Labyrinth Blu-ray Review

Sony’s 4K restoration of "Labyrinth" truly shines, even on the standard 1080p Blu-ray. The film, scanned and fully restored at 4K resolution from the original 35mm camera negative, exemplifies a significant leap in detail, color, and vibrancy. The meticulous restoration process has resulted in an image that is finely grainy, highly detailed, and beautifully cinematic. Grain remains light and consistent, enhancing the overall picture quality without distraction. The textures are stunningly clear, whether it’s the intricate features of the goblins or the layers of Jareth’s costume, with details enormously focused and intimately textured.

Visually, the film excels in showcasing the finest material definition and inherent artistry in the craftsmanship of puppets and sets. The stonework around the labyrinth and makeup and skin textures are exceptionally detailed. Colors are vibrant yet natural, with robust primaries and supporting shades distributed evenly throughout. Black levels are rich and deep, maintaining true coloration with minimal grain intensity in the darkest scenes. Lastly, flesh tones remain accurate, though occasionally tinged with a slight red or orange hue due to filtering effects, adding a subtly artistic touch.

The encoding using MPEG-4 AVC ensures that no perceptible wear and tear to the original elements or encoding issues compromise the viewing experience. The almost non-existent noise/artifacts further solidify this transfer's excellence. With a resolution of 1080p and an aspect ratio of 2.39:1 on BD-50 layers, "Labyrinth" offers a markedly improved picture quality that highlights detailed sets and craftsmanship while maintaining smooth, cinematic movements. Fans will undoubtedly find this restoration rewarding, making it a worthwhile upgrade for anyone who cherishes the film’s visual artistry.

The newly remastered Blu-ray release of "Labyrinth" boasts an exceptional Dolby Atmos track, replacing the erstwhile Dolby TrueHD 5.1 presentation. This upgrade introduces a nuanced overhead support, enhancing the auditory experience with notable moments, such as during Sarah's escape in the rainstorm. Thunder rumbles vividly through and above the listener, exemplifying the Atmos track's capability to deliver immersive sonic environments. Midway through the film, deep, powerful rumbles synchronizing with Ludo's bellowing create the most potent sonic moments, highlighting the full potential of the Dolby Atmos format. Additionally, subtle vocal reverberations occasionally utilize the top layer, adding an extra dimension to the audio experience without being overbearing. The track wisely selects these moments, contributing significantly to an already magnificent soundscape.

The mix features a balanced blend of effects, music, and scoring, allowing each element to shine without overshadowing one another. The improved 7.1 surround sound ensures more dynamic audio placement with new side speaker involvement. Musical numbers resonate with concert-like fullness, enveloping rooms with a lively ambiance. The action effects are thoughtfully positioned, with clear delineation between background atmospherics and foreground interactions. Low-frequency extension is robust, ensuring subwoofers deliver lush, deep sounds, from castle doors slamming to creature roars and musical beats.

Dialogues are crisp and clear throughout, maintaining natural sound levels even during transitions to musical sequences. Unlike some soundtracks where shifts between dialogue and music are jarringly noticeable, this mix achieves a seamless auditory flow. The Dolby Atmos track vastly enhances "Labyrinth's" sound presentation, producing an unforgettable auditory experience that celebrates this Henson classic’s 30th anniversary.

The 30th Anniversary Edition Blu-ray of Labyrinth presents an impressive collection of supplemental materials, combining new content and carryovers from previous releases, delivering a comprehensive and nostalgic experience. Among the highlights, new retrospectives such as "Reordering Time: Looking Back at Labyrinth" and "The Henson Legacy" feature interviews with cast and crew, including vintage clips of Jim Henson, providing rich insights into the film’s production and Henson's enduring creativity. "Remembering The Goblin King" pays tribute to David Bowie's unique contributions, while the "Anniversary Q&A" offers an in-depth discussion on puppetry art. The DigiBook packaging includes 28 pages of concept art, essays, bios, and more, enriching the overall presentation.

Extras included in this disc:

• Audio Commentary with Brian Froud: Carried over from the previous release.
• NEW! Reordering Time: Looking Back at Labyrinth: Retrospective featuring Jennifer Connelly and others.
• NEW! The Henson Legacy: Explores Jim Henson's creativity and legacy.
• NEW! Remembering The Goblin King: Tribute to David Bowie.
• NEW! Anniversary Q&A: Hosted by Adam Savage with key contributors.
• Inside the Labyrinth Making of Documentary: In-depth making-of documentary.
• Journey Through the Labyrinth: Kingdom of Characters: Character-focused featurette.
• Journey Through the Labyrinth: The Quest for the Goblin City: Additional featurette.
• The Storytellers - Picture in Picture: Interactive commentary.
• NEW! Theatrical Trailers: Compilation of original trailers.

Jim Henson’s "Labyrinth," released in 1986, showcases the journey of a selfish 16-year-old girl tasked with navigating a labyrinth to rescue her baby brother from the Goblin King within 13 hours. Though initially a box office disappointment, the film has achieved cult classic status over time. The 30th anniversary reissue offers a restored 1080p transfer from a 4K scan and a new Dolby Atmos soundtrack, enriching the visual and auditory experience substantially. The reissue is housed in an attractive DigiBook package and includes several new supplementary features.

The film's core strength lies in its highly imaginative and original storytelling, a blend of Henson's directorial genius with George Lucas’s production prowess. Terry Jones of Monty Python fame contributes to the screenplay, evident in the film's unique dialogue exchanges and comedic tones. David Bowie’s iconic performance as the Goblin King adds substantive charisma and a memorable musical layer, writing and performing songs that sustain the film's timeless allure. Despite elements of campiness, Bowie’s presence is magnetic, embodying a devious yet enchanting character that elevates the film significantly every time he appears on screen.

Jennifer Connelly, in one of her early roles, interacts commendably with an array of captivating puppets and creatures, which are hallmark features of Henson’s craft. The film employs pioneering special effects for its time, including the first rendered creature in cinema—a CG owl—and various animatronics and set designs that invoke nostalgia. Matte paintings contribute to the surreal and dreamlike landscapes of the labyrinth, reinforcing its place in fantasy lore. Overall, "Labyrinth" remains a visually distinctive and emotionally resonant film, whose thematic explorations of growth and transformation continue to resonate deeply with audiences, especially young viewers.

The Blu-ray release of "Labyrinth" represents a milestone in home video entertainment, celebrating the movie's 30th anniversary with impeccable technical quality and comprehensive content. While not in 4K UHD, this edition pushes the boundaries of Blu-ray with outstanding picture optimization that elevates the film to a new pinnacle of visual excellence. The addition of a meticulously crafted Atmos soundtrack further enhances the viewing experience, adding depth and richness to the audio landscape. This release is complemented by an impressive collection of supplements, blending new and old material to provide an exhaustive retrospective of this beloved film.

In terms of packaging, the handsome Digibook presentation adds a layer of collectability that fans will appreciate. Such a well-rounded package not only showcases the film's enduring appeal but also exemplifies Sony's commitment to delivering top-tier home entertainment. This release sets a new benchmark for future Blu-ray editions with its thorough restoration and additional immersive audio features.

Conclusion Labyrinth is a good movie that's earned a great Blu-ray. The picture quality is a work of art, the Atmos soundtrack is fine, and the mix of new and old supplements make this a complete package. The handsome Digibook is the proverbial icing on the cake. Here's hoping Sony sees fit to release more titles like this, restored in 4K, containing a new Atmos soundtrack, packaged in a Digibook, and featuring some good new extras. The studio really nailed this one, and one can only hope that The Dark Crystal isn't far behind. This release of Labyrinth earns my highest recommendation.