Labyrinth [DVD] [1986]

However, my main reservation is that the quality of this so called "Collector's Edition" did not meet my expectations. Unlike the earlier 1999 release, this edition is not optimised for the new standard TV format of 16:9 screen ratio (as opposed to the more squat 4:3 format). This means that the signal produced by the DVD fails to take full advantage of modern TVs and as a result reduces the picture quality. In addition — and to my mind a more serious flaw — it seems as if the producers failed to take the opportunity to remaster the film stock and digitally grade the colour. As a result, the conversion to the digital format looks somewhat faded if not a little flat. In addition, there really isn't much more by way of "extras" that you would normally associate with a "Collector's Edition" such as deleted scenes, out-takes, commentary tracks and the like. There is an old documentary and the theatrical trailer, plus a few static text-based pages, but nothing that you might not otherwise see in a common or garden variety release. To be fair, the "superbit" print (which I have not seen) may have taken the chance to increase the quality of the image, but the point with a "Collector's Edition" is to provide you with features above and beyond the original digitised print!

My advice: If you, like me, simply cannot live without a copy of Labyrinth in your DVD collection, this may well be adequate. However, the lack of refinement might tarnish your enjoyment of what is otherwise a marvelous production.

Revolving around the main character of Sarah (Connelly), an over-imaginative teenager who struggles to find meaning in life beyond her dolls and dressing-up box, the film is essentially a existentialist study of teenage fantasy.

The boundaries between fantasy and reality become dangerously blurred one night, when a desperate Sarah calls on the imaginary king of the goblins to take away her relentlessly screaming baby half-brother, Toby.

Unfortunately for Sarah, Jareth the Goblin King (Bowie) has ceased to be merely a figure of her imagination, and appears in the bedroom in place of the child, whom he has transported to his castle in the centre of a giant labyrinth, where goblins and monsters (sometimes friendly, sometimes not, often very comical!)haunt every corner.

It is then up to Sarah to fight her way through the twisting and ever-changing labyrinth to find her young charge, whilst making friends and resisting temptation along the way. Will she manage to overcome her childish, spoilt instincts and learn to think for herself to help others? Or will she succumb to the temptation of having her fantasies fufilled by the charismic Jareth? Only one way to find out - BUY THIS MOVIE!!

Once described as, "a low point in David Bowie's career" this is a great film for adults and children alike, and contrary to narrow-minded belief, is a classic addition to any Bowie fan's collection. Worth watching for the fashion statements alone - "well, laugh!"