Labyrinth and Princess Bride: Two Great Movies Gone but Not Forgotten

Disney and Pixar release so many movies these days, it's hard to keep up with which ones are on video and which ones are still at the theater. With that in mind, we forget to share some of the oldies but goodies with the younger generation.

Two great movies that never cease to keep young ones enchanted, be it girl or boy, are Labyrinth and The Princess Bride.

A Jim Henson production, Labyrinth stars David Bowie as the Goblin King, Jareth. Jennifer Connelly stars as the young teenage girl, Sarah, destined to steal her baby brother back from Jareth.

The synopsis is something like this. Sarah is a typical young teenager, dramatizing everything and resentful of her baby brother. She engulfs herself in a world of make believe with goblins and ogres, fairies and other mystical creatures. One particular night, when little Toby has become extremely bothersome, she makes a wish for the Goblin King to take away the baby. The goblins arrive and spirit the baby away.

Jareth appears to make Sarah an offer. "Forget about the baby" and have "anything you wish." Sarah, of course, refuses. She is led on a series of adventures in trying to solve the labyrinth where-in lies the Goblin King's fortress. Getting to the fortress and defeating Jareth will return Toby home. Aided by a myriad of friends along the way, Sarah learns many invaluable lessons.

The puppets are phenomenal. The acting is first rate. I still feel that the stair maze castle scene is one of the best generated by any director yet.

One little footnote. In the book, it is explained that to say "It's a piece of cake" will bring instant misfortune in the Labyrinth. Sarah says it three times.

All in all, the movie is great for young and old. If you have never seen it, give it a chance. I give this movie a "two thumbs up."

One of my other favorites actually was introduced to me by my mother. The Princess Bride. Released in 1987, this Rob Reiner film appeals to both genders as well. Action, adventure, comedy and romance all rolled into one.

The cast boasts such members as Billy Crystal, Carol Kane, Fred Savage, Peter Falk, Cary Elwes, and Robin Wright. Along with the impressive Andre the Giant.

The movie tells the tale of two young people destined for true love. Wesley (Cary Elwes) goes out to seek his fortune so that he may return and make Buttercup (Robin Wright) his wife. Buttercup receives word that "the dread pirate Roberts" attacked the ship her true love was on, leaving no survivors. 5 years into Wesley's disappearance, Prince Humperdinck, played by Chris Sarandon, forces Buttercup to become engaged to him.

Buttercup, thinking her true love to be dead, blindly accepts her fate, with a vow that she would kill herself by morning. Never fear, it's the movies! Wesley comes to the rescue.

This is where the action starts and the fun begins. There is humor in most every scene. The sword fighting is a true work of art. In real life, both actors, Elwes and Mandy Pantikin, learned to duel both right and left handed. Andre the Giant plays such a lovable character that if you didn't like him before, you will after this. Of course, Billy Crystal and Carol Kane are the comic relief as Miracle Max and his wife Valerie.

Even the soundtrack is exceptional. The theme song, Storybook Love, was nominated at the 60th Annual Academy Awards for "Best Original Song".

I hope you give these two classics another chance to enchant and entertain your young at heart. Our family still pulls them off the shelf for a night of fun and giggles. Almost like comfort food for the soul.