For those unfamiliar with the film, Jim Henson's (The Dark Crystal) Labyrinth tells the story of Sarah (Jennifer Connelly; Noah), who is trying to rescue her brother from the clutches of the Goblin King, Jareth (David Bowie; The Prestige), by solving the Labyrinth before the 13th hour. Helping her along the way are various characters created by Jim Henson and his team of puppeteers and she navigates the carrells and riddles of the maze.
The evening started out with a ten minute retrospective look into the filming of this amazing film, along with interviews from Jennifer Connelly and member of the Henson family. Some topics discussed during this "look back" were the restoration of the puppets used in the film, as well a tribute to the late David Bowie.
When the film finally started, it was breathtaking.Throughout the years, I have seen Labyrinth over 30 times at home on VHS, DVD, Blu-ray, and Digital HD, but it literally felt like I was watching it for the first time. The picture was crisp and clear and all the little details that were hidden on the small screen added more depth to the film. For me, this the one of the top films ever put on the silver screen. Little details, such as the faint red outline of the goblin's eyes or the details of the wooden shields of The Four Guards, truly made me appreciate the craftsmanship and the attention to detail that Jim Henson put into his work.
For those that missed the special Fathom engagement, all hope is not lost. A 30th Anniversary Edition of Labyrinth is being released next week, September 20th on DVD, Blu-ray, and 4k UHD. While this new home entertainment release will never rival the theatrical version, it is still a must own for any 80s child or lover of classic films.
For those searching for more events by Fathom and want to see some more classic films brought to the silver screen, you can visit their website at http://www.fathomevents.com/ to see a schedule of all the upcoming events at a local theater near you.
