The Dark Crystal
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Movie Reviews of The Dark Crystal
Movie Review: my favourite film ever - not a title i would use freely!
Summary: 5 Stars
i saw this film when it first came out on video, i was a mere six years old. I loved it so much my parents immediately bought the film for me and i watched it every weekend throughout my childhood years. I cannot stress how much i worshipped this film! I wanted to BE both Jen and Kira as they went through the beautiful landscapes and avoided the Skeksis in their quest to restore the crystal shard to the Dark Crystal itself. Now, 15 years on, i have finally seen the DVD version of the film. I bought a DVD player purely for this very purpose and it was worth it. Even though i have bought new copies of the VHS over the years (and grown up a bit i hope) i was still amazed at how much better the film looked in the format. Brian Froud's imagery is wonderful and the Henson puppets are superb even if they are getting on for 20 years old and the story is moving, scary and totally enchanting. Maybe i am slightly biased as this was already my favourite film - quite clear if you knew me with my intentional resemblance to Kira, crystal bat 'body art' (temporary tattoos to you), Brian Froud-esque bedroom and all the purple crystals that pop up in my art work :). But this aside, for all you Dark Crystal fans out there SEE THIS VERSION, it really is worth a look and if you've never seen the film before and you won't be put off by the lack of guns and explosions in it check it out, please, its beautiful. It is slightly slow as somebody has already said and the Gelfling are slightly expressionless but most people who still appreciate plot and atmosphere in a film rather than big bangs will have the attention span to cope with this.Movie Review: A unique story that can never be repeated
Summary: 5 Stars
Jim Henson is more genius than we know. Beyond Labyrinth, Big Bird and Miss Piggy comes a story far different and far more fantastical than anything ever exhibited on screen to date. It was a movie created many, many years before its time that explored aspects and concepts that exist in the philosophies of some of our oldest religions today...along with a great adventure story.
While exhibited in the guise of a children's fantasy film, if you dig deeper in the symbology and metaphors of the film there are great truths that exist. The oneness of life, humanity and spirit. The duality of good and evil. Mortality and immortality. Images of light and darkness. What a genious manner in which it was filmed, scored and portrayed. This is indeed Jim henson's finest cinematic work.
Some beliefs do acknowledge that in ancient of ancient times there was life in all things: rocks, plants, trees could talk and move, there existed a highly sophisticated and superior race of beings that suddenly vanished or became obliterated.
It is understandable that "The Dark Crystal" had failed at the box office when it first came out. Such a small scale epic could not compete in the shadow of the success of the original Star Wars. But this quieter film is still a spectacle of its own and, much like its Star Wars counterpart, has become a unique classic of richness and depth...one that can never be repeated again. I've enjoyed this movie since I was a kid, and it's never lost its appeal after 24 years. This is well worth the money spent to keep in your DVD library
Movie Review: AWESOME for the generation who grew up with Jim Henson, however...
Summary: 5 Stars
AWESOME collector for the generation who grew up with the Muppets, no doubt.... However, this movie may need to be carefully reviewed by parents before young children watch it.
I was born in 1979, very young when The Dark Crystal was big. My mother watched EVERYTHING before she let me view any movie or TV show to understand the point that was trying to be made and whether she felt the subject matter was appropriate for me. (This is what parents SHOULD do). Instead of just thinking, 'Oh, Muppets... Jim Henson... Must be OK for her to watch,' she previewed it and was surprised by the angle of the film. Well, the angle of the Skeksis (sp.) anyway.
The idea of sucking out 'The Essence' of small, inferior creatures to maintain life and youth was a message my mother didn't want me to be exposed to. Now that I'm an adult, I don't believe I would want my kids to see the movie at a very young age for the same reason. Plus too, that part of the movie is kind of scary, you have to see it to know what I mean.
I don't take a single bit of credability away from Mr. Henson and his group. For that time, they did a tremendous job on the production of this film, considering what we know today about special effects and so on.
I love this movie, I recommend it to anyone ages 15 and up. And parents, PLEASE monitor what your children are viewing and use the ratings system, but most importantly, use your best judgement on what you feel you want your children to learn from the media. PLEASE WATCH RESPONSIBLY!!! May you rest in peace, Jim. You made my childhood a memorable one!
Movie Review: Henson's finest
Summary: 5 Stars
This is my favorite among Henson's movies. The story is exciting and a little unusual. Gen, our hero is on a quest to save the world from eternal evil, mediated by the Dark Crystal itself. Raised by the gentle Mystics (in a village that looks like the world of Myst), he must do his part to defeat the power-mad Skexes. The Mystics too, have a role to play in that defeat, hinted at throughout the movie but revealed only at the end.
The wonder of this movie is in the visual richness of every scene. It's all live-action, but the fantasy action of Henson's imagination and artistry. The forests are alive with plant-like animals, animal-like plants, and other wonders. Along the way, he meets Ogra - a benign sorceress with speech habits like Yoda and a huge astronomical model later copied in the Tomb Raider movie. Every character is a unique creation, in personality and in appearance. Even the Skexes all differ in their unpleasantness. The Mystics, too, are each unique beings.
As an aside, I made a trip to a zoo many years after seeing this the first time. A zoo docent showed us how a porcupine could walk on its hind legs. The waddle of that thick-bodied little animal was incredibly like the way the Mystics walked. Maybe coincidence, but I would prefer to think that Henson's creative mind drew on such sources to help sustain credulity in this incredible world.
The Dark Crystal is a great kids' film, but may be a bit much for the very youngest. Don't wait for a kid though, adults can enjoy this on their own.
//wiredweird
Movie Review: A great film, and a stunning DVD
Summary: 5 Stars
I saw this film in it's original theatrical run, and it helped ignite an interest in fantasy and fantasy art that has stuck with me to this day.The story is your standard quest, and while some of the dialogue and voices may come off as somewhat cartoonish (I do wish the creators had stuck with the original Skeksis language), the true strength of the film is in it's visuals. Simply put, the film is a feast for the eye, and the imagination. Every scene is chock full of detailed objects or odd creatures.You'll likely find yourself wishing the camera would linger on a scene a bit longer just so you can study the detail. Hats off to not only Henson and Oz for bringing us this film, but also to Brian Froud for the amazing designs. It's amazing to see his artwork transferred so easily from paper to the screen.
Not only is it a great film, but the DVD package is one of the best I've seen. The print is crystal clear (no pun intended) and sounds great. The disk is jammed with plenty of extra goodies as well, like a collection of alternate or deleted scenes, and a fascinating behind-the-scenes documentary. There's also a music-only track that allows you to take in the visuals without distraction. All it's missing is a commentary track, but I suppose we can't have everything.
Obviously the package was put together by someone who cared for the material, and is a perfect testament to Jim Henson's genius. This is a film that both children and parents can enjoy together, and should be part of every DVD collection.