I also only recently discovered this film. Since watching it, I've found a love for David Bowie's music. The movie is just ok in my opinion, but I definitely respect it and I respect the love that people have for it. A lot of my respect comes from the fact that so many people I love took part in making it. Others in this thread have mentioned George Lucas and David Bowie and Jim Henson... but has anyone mentioned Terry Jones (of Monty Python)? That's what convinced me to watch the film; everyone else I listed is awesome, but I have to admit TJ was the clincher.
and BTW.... Muppet Treasure Island is the best Muppet movie IMO. I mean you have Tim Curry singing! Plus it's SO quotable.
GONZO: It just feels so weird.
RIZZO: You mean that Mr. Erroll's dead?
GONZO: Yeah, that ..... and my pants are filled with starfish.
ERROLL: [calling roll] Old Tom.
OLD TOM: Aye!
ERROLL: Real Old Tom.
REAL OLD TOM: Aye...
ERROLL: Dead Tom.
RANDOM PIRATE: [holding a skeleton and puppeting it] Aye-aye!
ERROLL: That will be 40 lashes and then you walk the plank.
KERMIT: I didn't say that, Mr. Erroll.
ERROLL: I was anticipating your whim, sir.
[and then later in a similar exchange: "I was just paraphrasing."]
Okay, sorry I had to make my case (and I think Christmas Carol is a close second, but it's too sad and often serious for my taste. Though Michael Caine is definitely the man) .... back to Labyrinth talk.
I love the M.C. Escher stairs in the movie.