Rating: 
Summary: New-Age Claptrap, But I Like It Anyway
Review: If one can't see that this movie promotes the squish-head movement known as 'New-Age', then I doubt anything I say will be helpful. Just compare the Urhu (Weaver, Sand Painter, Herbalist, Musician, Story Teller, etc.) in their caves with the Skeksis (General, Priest, Scientist, Gourmand, etc) in their cathedral-like castle. Whose side is the film on? The castle even has what looks like choir stalls in the throne room. Anti-Christian perhaps? And just what are 'natural wizards"; were there any unnatural wizards?Anyway, I don't mind since the Skeksis are the most interesting characters in the film. I was disappointed when they merged with Urhu at the end. I'd rather have seen them enjoying a good Gelfling stew. 'The Dark Crystal' is one of my favorites, and I'm looking forward to a visit by my niece and nephew visit so I can play it for them. The producers have provided a excellent DVD which is described in detail both above and below. I deducted a point for the tiresome narration at the beginning, and voice-overs by Jen, but this is film for kids, so I guess excessive explication is necessary. Now where can I get me some Garfim?
Rating:
Summary: A Perfect DVD for Crystal Fans
Review: Any true fan of a fantasy film does not just stop with the movie. A true fantasy film fan goes deep into the roots of the film. It's an obsession that is not merely surface "good movie," but explores every facet of the world that is created and photographed. A true Fantasy Film Fan knows the background of the characters, their names, their passions, their motivations. And then the Fan separates Fiction from Fact by knowing how things were done (special effects, writing, etc.) and marveling at the making of the film. A good DVD presentation of a fantasy film is a dream come true for Fantasy Film Fans. Unfortunately, a good DVD created for the fan can be hard to find. Fortunately, if you're a "Dark Crystal" Fan, you've been blessed with a spectacular DVD. 1. 2.35:1 Widescreen Presentation- A simply perfect print in it's original widescreen format is enough to make any Dark Crystal Fan faint. 2. Making of Documentary- This is a great documentary on the Making of "The Dark Crystal." The comments by Jim Henson and Frank Oz to say a few reflects the abitious nature of the making of this film. Not only is there a lot of delicious information but the passion of film making can truly be seen in this documentary. 3. Isolated Music Score- A great fantasy film is not just wonderful visuals, but also grand music. Trevor Jones composed a beautiful score that adds audio color to "The Dark Crystal." You can fully appreciate his work by isolating the score and just watching the music and how it was married beautifully to the visuals. 4. Deleted Scenes- The deleted funeral scenes and original language work prints are incredible and fascinating to see. Although these 4 features alone are well worth the cost of this DVD, the film itself is a gem. A rare opportunity to see what happens when a fantasy film is done the right way. Fantasy Films are not just about magic and quests. A good Fantasy Film takes you to an entirely new world and creates every facet of life there making it so real that obsessed fans must own DVDs that explore deep into its creation. If you're a "Dark Crystal" Fan, or someone looking for a good fantasy film, you must own this DVD.
Rating:
Summary: When single shines the triple sun (4½ Stars)
Review: Given there are so few good fantasy movies out there, it might be necessary to go back time twenty-one years to find one that is half way decent. The Dark Crystal will always remain one of my favorite films, even in light of more modern fantasy films. I get more out of it than Dragonheart or the D&D movie. I got more out of a migraine than I did out of the D&D movie. I think the reason that there are so few fantasy films made, regardless of quality, is because film makers in Hollywood haven't a clue how to handle them, as for the most part they are made by people who have little or no experience in the genre. It certainly can't be the expense given the plethora of science fiction movies that have been released in the same amount of time. Or maybe it's because SF is more easily accessible by the public than fantasy. Time will tell seeing as we are so near the release of Peter Jackson's first installment of the Lord of the Rings. If it tanks, then I suspect the genre will be dead as far as movies are concerned. The Dark Crystal is the brain child of Muppeteers Jim Henson and Frank Oz, both of whom share Director credits on the film. Henson is known for Kermit the Frog and the Muppet Show, while Oz, a veteran of the Muppet Show is probably best known for the voice of Yoda from the Star Wars movies. The film is done entirely with puppets, without a live actor to be seen anywhere- somewhat ambitious for the time, and I think that might have been the Dark Crystal's problem: without any real actors seen by the audience, they may have had a hard time relating to the characters they saw. But even if that was the case for the film's box office failure, one cannot help but to be enchanted and enthralled by the film's overall dream-like qualities. Everything has a definite other-world feel, truly alien, and this is where it succeeds. The world of the Dark Crystal has spent a thousand years in darkness when a race of near god-like beings, the Ur'Skeks, conducted an experiment with a great crystal artifact. The experiment failed and as a result the Ur'Skeks were split into two faces: the vile, diseased Skeksis and the gentle, wise Uru. Through the ages they have all but died off, until there are only ten on each side. With each Skeksis linked to its counterpart Uru-what affects one affects the other. There is also a prophecy that says a gelfling (i.e. an elf) will heal the crystal and restore the world to its proper order. The gelfling in this case is Jen, one of the last of his race and raised by the Uru for a time when he would be needed to fulfill the prophecy. When single shines the triple sun What was sundered and undone Shall be whole again The Two made One By Gelfling hand Or else by none Now, I like prophecies about as much as I like Republicans-both override any concept or notion of free will, but it can be accepted in this case. Jen must find Augra-a Yoda-like old woman who several fake shard pieces as well as the real one, and leaving it to Jen to determine which is the right one. After obtaining the crystal shard he meets Kira, a female gelfling, who was raised by a gnome-like race known as pod people. It falls to Jen and Kira to travel to the castle of the Dark Crystal before the Great Conjunction occurs so that he may plunge the dagger like shard into the crystal. As he travels the Uru begin an arduous trek to the castle themselves for a final confrontation with their other halves. The look of the film is awesome-perhaps one of the imaginative films ever lensed. Production design fell to fantasy illustrator Brian Froud whose surreal and ethereal artwork has influenced every aspect of the film-from the Uru to the Skeksis, the architecture and the animals-none of them look like anything we have on our world, and blended seamlessly into a gorgeous sensory experience that has captivated me for nearly twenty years. Froud published a book-The World of the Dark Crystal, and it features much of his art and narrated by Augra as though she had written the text. It's out of print by now, but if you have an interest in the film, I highly recommend it as a companion peace to the film. There is little I don't like about the film, except for perhaps the pacing, which is a little slow and seems a little disjointed at times. Though that may be the fault of poor editing. The music is wonderful-epic and powerful with eerie underpinnings that accentuates the film perfectly. Trevor Jones should be applauded for his work on the score. This film is magical in most every way- it is true fantasy, and as much as I love Xena, doesn't have a single sword wielding woman in a chain mail bikini. Indulge yourself, good fantasy is so hard to find these days.
Rating: 
Summary: For Young and Old,
Review: This movie is the best, everything about it is magical and some how creepy. Jim Henson is the best! From Laybrinth to this, I can't get enough of watching these over again. Story line is easy to follow, the music is fun, and the characters are easy to fall in love with. From children to your grandparents, this is a must watch, ~Isriah~
Rating:
Summary: Henson/Froud collaborations can't be beat!
Review: This movie is one of the best Henson films ever made. With this film Henson achieved a milestone. This was the first film ever to use a cast entirely of puppets. This film is also one of two (that I know of) movies that are collaborations between Jim Henson and Brian Froud. Froud's conceptual design, couppled with Henson's production/direction are great things to watch. I own the other Henson/Froud film as well, "Labyrinth." The plotline for this movie is wonderful. A true Faery-Tale in every sense of the word. It has the monstrous villains (Skeksis), the long suffering victims (Mystics), the young hero (Jen), and the damsel (Kira). It even has a faery god-mother... kinda... (Aughra). Not only are the characters well designed, the plotline is wonderful, this movie is excellent. Froud alos has several books out based on his work for both movies, as well as other, non-related books. If you like his work in this and in "Labyrinth" I reccommend "Lady Cottington's Pressed Faery Book." It is absolutely hilarious.
Rating:
Summary: A really great visual treat
Review: 'The Dark Crystal' is an exceptional movie because it is the pure product of Jim Henson's massive imagination and outstanding talents. The incredible puppeteering and its seamless combination with costumed actors makes a movie that stands alone as a true original that has yet to be recreated, and may never be. The story isn't bad. The plot is predictable and the music is no different from any other movie that aspires to be the epic story of prophecy fulfilled. But you can't tear your eyes from the film because of its beautiful, richly-detailed world. Jim Henson and his team made thousands of puppets and props for the movie. They were succesful in creating a perfectly-delivered, believable fantasy world with distinguished characters you could care about set in intriguing, original environments. All-in-all, the DVD is well worth buying. But stay away from the nasty VHS. This movie demands letterbox. -- JJT
Rating:
Summary: My Favorite Jim Henson Movie
Review: This movie is cool because Dark Crystal is a scary title. I liked the special effects, and the creatures looked really cool. The story is very neat because there is a lot of fighting but it's not gory. Dark Crystal is my absolute favorite Henson movie.
Rating:
Summary: Timeless and lost jewel of a movie
Review: The wicked and desicated Skeksis, pugnacious and cantankerous reptilian creatures, refuse to die and continue to cling tenaciously to life by deriving power from a mystical dark crystal that remains suspended over a shaft of fire. But the crystal is cracked, and the energy it offers the skeksis seems to make them more twisted. Though ruling their world, which seems lush and dying at the same time, the Skeksis remain in the dread of two things - the noble mystics and the human-like Gelflings. Divining their doom at the hands of the Gelflings, the Skeksis cruelly exterminate them. But the mystics, who seem to resemble navaho medicine men as benevolent turtles, offer a more complex threat to the skeksis. Saved from the Skeksis oppression, a young Gelfling is told of the prophecy and sets forth for the evile Skeksis' ruined castle to bring their evil reign to an end and return his world to peace. It's a pretty simple story, but Jim Henson's artistry makes it all inviting, with charachters that seem ready to prove that they're no muppets. The fantasy world seems to have no end of menace and beauty. But its the Skeksis who steal the show - they salivate, whimper, tremble, glare and shout like magnificent feral monsters, yet plot and scheme like villains. I doubt the film has gotten its due, but that's probably for the best - no sequel would have measured.
Rating: 
Summary: A simplistic phantasmagoria
Review: A thousand years ago, at a conjunction of the three suns, a mystical relic shattered and two new races appeared - the withered, vulture-like Skeksis, and the wise, saurian Mystics. It has been prophecied that one of the Gelfling race shall destroy both by making the shattered relic whole once again, when the three suns joins once more. A thousand years pass. The conjunction is at hand. The ten remaining Skeksis send Garthim, their lumbering battle-droid-like minions to murder all Gelflings, so nothing will ever interrupt their reign of evil. The one remaining Gelfling, Gen, is sheltered by the Mystics, of whom also only ten remain. As the leader of the Mystics lies on his deathbed, he charges hapless Gen with the quest to "heal the Crystal". Simultaneously, the Emperor of the Skeksis dies, resulting in a struggle for the throne in the face of impending fate... Not counting the scenery, everything in Dark Crystal is superficial. The few characters in the film completely lack development, and plot is only skin-deep. And yet, as is the case with its kin, "Labyrinth", sheer ambience carries the viewer and makes the film marginally entertaining. What separates "Dark Crystal" from "Labyrinth" is the almost complete lack of likeable characters, which is possibly linked with the lack of any human actors. Gen's face is oddly distorted, like a baboon's, and, sadly enough, the near total lack of personality (is whining a personality?) allows his outer appearance to dominate the character. The sets are wonderful: they are colorful, amazingly detailed, and everything is in constant motion. Exactly what we expect from Jim Henson Studios. But is that enough to make a film?
Rating:
Summary: Impressive work by Henson and the whole crew!
Review: This edition of The Dark Crystal has behind-the-scenes footage at the end. The footage is really amazing, but I'd seen it before in a recording of a TV presentation, and there are some cool parts of that presentation which don't appear in this footage. The film itself is wonderful, especially considering that it was made when it was. In all the years I've been watching it, I've never spotted anything that seemed out of place. Henson, Oz, Froud, and all the other contributors to the movie created a masterpiece when they gave birth to the world of the Dark Crystal.
|
