nor do they have a moral to the story (unless not getting angry at your little brother is a moral) but with what I thought were fairly well designed characters, an interesting setting and an equally enjoyable soundtrack, this film was a joy to watch."
Yes, I agree. It's fun to watch and it's good entertainment for children, one of the best movies for kids I can imagine. I don't think it's brainless or lacks a "moral to the story" either.
When my goddaughter was 3, her little brother was born and she was extremely jealous of him, sometimes biting him when no one was watching and stuff. I put the video for her, and later she talked about it a lot, particularly about the Goblin King kidnapping the little brother, which scared her. She never thought her brother could vanish out of the blue, and she didn't like that idea at all.
Besides, there are the lessons about friendship, about not accepting an apple from strangers, about not letting a powerful man with a comely package dictate your life, etc etc............
Re: Guys, come on lay off the Labyrinth put downs....
July 16 2009, 5:36 PM
Labyrinth might have a bigger cult following that TMWFTE amongst a wider general taste audience of the general public including some Bowie fans, but TMWFTE has a wider cult following amongst those members of the public and Bowie fans who recognise that despite some TMWFTE failings, it is a by far superior and intelectual film which is far more worthy of cult status then Labyrinth ever will be.
And more to the point,a far more fitting film both in concept and quirkiness for the likes of an artist like David Bowie.
Re: Guys, come on lay off the Labyrinth put downs....
July 16 2009, 8:04 PM
Obviously Labyrinth doesn't compare with TMWFTE in terms of intellectual relevance, they are different films for different audiences.
Comparing them is like saying, "hey, Brothers Karamazov is a lot better than Peter Pan". What's to even compare?
Bowie fans think every step he takes should be a poignant artistic statement, but it seems the man doesn't take himself that seriously... Maybe he just thought it would be fun and profitable to be in the movie, and he and his bank account couldn't care less about what fans expect him to be.
It's been almost 30 years since he went down the 80s drain, about time to accept that DB is not such an uncompromising artist, and he's been a sell-out here and there; a genius, yes, but also a commercial whore. And it wasn't a little slip in his career, he does it from time to time, you only need to hear "She Can (Do That)" to be certain of it...
Re: Guys, come on lay off the Labyrinth put downs....
July 17 2009, 4:32 PM
<< Bowie fans think every step he takes should be a poignant artistic statement, but it seems the man doesn't take himself that seriously... Maybe he just thought it would be fun and profitable to be in the movie, and he and his bank account couldn't care less about what fans expect him to be.
<br>
It's been almost 30 years since he went down the 80s drain, about time to accept that DB is not such an uncompromising artist, and he's been a sell-out here and there; a genius, yes, but also a commercial whore. And it wasn't a little slip in his career, he does it from time to time, you only need to hear "She Can (Do That)" to be certain of it...>>
Possibly so, but fans thinking that are the reason why they became devoted Bowie fans in the first place, thus making Bowie who he is / was ( well those like me anyway, who lived through the 70's ) and Bowie being an uncompromising artist is what made David Bowie, David Bowie music artist so special and unique above all others. Obviously Bowie has deviated from that mantra a few times over the years and maybe he couldn't care less? obviously I can't do anything about it or alter history, but I tell you what, don't ask me to ever accept it because I won't EVER!
To me Bowie has seriously let himself and his hard core fan base down at times, don't believe me? well it's no coincidence that the TM, BOS, 1. Outside and Earthling eras are generally considered by the hard core as the only real mega Bowie highlights since Scary Monsters.
As for Labyrinth, Michael Jackson would have been a better choice and probably would have brought far more than Bowie to the role of Jareth, not to mention he couldn't have looked like a bigger Muppet than he already did
Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but Jacko as the Goblin King? Instead of The Gentleman? We're going to have to agree to disagree on that
My opinion is:
Bowie has a voice that whispers -- enchantment
Jackson had a voice that whispered -- arrested Development
Bowie has a face to set a maiden's heart aglow
Jackson once had an ordinary face. Later, he had a face that could be a fairground "freak" exhibit
And how would JACKSON have looked in a pair of contoured tights?
How would Jackson have sounded saying, I brought you a gift. It's a crystal?"
I shudder to think
Let's face it, Michael Jackson may have had his talents, but for crying in Amlapura, the guy was about as romantic as a tax audit and about as sexy as tooth-decay bacteria! At least that's my opinion.
THE GENTLEMAN TRUMPS JACKO AS THE GOBLIN KING
This message has been edited by Sparkina on Jul 18, 2009 4:51 AM This message has been edited by Sparkina on Jul 18, 2009 4:47 AM This message has been edited by Sparkina on Jul 18, 2009 4:42 AM This message has been edited by Sparkina on Jul 18, 2009 4:39 AM This message has been edited by Sparkina on Jul 18, 2009 4:36 AM
Re: Guys, come on lay off the Labyrinth put downs....
August 24 2009, 6:26 PM
In response to: "Obviously Labyrinth doesn't compare with TMWFTE in terms of intellectual relevance, they are different films for different audiences.
Comparing them is like saying, "hey, Brothers Karamazov is a lot better than Peter Pan". What's to even compare? Bowie fans think every step he takes should be a poignant artistic statement, but it seems the man doesn't take himself that seriously... Maybe he just thought it would be fun and profitable to be in the movie, and he and his bank account couldn't care less about what fans expect him to be. It's been almost 30 years since he went down the 80s drain, about time to accept that DB is not such an uncompromising artist, and he's been a sell-out here and there"
Re: Guys, come on lay off the Labyrinth put downs....
August 24 2009, 6:45 PM
'It's been almost 30 years since he went down the 80s drain, about time to accept that DB is not such an uncompromising artist, and he's been a sell-out here and there"'
I agree. Some people even flipped out at the notion of Bowie doing American Idol! I can see him just about doing anything. American Idol would not have hurt him any.
'You start out wrinkled and you cry...you end up wrinkled and you die.'
Re: Guys, come on lay off the Labyrinth put downs....
August 24 2009, 9:15 PM
<< I agree. Some people even flipped out at the notion of Bowie doing American Idol! >>
Yeah! I was one of them.
< I can see him just about doing anything. >>
So can I
< American Idol would not have hurt him any. >>
Well I guess your right Nick, after all the damage has already been done with things like Sponge Bob and Extras etc, American Idol might be seen as a step up
As a so called fan of David Bowie since 1972, I cannot understand why Labyrinth even gets a mention here, soz DB but, well, there you go.....a lot better stuff before and since im sure you will all agree...maybe not.....I watched it once and that im afraid was enough
Lol - I first discovered Bowie in 71 and am a bit of a Glam Rock kid (Ziggy was my era). But I adore Labyrinth. Yes, it's a kid's film but it's a good one and far better than Pan's Labyrinth (at least he speaka da good English!).
(Typo - I no speaka da good English!)
---------------------
Baal
I smile and go off waving
(Amiably) - for that's my way
Re: Guys, come on lay off the Labyrinth put downs....
August 24 2009, 11:20 PM
In response to: "You like the 80's albums though don't you Nat? so how can you agree with mchelo when he refers to them as Bowie going down the 80's drain?"
Fair point, trevorhalvo. You're right about me liking the 80's albums, so, no, I really don't agree with mchelo when he refers to them as Bowie going down the 80's drain. What I meant was that I do think that mchelo's got a point when he says that "Bowie fans think every step he takes should be a poignant artistic statement" and "that DB is not such an uncompromising artist". However, that's just what I like best about Bowie; this unpredictableness when it comes to career moves, releasing 'Baal' one year and 'Let's Dance' the other, avant garde and mainstream at the same time. I like 'The Man Who Fell To Earth' and I like 'Labyrinth', just as much as I enjoy both 'Low' and 'Let's Dance', but for different reasons. Like mchelo says: "Obviously Labyrinth doesn't compare with TMWFTE in terms of intellectual relevance, they are different films for different audiences." In one way Bowie has really become the kind of all-round entertainer that Ken Pitt once wanted him to be. However, as I've said before on this board, I'm a fan of Bowie's 1964-1997 musical output. The musical output thereafter is a different story which, with a few exceptions, does nothing for me.
This message has been edited by NatTate on Aug 25, 2009 7:38 AM
Re: Guys, come on lay off the Labyrinth put downs....
August 25 2009, 12:43 AM
I question the notion that "Pan's Labyrinth" is even distantly a remake of the Henson film. They're both set in magic universes and have the L-word in the title but that's about it. Sr. Del Toro's film is a wrenchingly sad masterpiece; Mr. Henson's film has David Bowie.
Re: Guys, come on lay off the Labyrinth put downs....
August 31 2009, 7:41 PM
To say that Henson was trying for a "Pan's Labyrinth" but fell short is rather puzzling. I think it's obvious that's not what Henson was going for at all.
"Pan's Labyrinth" is a masterpiece, meant to be a dark fairytale touching upon the horrors of war with a truly sadistic, frightening adversary. Everything is a great deal more morally ambiguous, with a far stronger undercurrent of violence.
"Labyrinth" is a fun movie, and despite all the detractors, it's been a driving force for introducing fans (and very significantly, YOUNG fans) to Bowie. But it was never intended to be as dark as "Pan's Labyrinth", so to say it failed in achieving that makes about as much sense as saying Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice" failed to be a gripping military thriller. Well, duh, people.
Re: Guys, come on lay off the Labyrinth put downs...
September 1 2009, 1:37 AM
It seemed at the time that Mr. Henson was making films like 'Willow', 'Dark Crystal' and 'Labyrinth' as an attempt to tell somewhat darker stories. None of them were completely successful, and maybe it's because he had a brilliantly goofy comic sensibility which was somewhat at odds with that bigger and darker ambition. I wonder what 'Labyrinth' would have been like if he'd just gone with it?
Nothing wrong with Labyrinth, i used to play it to my kids (and other kids) when babysitting, we nicknamed it 'Scary Man' movie, well cause Jareth is quite scary.
And no i didn't play TMWFTE to kids when babysitting. :-P
Oh and note the 'take the boat' quote from the other thread.
This message has been edited by thevisitor. on Sep 1, 2009 12:32 PM
Oddly, I had a similar experience a couple of years ago...I was at a picnic with a number of animation professionals and somebody's wife dragged her two toddlers over to me. "This lady worked on your favorite movie," she said: "Candyland!"
My dears, you have no idea how horrible this movie is...it makes 'Labyrinth' look like 'The Seventh Seal'! I crept home shortly after.
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