Movie Review: Labyrinth (1986)

Hello, friends!

From time to time some of us probably think it would be great if we could wish all of our mundane problems away and instead go to a magical world where we are fighting against dark powers with a group of loyal friends. Since that's not possible, a good substitute is immersion through stories, so today I'm reviewing a film that transports the viewer to the world of the goblins, the world of the movie Labyrinth. 

A note about spoilers: This majority of this review is spoiler-free as I will not talk about the ending of the movie. I'll be talking about the characters and their dynamics but not what happens to them so feel free to read without fear of the secrets being spoiled. NOTE: As I get into the general thoughts section I'll talk about some events that are further along than I usually talk about (normally I don't go further than the inciting incident) but will still refrain from talking about the ending itself.

Labyrinth (1986)

Premise: Sarah is full of daydreams, but her dad and stepmom leave her to babysit her half-brother, Toby, when he just takes her things. She finds it absolutely unfair and when he won't stop crying she wishes that the king of the goblins would just take Toby away so she didn't have to worry about him. Turns out, her wish comes true as Jareth, the very king of the goblins himself, appears and does just that. Now Sarah has to find her way to his castle before time is up to get her baby brother back and come home, or else he'll belong to Jareth forever. The only problem is, to do that, she has the face the labyrinth where the rules are always changing and Jareth isn't above cheating to get what he wants. 

If only there was a worm to guide her...

Genre(s): Adventure, Family, Fantasy.

Length: approx. 101 minutes.

Age Range: This is rated PG. There's a bit of peril that might be too much for really little kids, but nothing gory ever happens so kids over 8 would probably be okay. The goblins can be a bit alarming but they're more bumbling than (think of Maleficent's minions in Sleeping Beauty (1959)) scary. Jareth is probably the eeriest thing in this world.

Crew: Directed by: Jim Henson. Produced by: Eric Rattray. Written by: Terry Jones, Dennis Lee, and Jim Henson. Music by: Trevor Jones and performed by David Bowie.

Starring: David Bowie and Jennifer Connelly, and a whole slew of voice actors and puppeteers! 

Personally, I'll always choose the blue option.

General thoughts:

Coming after Henson's earlier work The Dark Crystal (1982) (which I am now curious about to see if it's in the same world), this film is in the classic "girl goes to another world to learn about herself" canon, up there with The Wizard of Oz and Alice in Wonderland, and Jim Henson himself didn't mind the comparison. However, this story didn't stop at garnering inspiration, but was substantial in influencing future stories in this niche micro-genre. Some other films that come to mind with a similar premise are:

• Spirited Away (2001): spirits instead of goblins fill this world, but our main character still has a spiky-haired antagonist to face.
• The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland (1999): this may not count because it's a play on Alice in Wonderland already, but what it has in common with Labyrinth is puppets, so I think it's still of note. It also features something that is lost and claimed by the antagonist (in this case, it's a blanket instead of a baby).
• Pan's Labyrinth (2006): I have yet to see the film itself, but have seen a couple presentations about it so I have a pretty good idea about the plot. My basis of comparison isn't just the title, but also the dynamic between a girl and her brother.

As far as I know none of those films have credited Labyrinth as an inspiration, they just stood out to me so this is my own un-researched hypothesis. What is known is that this film has a cult following and there have been discussions of a sequel since 2016. While there haven't been any updates since 2024, it was still thought to be sincere.

And besides, Mr. David Bowie is no longer with us and who else could play Jareth?

Though, it would be hard to follow this up because this film is so distinctively 80s, so something made 40 years later would invariably feel out of place and not even in the same world. It's hard to pinpoint a tone for this story as the stakes are high--Sarah's brother's life is in the balance!--yet then there are puppets, the occasional crass joke thrown in, and musical numbers.

Quick tangent: These songs are low-key insane. I get it, they couldn't bring in someone as famous in the music world as David Bowie and NOT have him sing, but at the same time it's not a musical? And David Bowie is the only one who is singing?? The muppets sing along sometiems, too, but Sarah never has a song which is what keeps this from feeling like a musical and more of a pop experiment. It just plays into Jareth being dramatic that he breaks out in song from time to time, usually just to sing things he could've just as easily said with a few words. I somehow have them stuck in my head even though I don't know what the words are.

Is that a magic 8 ball?

With that out of the way, back to defining the tone. As strange as it is for me now--and strange doesn't mean I don't like it!--it's not too far out there for the time frame, as it is believably in league with other 80s fantasy films, such as The NeverEnding Story (1984). I'd classify this as funky fantasy. That's not an official genre, but it's as close as I can get to describe it, as opposed to things like high fantasy or dark fantasy or...romantasy.

And that's what leads me to what I really want to talk about: I think this film inspired a generation of fans who also love romantasy (romance + fantasy), and explains so much about people being obsessed with the "romantasy" genre even if the film itself isn't part of it. 

For those of you who are not around the current book spheres, romantasy often involves characters from opposing sides (enemies-to-lovers) as the main couple, frequently including a brooding character who has for much of the story been seen as the villain/antagonist/or just plain dangerous. You'll notice that Romance isn't in the genres listed for this film, yet there's a scene where Jareth is up to his usual manipulation and is trying to make Sarah forget why she's there until time runs out, so he traps her in a time-loop and the common reading from the cult following is that this is romantic. 

I'm here to argue that it isn't and that the movie isn't trying to show that it is.

Sarah has been longing for an escape this whole time, and that's all Jareth is offering her, to be stuck in a time-loop forever. In this hazy escape world Sarah is clinging to things that have a sense of familiarity, not attraction. There are other options for escape given later and they are just as attractive options to Sarah as this scene, and so that's no indication of feelings on either side. The goblin king is never in love with Sarah, only ever trying to trick her. And she's never in love with him, just under the spell.   

I think that's more to do with the dress, if we're being honest.

Romantasy as a genre is fine on its own--let people read what they like!--but I think it's problematic if it's read into things that are not there. Remember: he's the villain and she's 16 years old. I think the film itself does not support that as we are constantly reminded of the true motivations (only a villain would nearly drop a baby so many times).

And who knows, maybe people don't see it this way; that's just the impression I had of this movie for years now before watching it and was impressed that it actually had such a hard line of just being manipulation and nothing more, and it's up to the characters to break free.

And while we're here, let's talk about the characters.

Preciousssssss

I really liked Sarah as our progatonist. At first she is somewhat petulant, whiney, and has her own idea of what is and isn't fair in life (the "I wonder what your basis for comparison" line is ICONIC), but like all great stories, her worldview changes and she becomes strong and kind. Her arc is about growing up, grief, and coming to appreciate those you have, not those you lost.

To continue the comparison to The Wizard of Oz, Hoggle, Ludo, and Sir Didymus remind me of The Scarecrow, The Tinwoodsman, and The Cowardly Lion. There is not an exact counterpart for each member of the trio, but instead all have parts of intelligence, compassion, and bravery.

I would also hold Ludo's hand.

Those characters are bold in their personalities but also in their appearance, thanks to the work done to bring them to life and I so appreciate the effort of all of those puppets. I mean, it's Jim Henson, so that's kind of his forte. To our modern eyes, some of the transitions aren't perfect, but that's part of the charm.

In addition to the puppets, I was constantly blown away by the set and the utter commitment of dusting everything in gold. I mean it, there's glitter on everything. I could not find a great picture to demonstrate this, so you just have to watch it to see how in-depth they go. This alone makes me think of it as not being as "dark fantasy" as it is often portrayed. Yes, there are dark moments, but there's also enough humor to keep things light. There's a light at the end of the tunnel, or at least, at the end of the Labyrinth.

Look at the sparkly walls!

For the blogathon:

This is my entry to the "Eddie's Year" Blogathon hosted by Sally Silverscreen at 18 Cinema Lane. This blogathon is celebrating the character Eddie Munson from Stranger Things and through that the year 1986, the year he would've graduated. I haven't watched Stranger Things, but Sally also opened this blogathon up to movies made in 1986 and when I saw Labyrinth back in February I sprung at the chance to talk about it. Last year around this time I reviewed The Breakfast Club (1985) for a blogathon celebrating movies from 1985, so this felt like the next logical step.

From what I understand about Eddie and the world of Stranger Things, Dungeons and Dragons is a part of it. This film feels very much like it could be in that world with the twists and turns and changing rules. If this were a Dungeons and Dragons set-up then Jareth feels like the Dungeon Master--one that nobody likes--as he changes the scenarios from minute to minute. I've never played D&D but would love to give it a go, so my character that I'll claim is either Hoggle or Sir Didymus. Pretty simple when anything comes up: Hoggle runs away from danger and Sir Didymus runs towards it. But as I talked about above, they have development of their own, too, so the story is never dull.

This review of mine is last minute, at the thirteenth hour, but thanks to Sally for hosting this! Readers, if you liked this article and want to revisit more of 1986, check out the other entries in the blogathon HERE.

13 is prime time.

Thank you for reading! Have you seen this movie? Do you think this fits into the romantasy genre? I'd love to discuss it with you in the comments! Who do you think of Hoggle, Ludo, and Sir Didymus is the best fit for each Wizard of Oz character I listed? What are other 80s fantasy films you enjoy? What should I know about Stranger Things?

Until next time,

Chloe the MovieCritic

Movie Review: Phenomenon (1996)

Hey, friends!

Have you ever had someone tell you to watch a film again and again but it's months before you get around to it? Ever since December my dad had been trying to get me to watch Phenomenon (1996) but I was hesitant because I'm not a big John Travolta fan. We finally sat down to watch it at the end April and I now have to say that I take it back about not liking John Travolta. One could say that that is a rare occurrence, or more aptly, a phenomenon. 

A note about spoilers: This review is spoiler-free as I will not talk about the ending of the movie. I'll be talking about the characters and their dynamics but not what happens to them so feel free to read without fear of the secrets being spoiled.

Phenomenon (1996)

Premise: George Malley is living his simple small-town life working as a mechanic and dealing with everyday problems like how a rabbit keeps getting into his garden. On his birthday, George sees a bright light in the sky that knocks him to the ground and changes him. He has more ideas, more concentration, and can move things with his mind. While pursuing inventions and knowledge he also aspires to a relationship with Lace and her two kids, but Lace doesn't trust easily already so George is not sure he should reveal his powers to her. When people find out what he can do, will their reaction give him fame or fear?

Looking for light...a spotlight, perhaps?

Genre(s): Drama, Romance, Fantasy.

Length: approx. 123 minutes.

Age Range: This film is rated PG. There is one scene that is more on the sensual side, but I think it would go over the heads for most kids so it would probably be fine for them to watch. Two of the characters are kids so there are roles for which the whole family can relate.

Crew: Directed by: Jon Turteltaub. Produced by: Barbara Boyle, Michael Taylor, and Charles Newirth. Written by: Gerald Di Pego. Music by: Thomas Newman.

Starring: John Travolta, Kyra Sedgwick, Forest Whitaker, Jeffrey DeMunn, Robert Duvall, Richard Kiley, Brent Spiner, Vyto Ruginis, and David Gallagher and Ashley Buccille as Al and Glory.

Hittin' the books.

General thoughts:

I love a good story about a genius--be it A Beautiful Mind (2001), The Imitation Game (2014), or Sherlock (2010-2017)--but this film is unique in that it is not about national high stakes and problems to solve in a bustling city. Instead, it's just about a guy and the small town he lives in. The genius here is more of the quiet type, kind of like the main character in another film from that year, Matilda (1996).

George lives in the middle of nowhere. Due to that, the small-town vibe gives the film a comfortable atmosphere from the beginning, as the characters joke with people they have known their whole lives. This could easily be the set of Gilmore Girls or Groundhog Day (1993). Yet in this small town something extraordinary happens, and because the citizens have never experienced anything like this before they don't know how to react.

True small-town: where you can stand in the middle of the street with only a whole film crew behind you.

This film is an examination of how people react to someone who is different. It's about what it means to be kind to people and take care of them when everyone else has abandoned them. George has had a good support system his whole life--from his friend Nate to his boss to the bartender--but this movie considers that maybe social isolation can be MORE severe in a small town, where you can't hide, when everyone you have known your whole life turns on you. Though the movie we see who George's true friends are: those with integrity, who don't treat George different from before he encountered the light.

My dad had a really good point that it's notable that the mystery of the light is maintained. Maybe it's aliens. Maybe it's a divine blessing. Maybe it's a metaphor for "seeing the light." Maybe it's zen or scientology or something else. Anyone watching can come up with their own explanation of what happened, that's outside the bounds of the story. Inside those bounds is what George does with it. The plot includes the external factor, but the story is about George.

All eyes on you.

George is my favorite John Travolta role to date as he's sweet and kind and not trying to take credit/exploit his abilities, but just is excited about all the ideas he has. From his jokes to his genius, he reminds me of a friend of mine (he didn't take that as a compliment when I told him, but it was). George is good with animals and people, especially knowing how to have fun with kids and including them when no one else will. 

And speaking of, Al and Glory are THE cutest kids EVER, oh my goodness. Al has big questions and big sensitivities and is trying to figure out life at all of 9 or 10 years old. Sometimes that means going with what the crowd, but his mom is quick to point out that kindness is more important than aligning with what everyone else believes.

Mirror, mirror, on the wall...I mean, mirror mirror in my hand...

Lace is very protective of her kids and her heart as she doesn't want either to get hurt again, and I thought George's relationship with Lace had a good pace (which is fun because it rhymes). As far as pacing for the rest of the film, I originally thought that the ending was dragging it out too long, that they could've ended it already, but I was wrong. Where they ended was perfect and full circle and it wrung a tear out of me at the very last shot.

The reason I hadn't cried before then was because I was too busy having a great time; the dialogue is quick but also subtle. For example, there's a part about language and from my brief experience with Portuguese, I knew that wasn't a literal translation which is intentional but never explicitly stated, and it made it all the funnier. I also enjoyed George's quick comebacks when he's being tested yet it's his heart that shines through.

Chair-ity?

For the blogathon:

This review is my contribution to the Robert Duvall Tribute Blogathon, hosted by Rebecca at Taking Up Room. Mr. Duvall passed away earlier this year so this is Rebecca's way of celebrating his body of work!

One character and relationship with George that I didn't mention above is that of the doctor, played by Robert Duvall. This role was key as Doc believes George, he knows he can turn to George when in need, and he defends George when the whole town forgets that George is their friend. 

Mr. Duvall's performance is consistently gentle and jocular, yet when he thinks morals are neglected he speaks out. He's a faithful friend to George and is unafraid of who knows it. He imparts wisdom to both his fellow townspeople and to the viewer. As a doctor his job is to take care of people, but he extends that beyond the physical. He's a character who will stay with me for some time.

And Doc plays chess, which will always win over a character for me.

E.T....phone home...

Thanks to Rebecca for hosting this blogathon and giving me a chance to get some thoughts out on this movie! Thank you to all of you who decided to read those very thoughts! If you'd like some more content about Robert Duvall's career, make sure to check out the other entries in the blogathon HERE, HERE, and HERE.

What is your favorite role of John Travolta and Robert Duvall? Who are the cutest fictional kids that you've seen? How do you explain circumstances that aren't revealed in a plot? What would you do with powers?

I'll be back in a few days for another review, so until then, stay phenomenal yourselves.

Chloe the MovieCritic

Movie Review: Jack the Giant Slayer (2013)

Fee-fi-fo-fum, the time to talk about tall tales has begun!

A trend for fantasy movies in the early 2010s was to embrace a darker and grittier version of well known fairy tales. Snow White and the Huntsman (2012) and Maleficent (2014) were two popular examples, but sandwiched between them was another entry in this sub-genre that had hopes for being killer. So let's see if, as folks say nowadays, it "slayed."

Spoiler warning: This movie follows the basic outline of the fairytales Jack and the Beanstalk and Jack the Giant Killer and as those are relatively well known in their outcomes, I'll reference those more than I usually do when talking about the endings of movies in my reviews. As for the unique elements of this film, I'll talk about some details but leave how it actually turns out a surprise for you!

Jack the Giant Slayer (2013):

Premise: Jack is a big dreamer, having developed a love of reading from a young age by the stories his father read to him. Unfortunately, dreaming doesn't create food for one to eat, so Jack's uncle sends him to market to start selling some of their belongings. However, the legends about giants may have an element of truth, and evil Lord Roderick is looking for the way to the skies, and that way falls right into Jack's hands: magic beans. Meanwhile, Princess Isabelle keeps trying to escape her arranged marriage, much to the chagrin of Elmont, the captain of the guard assigned to keeping her safe. Both Isabelle and Jack are thrown into a bigger adventure in the sky as they try to get home before a clash between the worlds is created.

Genre(s): Fantasy, Fairytale retelling, Adventure.

Length: approx. 114 minutes.

Age Range: It's rated PG-13 for some intense violence, usually in the form of CGI/fantasy brutality rather than one on one combat.

Crew: Directed by: Bryan Singer. Produced by: Neal H. Moritz, David Dobkin, Bryan Singer, Patrick McCormick, & Ori Marmur. Written by: Darren Lemke, Christopher McQuarrie, Dan Studney, & David Dobkin. Music by: John Ottman.

Starring: Nicholas Holt, Eleanor Tomlinson, Stanley Tucci, Ian McShane, Bill Nighy, Ewan McGregor, Eddie Marsan, Ralph Brown, John Kassir, and Cornell John, Andrew Brooke, Angus Barnet, and Ben Daniels (credited as giants with the names Fee, Fye, Foe, and Fumm, which I appreciate).

General Thoughts:

This movie is relatively unknown as compared to others in this sub-genre, and I think it suffers most from critics due to the quality of the CGI. The visuals were laughably bad, which makes the violence (which, warning, includes popping eyeballs and skewered tongues) all the more eyebrow raising because THIS is what they came up with? For me drags the movie down a little but to give it some credit, there is also motion capture involved not just computer simulations. Battle choices aside, what impacts the quality the most is in the design of the giants. All of the giants are purposefully made to be grotesque and unnatural, when I feel like it could very well have just been made with people and special effects or makeup.

Comparatively, Snoke is a masterpiece.

It makes me wonder if making the giants look as gruesome as possible is an attempt to compensate for the body counts later, because the viewers surely wouldn't care! It's their comeuppance! In a fantasy world it is typical to make an us vs. them (see the orcs in Tolkien's work), but here it lacks nuance. I would've liked to see the fairy tale element of one outside the norm, i.e. one of the giants helping the little people out. In fact, the original tale is marked by the compassion of the giant's wife who helps Jack hide but there is no such show of heart for these giants in the sky. It did feel like it was missing something (maybe the Bechdel test?); making everyone bad or good and not have any grey area feels a little lazy. Maybe I'm used to Big Friendly Giants, but it rubbed me a little wrong.

This isn't to say I don't like the movie! I'll talk about what I liked it a minute, and it will show how the rest of my nitpicks made me go "huh" but didn't really change my enjoyment of it. 

The script isn't anything spectacular, as it has some cliches, but those can also be seen as part of the fairy tale genre that starts ("Once upon a time...") and ends ("happily ever after") almost every story the same way. The film walks the line between being serious and being tongue-in-cheek so I think it would've been more successful if it had picked a lane? But success is overrated, as I vibed with the nonchalant yet adventurous attitude, which felt apropos of fairy tales, even if it was unconventional in the movie sphere.

I'm not sure if it would go as far as being called plot holes, but I definitely have questions about how the magic works in this land because it seems conditional; I counted the beans getting wet many more times than the plot counted them getting wet. That is, if this even is a different kingdom, as suddenly--with a jolt--we were England? I don't know if they ever considered a sequel, but there was some potential through some loose threads that didn't get wrapped up. If they had considered a continuation, it would've been fun to see even more classic fairy tales included!

Now to talk about what I liked, it's time to mention the blog party this is for!

For the blogathon: 

This review is my last contribution to Hamlette's We Love Fairy Tales Week!

My favorite part of this film is that it is an ode to storytelling and fairy tales themselves, as both our young protagonists grew up listening to and believing in fairy tales. While that is frowned upon at first by others as a foolish pastime, it is their creativity and ingenuity that was nurtured by these stories that helps them to solve problems and get out of sticky situations.

This is a combination of two fairy tales: Jack and the Beanstalk and Jack the Giant Killer.  For an adaptation, they did a good job of keeping enough of the elements so the story feels familiar and comfortable, but also adding in new plots and goals to keep the viewer wanting more. They introduced and developed characters to make it suitable for a 2 hour format, and I'll always be won over by in-depth characters.

I relate to Jack and his tendency to dream, as shown by my frequent daydreaming when I should've been writing this post that I said I would over a month ago...

Jack was sweet and I liked how he was clever and just distracted at times. The scene where Isabelle is blaming herself and Jack totally reshapes her perspective was darling. 

There's a bit of a romance, which makes my reviewing this on Valentine's Day appropriate. 

This film's biggest asset is the cast because you can tell they are all having so much fun. They take their roles seriously, but in a way that is also lighthearted? I can't really describe the attitude, but it's a fun time.

Evil Stanley Tucci played up the villain role to the max. I also really liked Eddie Marson as Crawe, the second in command for Elmont as well as Ewen Bremner as Wicke, the minion to Lord Roderick. I love a good sidekick and I thought they played their opposing archetypes with the right amounts of camp.

Warwick Davis has a cameo which was a delight but also not enough! I wanted more because it was great fun contrast for telling a story about giants.

The whole cast pulls its weight and at times I thought "why are we focusing on Jack!?" when I was equally intrigued by what was happening to the other characters and I had to remind myself that he is indeed the titular character, so it checks out.

Though, if it was up to me, this movie would be about my favorite, favorite, FAVORITE, character, Elmont. He had the exact right amount of snark, loyalty, and energy. He was brilliant and along for the ride. As a bonus, Ewan McGregor just looks like he's having the time of his life. So I can count this a Valentine's Day movie for me watching him.

Thanks to Hamlette for hosting this blog party! Check out the wrap-up post for the blog party to make sure you didn't miss out on any of the entries.

What do you guys think of this sub-genre of gritty fantasy fairy tales? Do you have a favorite "ode to storytelling"? Who are some of your favorite characters who are not the main character? Do you think there should be some nuance for fairy tale creatures? What fairy tales could you see connected to this one in a sequel?

Thank you for reading and happy Valentine's Day!

Chloe the MovieCritic

First Impression Ramblings on Hotel Del Luna (2019)

Salutations!

The post that I have for you today I've been writing for MONTHS. And part of that is that I keep writing the intro based on exactly what I've been up to lately, but by the time I start writing this post again that is no longer current. And another part is because there's so much to say. And the images lived happily on my desktop all fall semester. But it's my favorite show I watched last year (2023), so you all need to watch it now, too. 

It should be a yearly thing at least that I rave about how much I love K-dramas. So you guys should come along for the ride.

After all, K-dramas are what got me into this First Impression Ramblings format, what with Cinderella and the Four Knights. Which I'm currently rewatching. Today's post isn't really a "first impression" post because I've already been rewatching part of this show since I finished it a year ago, but I'm doing it anyway.

Today the focus has a more magical turn as it is 2019's Hotel Del Luna. I started this back in October or November of 2022? And was just very confused? But I encourage you all to press through the confusion. I didn't until about February of 2023, and then I became OBSESSED. It powered me through spring semester 2023 because I used it as a reward on weekends if I had done all my homework.

            

I love the differences in these posters. On the left, everyone is so happy which is adorable. On the right, everyone is following their professional vibe. I have a challenge for you: find the extra hand in both pictures...

Because I've only made it through 3 K-dramas completely I am no means an expert, but there are some things I have noticed that are important: fashion, food, music, and the cinematography style. Quite epic, and I will get into each one, but here's a song to listen to while you read through this post.

This song, "See the stars" is the peppiest of the soundtrack, but my favorite is probably "Done For Me".

Also, I don't know ANYONE else besides my sisters who have watched this show (which. is. a. tragedy), but I'm going to try to convince all of you, therefore, I won't spoil stuff. This is me trying to entice you. Like Man-wol trying to convince Chan-sung to do things. First I'll give you a quick run down on what the show is about, but again, it's just generic so there aren't spoilers!

Plot:

Jang Man-wol had a bloody past but now is the owner of Hotel Del Luna, a place for ghosts to rest before going to the afterlife. When a human stumbles upon the hotel, Man-wol's ruthlessness comes into play. However, she agrees to spare the man's life if he promises his son will work for her. 

Koo Chan-sung has tried to escape working for Hotel Del Luna for 20 years. He wants to pay for his father's crimes and hopes that with his diligence the deities may spare him. But when he moves back to Korea, Man-wol finds him. She curses him, so reluctantly he starts working for her to beg her to return his life to normal.

Hotel Del Luna is the highest quality hotel and Chan-sung must find ways to serve the residents best while making sure they get to the afterlife and not become an evil ghost who will turn to dust, never to be reincarnated.

General thoughts:

I don't know anything else that switches from being a carefully crafted fantasy cinematography experience to being. absolutely. terrifying. This show is mainly about death. Therefore, it deals with death in all forms, looking at all the ways it comes about. That is always going to be a hard topic and here it is handled creatively, thoughtfully, and realistically. While I have different beliefs about what happens after death, that doesn't stop me from seeing the merits here and I LOVE the ideas this show brings up. It is one of the most poignant stories I have ever experienced. Whether or not you believe this is what happens after death, it is an amazing show to watch. It's touching and heartfelt and deeply sorrowful while being hopeful. Which is such a unique take and I am HERE FOR IT.

In my ramblings on Cinderella and the Four Knights I mentioned how I'm a sucker for any retelling ever. I'm sure I've mentioned it other times. Multiple times. And this?? This is TOTALLY a fairytale retelling. Fight me. I recognized it from the first episode and was so curious about how the gender swapping would work. And I love it. Especially because it is my favorite fairytale. At first I was a little concerned that things were coming off as grooming, but no, I just had the wrong impression. I may or may not mention this again (based on how this show is devouring my Pinterest, I'll probably mention it again) but the slow-burn? I would argue that these K-dramas rival Jane Austen in terms of slow-burn romance. I. Am. Obsessed. At the same time, some of these relationships I never would've seen coming. I actually screeched "is this a romance I smell??" because one of them seemed to come out of nowhere until the music and slow-mo set it up.

I love how these shows are so Dramatic (TM) in the terms of "a ghost has possessed a suit of armor and is set on killing you" yet a huge moment will happen between two characters and then we. never. talk. about. it. It's kind of refreshing because it feels like here in the States, every time character A looks at character B the fans go wild, while here it's so casual at times. Which is strange because other times we will replay the scene SO MANY TIMES. But not when lajlgdahgkldhgajhfld happens? I am fine, I'm just deceased. THE STRESS THIS SHOW GIVES ME IS OUT OF THIS WORLD. And it's all worth it, my peeps.

The trajectory of this story continued to baffle me in every episode. My Spanish professor would always warn my class that Spanish films are not like those in the U. S., and that is also true for K-dramas. It feels like here in the U.S. or the U.K. there is a set structure that we aren't supposed to mess with. You know when the climax is, you can spot the inciting incident, etc. As an aspiring writer, I love getting to know these structures and what I've written has been all the better for them. But at the same time, I tend to get trapped in them. Here, there isn't that structure but a completely different art form. What I'm saying is that while it can feel unsatisfactory, it also feels vividly lifelike. It's absolutely GORGEOUS. It's rare for me to say that the structure alone has made me rethink life, but this is kind of the case here. There's a combination of the structure and different morals than we in the States are used to, so it is thought-provoking.

I could talk about this forever, but that can so easily drift into spoilers. And I want to focus on some of my favorite characters, so time for Koo Chan-sung!

Characters:

At first I thought this show was a tiny bit overacted. Everyone was reacting too much and making caricatures out of the characters. BUT. Oh my. I don't know how I could even think that because this is some of the best acting I have ever seen in MY LIFE. MY LIFE I TELL YOU. It's like with real life, where you don't get to truly know who people are until you've been around them for a while. These characters are in a service industry so they have to do things with a smile and a joke. However, as you watch them you learn the struggles they all have and when they are putting on an act.

It's a masterclass, folks. Here are some thoughts about each of the main characters.

Koo Chan-sung:

This DARLING boi is absolutely gorgeous and the sweetest ever I can’t even.

ACK.

I will come back to this, but also, his fashion is FLAWLESS.

He is the most perfect character in the history of the universe. Scratch character, he's the ideal human. Which, being the main character, us writers are taught that you shouldn't make your character Perfect (TM) because there is no room for development. K-dramas are allowed to break the rules because they do it so well. From day 1, Chan-sung has been the sweetest, most considerate, kindest soul to exist. What he is learning to over come is the trauma and fear that he has been caring around for twenty years. He's learning to accept the fate the gods have for him and through that serve people to the best of his ability.

You can tell my beautiful boy is frazzled when he doesn't brush his hair to the sides.

I love learning the meanings behind the names and this is what I've garnered from his: 

Chan-sung = yes. So everyone is agreeing with him.

Koo = zero. He's Mr. Zeroth Choice. 

And then, ALL OF A SUDDEN, he's like, "My English name is Andrew" and I'm like "HOLD THE PHONE THAT YOU'VE BEEN MAKING DREAM CALLS ON ALL DAY." You do not seem like an Andrew based on all of them that I've known! I hate when people change names depending on language. It's your name! And if people can't figure out how to say it that's their problem! They should try more! Then later he's like, "It's a star"? I am confused. Therefore I need to learn Korean and rewatch this. I'm not complaining.

You guys don't understand how much of my heart belongs to this man.

All in all, I love my boy so much. He is willing to sacrifice absolutely everything for anyone who needs his help. The whole point of this show is that we should all aim to be like Chan-sung, okay? Other characters call him a coward, but in the beginning he reacts surprisingly well for all of the stuff he's going through. Go on, claim that you could do better. I know I certainly couldn't! The thing is, though, he continues to get braver and braver. And places his trust in the right people and protects people and EEEEEEEEPPPPP. *cries forever because it's so beautiful*

Let's just say him existing has raised the bar in every other area of my life. I need to be a better person, the rest of the world needs to be better, he needs a hug. The list goes on.

Jang Man-wol:

At first I thought she was the scariest person ever. And you know what I discovered? She is epic. Iconic. The level of "I will take you down without flinching" that Ms. Jang is? For example, when she's dealing with a ghost guest who turns humans crazy at sight, her reaction is basically, "Oh bother, not again". That is a legendary feat.

"Whatever it Takes" by Imagine Dragons could be her theme song. Is she ruthless? Yes. Does she have reason? That's up to the viewer to determine. Could she deal with this in better ways? That's what this show is going to explore.

I'm just saying, a slice of rebar is not how I would want to be attacked, either.

Her life has made her beyond bitter, and I feel so sorry for her. The relationship she had with Yeon-woo is such a punch to my heart. In one of the conversations she said she didn't imagine she would live long and he offered to give all his years to her? Aches. My heart is aching.

Obviously this is going to come up, but the fashion? It's kind of played up that when she's not in dead-set revenge mode, she's drinking and buying stuff non-stop. So no one appreciates her style, but I do. And her love of food?? Korean cuisine looks INCREDIBLE so every time she eats in this show (which. is. a. lot.) I'm hungry. I love the joy she gets from little things. Little expensive things, yes. Her humor and commanding manner are such a powerful combination, she is a powerhouse. She is truly fearless and I am wowed by her.

Every time I feel insecure, I think I just need to be like Man-wol and own everything. 

Kim Seon-bi:

Mr. Kim is the perfect gruff character. He's like an uncle to everyone at the hotel and his chuckle is one of my favorite things ever. He acts all tough and then he's so proud of the drinks he mixes. It's adorable. And he's also scared of everything but would never admit it. He's lucky he has Choi Seo-hee to hide behind.

I also called it because I knew we couldn't end this show without getting his backstory. Though it was NOT what I was expecting. And of course made me love him all the more because he's such a softie. And here we stan kind hearts.

Choi Seo-hee:

I've heard a saying that you should be wary of the quiet ones, because they are the ones planning something. As an introvert, I adore that. Ms. Choi definitely gives off those vibes. At the same time, you can tell she's what keeps Hotel del Luna running.

Ji Hyun-joong:

I call him my sweet baby bellhop. Even though that's not really his job, we're going with it.

Of the whole crew, he's the most baby-like. Considering he's been dead 70 years, that doesn't matter in terms of the hundred of years the others have been around. And he's such a sweet brother? The care that he has for his sister is pain. One of those "shoot me now" moments. He has so many wishes but he's quiet about them and therefore you want to give him the world.

He's so polite and adorkable with everyone, so when he started being snarky to a certain character I was shocked because I didn't think was possible for him. But I am all for it. He does this precious blinking thing but I can't find any gifs. So you'll have to watch the show.

Sanchez: 

Is he a main character? No, but he is one of my favorites and at times so totally me so he gets a section to himself.

He's such a fun roommate. I love him! Awkward and quirky in all the best ways, he knows right how to cheer Chan-sung up. Like eating pizza and imagining that it is "the boss's head..." Then  HE ANSWERED THE PHONE WHEN IT WAS MAN-WOL, that said boss! I want to see that!! Apparently they're following each other on social media now, mwahaha.

Though, buddy, don't tell Mi-ra how much stuff is worth..

Also, does he speak Italian? I mean, Chan-sung met him at Harvard, so he's got some skills, but there doesn't seem like there's anything he can't do.

Sanchez has the literal saddest backstory ever. I mean, as sad as you can get when I also just finished watching Arcane. And then the writers of the show decided that wasn't sad enough so they gave him more pain. YOU CAN'T DO THAT TO MY SANCHEZ!!!! He needs a never-ending hug.

Kim Yu-na:

If we're going off of main characters as being the peeps in the credits, that doesn't include her. But I'm going to give her a mention all the same because I love her.

I did not realize how much she would be in this show, but it's great. The SNARK. I love that she's a little minion who 100% does her tasks her own ways. Do I have any clue how old she is? No. At first it seemed more like 13 but later on maybe more like 16 or 17? Wait, maybe I could actually just look this up....I'm getting 18? Okay, maybe that's right.

Anyway. She's a precious little doll and I love her.

Other favorites:

Special mention to Mr. No, all the Magos (especially the pink Mago being invested in a certain relationship), and the Grim Reaper.

Relationship dynamics:

Employees with each other:

Technically I should separate this into Kim Seon-bi, Choi Seo-hee, and Ji Hyun-joong together, then all 3 against Chan-sung. Because they did not get along at first. I mean, they were afraid their way of life (if you can call it that) was ending, but planning on making my baby mentally ill is a little much. HORRIBLE. The slideshow of "how to kill" speaks volumes. And even my sweetheart Hyun-joong who gets along with Chan-sung the best was just like "that's too bad". Talk about trust between coworkers. 

Speaking of Chan-sang, he told Ms. Choi that he is a bit of a softie and repeats favors ten times over. Saying, yo, stop trying to kill me and just be nice and it will benefit you, too. And she was all like, "he was sarcastic and threatening to me!" No! Chan-sung is genuine. 

But, it develops into something so sweet. They rely on each other and lift each other up. They are a SQUAD if there ever has been one. I was SCREAMING one time when they had matching coats as backup because never has there been anything so epic. They keep each other in the loop and make each other laugh.

I love that the three call Chan-sung Mr. Third Choice.

Employees with Jang Man-wol:

The "don't number the deities!" then, holding up one finger: 

"What's that?" 

"My answer".

I never could get enough of the Grim Reaper...

Then you have Mr. Kim being SO PROUD of "Angels Tears and Devils Tears" and Man-wol being so annoyed at him. And I thought it was cute.

Mrs. Choi being the maternal figure that they all need is perfectly painful.

The sasssssssss.

Man-wol's jealously of the dead bride and her interactions with Chan-sung were brilliant. How Chan-sung is just like, nah, it's fine, this is my job. *heart eyes* He is ADORABLE. He excused himself before picking her up! That's consent, folks. And he's so clueless about how Man-wol is feeling and is just his helpful self and not prideful at all. And Man-wol is annoyed at when he chooses to be strong and when not, which, you know, is fair.

That whole circumstance was peak humor because when Mago told Chan-sung "Just find a dead person..." and Chan-sung was like, where are we going to find one? And she replied.....You run a hotel for dead people. And how this guest wanted Chan-sung because a) he's nice and b) she wants to be alone. Mood.

I will admit that Chan-sung's logic is not always there. Like when he thought "Huh, she stole a button. Was she trying to console me?" Baby, what part of that makes sense?

Music:

Just this last semester I was listening to music and "Done for Me" came on. And I actually felt sorry for my roommates because they have obviously never been wrecked by a K-drama AND IT SHOWS. 

Outfits:

This black lace dress? FIRE. Her little dance when thinking about a wedding is so cute.

The Breakfast at Tiffany's reference! LOVE IT. She looks fabulous. Is the word for "sparkly" bling bling something? That's what it sounded like. Or is it jewelry that is bling bling?

In the course of this whole show, there has been one (1) moment where I thought the hair was a little off.

No nonsense.

The way she described he reasons for this outfit, y'all.

Killer.

Anything you say, boss lady.

It's important to have an outfit for any weather.

OH MY GOODNESS. This denim 'fit??

 Another picture of it because she has outdone herself!

And yes, almost all of those pictures are of Man-wol. But the other characters are very stylish, too. However she outshines them.

Behind the Scenes: 

Yes, a different kind of BTS. Anyway, these are not part of the show, but they bring me joy. So you're welcome.

I'm confused about why these two are hanging out together in this choice for makeup and costumes because they never appear like that together...

Mago for the win.

We never see him smile so this fills me with joy.

The creativity of this episode??? OUT OF THIS WORLD. I'm pretty sure I can guess the inspiration for her...

Last thoughts:

This stinking show. It is glorious. The CRYING. And the plot twists and cliff hangers?? The talk about what people cherish vs. wanting to hide? My heart HURTS. HELP. It's so short (only 16 episodes!) so it's manageable and goes by too quickly. It talks about real issues in the world with how many ways there are to meet death.

The Subway and coffee product placement always cracked me up.

The full moon episode was a little weird for me on several levels, but the whole electricity scheme was amusing. Meaning how all the lights in the building have gone out but then the next shot shows obviously not on the outside.

Not to be crossing cultures, but this is reminding me of Spirited Away. Guest house for spirits vs. guest house for the dead?

I don't know how accurate it is, but the subtitle translation one time said: "Ambitious men aren't popular among ladies" which had me like SLAAAAAAAY.

This show is SO FUNNY. Then the next moment I nearly cry because it's about death and separation and hard things in life. Then we're back to being TERRIFED BECAUSE ACCCCCK.

The acting is some of the best I've ever seen. Which is hilarious considering how I originally was like, "it's over the top". It captures the emotions of the human heart so well, especially anger, regret, and revenge along with forgiveness and new budding starts. I implore you to consider checking it out and having your life changed.

This is kind of an intimidating show because it is so fantastic. So much so that I felt like it was hopeless to try to write this post because I wasn't going to do it justice. But if I can convince some peeps to watch it then maybe it will be worth it.

I mean, my problem is also probably due to how for months every time I've started to edit this post I end up watching the phenomenal fan videos...

How I feel thinking about this show.

Thank you so much for reading! Have any of you seen this show? Are any of you inspired to see this show now? Which of these pictures intrigue you the most? Any K-Dramas or foreign shows that you'd recommend? What are your favorite stories about dealing with death and grief?

Chloe out.

EPICCCCCCCCCCCCCC.

Chloe the MovieCritic