By Amanda
On June 27, 1986, Labyrinth was released in theaters (28 years ago yesterday, if you’re interested in the math). In this movie, Sarah rescues her baby brother from the Goblin King's labyrinth while learning lessons on the value of friendship and family, prior assumptions, and basically not being whiny teenager. The maze is not just a series of walls and entrance ways—this one has bogs, castles, and forests in which the unwary explorer could be lost for eternity. I have been somewhat obsessed with Labyrinth since I was a little girl, and my high school friends obsessed with David Bowie didn’t help the situation.
But why do I come back to Labyrinth time and time again? The movie still generates special editions, merchandise, and cosplay inspiration (take a look at M. Alice LeGrow’s Sarah ballroom cosplay—it’s amazing: http://sadwonderland.deviantart.com/art/Labyrinth-Dress-4-74657298). One of my biggest reasons why I prefer Labyrinth and many older films is that today’s movies lack the texture of many old fantasy movies, especially those with Jim Henson’s creature shop supporting them.
But why do I come back to Labyrinth time and time again? The movie still generates special editions, merchandise, and cosplay inspiration (take a look at M. Alice LeGrow’s Sarah ballroom cosplay—it’s amazing: http://sadwonderland.deviantart.com/art/Labyrinth-Dress-4-74657298). One of my biggest reasons why I prefer Labyrinth and many older films is that today’s movies lack the texture of many old fantasy movies, especially those with Jim Henson’s creature shop supporting them.
Puppetry and similar props need to make a comeback. Before you roll your eyes, think about how you felt seeing Yoda walk around Dagobah. Then think about the Yoda of Episodes 1-3. Think about the cuddly quality of the Sesame Street puppets—or the equivalent from whatever children's show you watched. While computer graphics can be amazing, movies with inhuman “cast members” seem to rely all too much on the graphics rather than focusing on storytelling. For example, 3D movies can get cheesy when they purposely create a part of the story that breaks the fourth wall just to come at the crowd with a spider or swords or other gimmicks.
Computer graphics are almost indistinguishable now from real things, but they can also lack texture. You can tell when a puppet is interacting with actors versus when actors are pretending toward a hole in space. There are many good reasons that Andy Serkis and Bill Nighy still acted out their roles in The Lord of the Rings and The Pirates of the Caribbean respectively. Improvements in technology that allow us to have smaller motors and increased movement precision with computer software could enhance the human qualities and reactions of little puppets.
Plus, Henson’s better puppets still look damned good on the screen, whereas some outmoded computer graphics make watching older films with poor computer graphics tough. The goblins of Labyrinth are fun, small additions to the film that add the right touch of something that goes bump in the night. A combination of skilled craftspeople and CGI artists could really make movies watchable well into the future. I’m sure CGI characters such as Groot and Rocket Raccoon are going to be fantastic to watch in Guardians of the Galaxy later this summer, but wouldn’t it be nice too if some films brought back the old romance and realism of puppets on occasion?
Plus, Henson’s better puppets still look damned good on the screen, whereas some outmoded computer graphics make watching older films with poor computer graphics tough. The goblins of Labyrinth are fun, small additions to the film that add the right touch of something that goes bump in the night. A combination of skilled craftspeople and CGI artists could really make movies watchable well into the future. I’m sure CGI characters such as Groot and Rocket Raccoon are going to be fantastic to watch in Guardians of the Galaxy later this summer, but wouldn’t it be nice too if some films brought back the old romance and realism of puppets on occasion?