Rating: 
Summary: Jim henson Goes Out On A Limb
Review: The Dark Crystal is one of those movies you really need to see more than once to understand. It is slow in pace and often convoluted with dialogue that isn't quite clear.
Bur beyond that, the simple story of friendship and teamwork is strong throughout. Trust and doubt play a big part in these characters. Jim Henson and his creature shop really put a lot of work into the making of this movie. I don't think it paid off as well.There is an old witch who sounds a lot like Fozzie Bear and Master Yoda - but that's because it is the voice and actions of Frank Oz. Visually it is an interesting film too. The imagery is very dark and filled with character in the sets and costumes. The DVD contains no real great extras but a simple featurette that explains the making and design of the movie. A lot of work went into it but it wasn't a commercial success either. I don't think really younger kids will get it. I saw this in the theatre and had mixed feelings about it but on the TV it works much much better!
Rating: 
Summary: A classic
Review: This movie is rich and colorful, especially for the time it was made. For those of you who need your CGIs/Animations spoon fed to you...dont bother. You will become one of the small handful who do not like this film. If you can appreciate an artists way, and the ability to bring a good story to life with no computers and also with a scenery that is out of the norm, this is for you. I loved it, my 3 and 5 year old love it. The darkness is merely a path to a finale which lends credit to the deeper meanings your average complainer loves to bypass. I you hated it, you are just a complainer anyway.
Rating: 
Summary: Okay..not great
Review: I bought this for my twins... We have many movies and dvds. I was expecting great things based on the reviews (I mostly relied on reviews because I don't remember seeing it or people talking about it...now I know why!) My kids didn't like the puppets. I, who grew up with Jim Henson (and Kroft.. and all the other weird 70's stuff) thought it was kind of stupid, too. The themes (save your race/species) were too advanced for young kids and the dialog and characters were too boring for older kids/adults. Bummer. I was really hoping for more than this. I think one of the best things about a kids movie is that it is good enough for the adults to like, too. We don't watch it at all. Stick with Mary Poppins, Toy Story, Shrek, The (original Disney) Jungle Book, Nightmare before Christmas, etc. these are classics for a reason.
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Summary: Defense Of The Movie I Love
Review: Okay, I realize that since I've already admitted that I love "The Dark Crystal," my comments will be chalked down to the ravings of an obsessed fan. So here goes. I read a review that claimed the main character, Jen, was "a brat" because he chided Fizzgig for barking as they were looking for Kira in the tunnels underneath the Skeksis castle. Would a "brat" have been as wracked with guilt as Jen was when he thought he had led the Garthim to the podling village? Would a brat have so desperately tried to save the one he loved, as Jen did when he offered to trade the crystal shard in exchange for Kira's life, even though he knew it would spell doom for himself and everyone else? And finally, would a brat have undertaken such a life-threatening quest with only minimal complaint? Don't make such insulting comments unless you are prepared to back them up with more than ONE instance!
Rating: 
Summary: Not the best picture or sound quality, but good bonuses
Review: The DVD doesn't have the best picture or sound quality, but the bonus features make up for it. This is a good movie for any family to own.
Rating:
Summary: What an amazing piece of work
Review: This film is very original and beautiful to watch I think the work the Hensen company did for this film is simply stunning.
I only gave it 4 stars becasue I do feel the story does get a little lost at times but for the most part it stays on track.
I would love to see more stuff like this from the Hensen and Co.
Brian as the current head of his father's work has just as much talent and drive to do it.
I love Kermit and the gang but this film and Labyrinth as well as series like the Storyteller are just so amazing to watch, I never get tired of them.
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Summary: Movie Fairy Tale Told Right.
Review: Jim Henson was one of the greatest artists and filmmakers of the 20th century. It took awhile for his genius to be appreciated in the United States, but over a decade since his death people are finally beginning to recognize the mastery of his creative mind. For example, THE DARK CRYSTAL. The film had a fairly decent run when it was originally released in theatres in 1982. However, the film wasn't acknowledged or heralded for the creative and complex masterpiece that it is until recently. THE DARK CRYSTAL was a humongous undertaking. It is a film that takes place in a fantasy world, filled with frightening and mystical creatures; yet does not star one human being. The entire cast of the film consisted of nothing but puppets: some rather large and cumbersome, some that human performers were fitted in, some that were small, some that were animatronic; but all puppets nonetheless. Nothing like it had ever been attempted before and through the work on THE DARK CRYSTAL, Henson pushed puppetry and animatronics to a whole new level. THE DARK CRYSTAL is about a young male Gelfling (think of an elf, but much smaller) named Jen and the journey he undertakes to save his world from an eternal dominion by a group of dragon-like creatures called Skesis. Jen's entire race was wiped out in a holocaust by the Skesis in an attempt to prevent a 1000 year old prophecy from being fulfilled. Jen is the last of his race, or so he believes. Jen leaves the race of Mystics who have raised the child since his parents' murder and sets forth on a journey to the great Palace to heal the Dark Crystal by inserting The Shard that had been broken from the crystal a millenium ago. Along the way he meets a variety of fantastical creatures from a one-eyed wise woman, the a race of miniture-round-headed people called Podlings, to a female Gelfling named Kira. The plot of the movie is excellent and is told in the manner of such classic works as THE LORD OF THE RINGS, STAR WARS, and THE ODYSSEY. The world that Henson created is one of magic and fantasy, yet the story contains a great deal of Truth within it. It is a tale of adventure, love, sacrifice, and redemption; which speaks to the divinity in us all. The movie is acceptible for an entire family to watch and contains several morals. However, children younger than five may find some of the creatures frightening. Nevertheless, THE DARK CRYSTAL is a fairy tale and like all true fairy tales, it does not gloss over the fact that evil is an ugly and nasty business. This movie is one of the best by one of the greatest.
Rating:
Summary: They had a total disregard for sound
Review: I won't dwell on the finer points of this film,it's easily one of the best looking fantasy films from the 80's.The set pieces are outstanding and beautiful.The puppetry is extremely lifelike and the characters are compelling if somewhat simplistic. So my only complaint,and it's a huge one if you enjoy audio as much as me,is the sound transfer.It seems as though the sound was transferred from some old VHS copy and they did'nt bother to digitize it.The dialogue in many scenes seems as if it was recorded inside an aluminum shed,it has a "scratchy" sound,for lack of a better word.The bass is virtually non existent,my subwoofer was only engaged about 4 or 5 times,and the rear surrounds were barely utilized at all.When they were,the effect was pitiful,almost a whisper.This is DVD,there was tremendous potential for this film with regards to audio.Especially when we find our young hero travelling through the forest,every speaker should have been in action during that sequence.It should have enveloped me,but instead disappointed and confused. I would like to know what Columbia-Tristar and Henson studios were thinking,because it's obvious someone made a big mistake in authorizing this inferior transfer.And i don't want to hear that the movie is old,that's no excuse,because Carpenter's "The Thing" is even older and the audio on that DVD was remastered and it sounds impeccable. So,if you don't mind an underwhelming audio mix,and an above average video transfer(i have to agree with another reviewer,some section are scratched and appear blurred),then you can't go wrong with this well executed and highly entertaning fantasy film.I hope there are plans for another release with improved sound.
Rating:
Summary: A Review Haiku by Todd Marrone
Review: Sad to see a day,
when wonderous creations
are replaced by pixels.
Rating:
Summary: A spiritual journey
Review: This tale follows the spiritual coming of age storyline. Its struggle of good verses evil leaves me enchanted.
The puppet master, Jim Henson, brings this world to life and leave me longing to jump into the television & share the adventures of Jen.
I have watched this film since I was a child & will continue to watch it over & over & over. No child or adult should resist losing themselves in this world.
A beautiful, mysterious masterpiece.
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