The Dark Crystal
by Jim Henson, Frank Oz, Gary Kurtz
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Dave Goelz, Frank Oz, Jim Henson, Kathryn Mullen, Steve WhitmireDirector: Frank Oz, Gary Kurtz, Jim Henson
Brand: Sony Pictures
Writer: Jim Henson
Writer: David Odell
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown), Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround; English (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled); English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround; Spanish (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround
Format: Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
Picture Format: Anamorphic Widescreen, 2.35:1
Running Time: 93 minutes
DVD Release Date: 1999-10-05
Audience Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Movie Reviews of The Dark Crystal
Movie Review: Out of this world
Summary: 5 Stars
This movie is Jim Henson's magnum opus. There isn't a fantasy movie out there that brings you to a whole different reality like The Dark Crystal does. Yes the movie is all entirely by puppets and yes there isn't a human being in site. That's the beauty of it. With a combination of an excellent story, innovative (for its time) animatronics, beautiful sets and cinematography you get a truly dazzling experience that any fantasy fan would be a fool not to miss.
The biggest aspect of Dark Crystal is the setting. They created a whole different world with its own animals, plants and terrain. The level of detail put into creating this new world is staggering and you get some good scenes to soak yourself up in it. From the rock caves of the Mystics to the jagged spires of the Skesis castle to Aughra's planetarium to every landscape in between. You will get drawn into this alien world. The beauty of the sets and location shots is only enhanced with some fantastic cinematography and conventional effects.
Since we are essentially talking about a puppet show brought to you as a feature film let's talk about the puppets. Granted they might seem a bit archaic by today's standards, they were nothing short of incredible back in 1982. To have puppets act and react in such an organic and lifelike fashion was never done on film before. This is the first movie where you get that sort of eye and mouth movements we have come so used to with current animatronics. Famed artist Brian Froud created all of the creatures and characters for Dark Crystal and if you're a fan of his work you will definitely see it. When you look at the majesty of the Mystics you forget they are just people covered in foam latex.
Of course having a truly creative setting and truly creative characters would not be enough to make a great movie. Lord knows fantasy fans have seen plenty of examples that prove that point. However this movie has a story that is as classic as any fable you have read before. By the time you finish this movie if will feel like you just read a grand fairy tale... only about wondrous and fantastic creatures never seen before. It's not deep storytelling. Then again it shouldn't be considering the mythical theme.
The only version you need to get from this movie is the one that's been released from the beginning. They did it right the first time when it came to extras. Here's what you get:
The World of the Dark Crystal - a fantastic 60 minute documentary that covers everything from conceptual design, to creating the puppets and sets, to cinematography and more. You also get interviews with key staff like conceptual designer Brian Froud as well as Jim Henson and Frank Oz. This feature is worth having. Trust me.
Deleted Scenes - Essentially scenes of the Skesis Emperor's funeral. Not as exciting as the documentary and I can see why it was taken out of the final cut of the movie.
Original language workprint - This is cool. The first idea for the movie was there would be a totally original language(s) that would be spoken and then subtitled for our benefit. I think it would have been awesome to see that, but in the end the studio chickened out. At least we get a taste of what it would have been like in these test prints. Keep in mind they aren't scenes in full production so they look grainy and there is some harsh dubbing with Frank Oz filling in some voices.
On top of that you get dolby surround and Spanish mono, character drawings and profiles, separate music score, talent files and trailers. Not bad if you ask me. Don't bother with the Collector's Edition. All you get is essentially the original script, some storyboards and additional illustrations. Not worth the extra price. The Jim Henson Family Film Collection is a good alternative too, with all the extras mentioned on the original edition as well as two other Jim Henson films.
I will admit that some people might be put off of this movie due to the lack of human actors in front of you and the fact the puppet animatronics might feel dated. It's a shame people would feel that way because The Dark Crystal is fantasy storytelling at its finest. If you are a fan of the genre this movie is an absolute must. If you're a Muppet fan... well these aren't Muppets so don't expect Fraggle Rock when you see it. Any fan of grand storytelling who wants to be whisked away to a strange faraway land will find what they are looking for in The Dark Crystal. Do yourself a favor and check this movie out.
Summary of The Dark Crystal
Enjoy incredible footage from the Henson archives in The Dark Crystal. Travel back in time to the faraway planet of Thra. Cheer on the Mystics as they fight to overthrow the evil Skeksis and take back control of their planet! When Jen, a member of the Gelfling tribe, sets out to find the crystal's missing shard, his dangerous journey brings him face to face with monsters at every turn. Determined to restore peace to their planet, Jen will not back down! From the brilliant imagination of Jim Henson, this masterpiece of animation recounts the timeless tale of good vs. evil and has become a cult favorite of children and grown-ups alike!Similar DVD Movies
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