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Labyrinth is everything you could possibly hope for from a collaboration between Jim Henson, George Lucas, and David Bowie. Not only is it an epic fantasy movie with a moving story and great creature effects, but it is also dark, dangerous, and mystical. A large part of that is due to Bowie’s performance. His Jareth the Goblin King is both creepy and alluring. His obsession with Sarah almost gets her and her little brother killed. Numerous times, actually. He is a force to be reckoned with here, but he makes time for a couple of musical numbers, too. He adds a little whimsy to balance out the menace.
King Goblin is whimsical in its own right. A sort of beefed up version of Wychwood’s Hobgoblin, King Goblin is more complex than its counterpart. It is sweeter and smoother, with a dry, slightly musty finish. And, adding to that whimsy I was talking about, King Goblin is only brewed during a full moon. That’s what the bottle says, anyway. Who can say what strange magic this imparts in the beer itself?
The magic of Labyrinth can be seen in every frame. The set design is intricately bonkers. The creatures are crazy and nonsensical, but they are imbued by their creators with enough personality to make you really believe in them. Especially poor Hoggle, who is the heart and soul of the movie. It is hard to get behind Sarah, who is bratty and foolish in a way only teenage girls can manage. And you can’t really root for the Goblin King, as his motives are, shall we say, less than wholesome. It’s really Hoggle, with his hideous features hiding a kind heart, and his betrayals of Sarah borne more out of fear than of any malice on his part, that makes up the emotional core of the movie. His journey is more notable than Sarah’s, even though she comes around in the end as well and stops being so selfish.
But, again, this is Bowie’s show. And you can tell he’s having a great time being the bad guy. He’s got charisma to spare, and it just oozes off the screen whenever he’s present. Labyrinth is also a great way to get your kids into his music, so long as they aren’t put off by how creepy he is. King Goblin might be a great way to get your kids into beer, but I feel it would be irresponsible of me to recommend that one. Either way, it’s a good pairing for consenting adults.
