The Dark Crystal

I'm tempted to give this film 4 stars, and at the risk of getting "booed", it's because the film does use puppets, it's main selling point, to tell a very interesting fantasy story. I actually liked a lot of the supporting characters, the scope and scale of the production that as fueled by pure imagination of Henson and his magnificent creative team, but at times it seems like select portions of the puppetry feels like puppetry. Now, having said that, it's actually supposed to be that, but for me it seemed like at times that the puppets should have been a bit less puppet like, but given the design and intent of the film, that was in fact impossible. The truth of the matter is that this production is massive and impressive on all levels. And seeing it in bluray really makes all the artistic detail really stand out. Details that the common viewer hadn't seen since it was released in the theatres are now presented without any old television raster or blurred low compression DVD video transfer data rates. You can actually see all of the subtle artistic flourishes that adorn the plot and story with incredibly creative visuals. The story focuses on the splintering of personalities of whole entities into good and bad, and how each vies for control of the land. Which side will win? And what part does Jen play? There's a very standard psychological plot here, including the addition of a female character to help Jen. On top of that this film has one of the best scores I've ever heard created for a fantasy feature film. Truly the music is wonderful, which should help draw in young viewers who take a shine to this film to classical music. All in all it's a very marvelous film, though again, it is puppetry, and one does wonder how well puppet actors carry a film. But, with all the production values added to make it visually and auditorily interesting, the film does entertain. See it once. Enjoy.

I saw this movie when it was current in the theaters, having been a fan of Henson and company since the mid-sixties. Back then, they frequently made guest appearances on the Jack Paar Show, Ed Sullivan and then made the rounds to every OTHER talk and variety show you could name at the time. I knew that ANYTHING he and his organization would produce would be impressive, cerebral and unlike anything else in their field. I was right. This movie is pure magic! Henson and Frank Oz use a combination of finger and hand puppetry; their own creation, the "muppet", a combo of marionette and puppet, and body suits to create the characters of this film, a soupcon of elves; potato-like creatures that are as cute as bugs' ears; vulturous beings called Skeksis, long-nosed sloth-like characters called Mystics and Ogra, a cantankerous sorceress that helps the hero, Jen, return a crystal shard to the titular power source deep in the heart of Skeksis territory. Along his way to do this, he meets Kira, an adorable girl elf of his people, the Gelflings, that helps him survive a lot of the perils on his journey. One of the more horrific parts of this film is a scene where she and a few of the potato-like people, called Podlings, are tortured and drained of their life essence by the Skeksis so that the vulture-like monsters can stay invigorated. It seems the Gelflings were nearly wiped out by the Skeksis when an ancient prophecy revealed that a lone gelfling would seize power from them somehow. Both Jen and Kira were saved and raised, by the Mystics, in Jen's case, and the Podlings in Kira's. It isn't mentioned where Ogra comes from, but they must have been a DAMNED interesting race! Jen is that gelfling, but it is Kira that finally makes it possible, after all her hardship. The scene where Kira introduces Jen to her Podling friends is almost worth the price of the tape/DVD. Why must Jen return the shard? That's explained by the ending and I'm not going to spoil it for you here. Suffice it to say that though Jen is the supposed star of the movie, Kira steals the spotlight from him often, as does Ogra. The whole production will take you right back to the highest quality family special of the fifties, only this is done much better than any of them! The art direction is as good as "Legend", if not better. The puppetry is artistry at its best, setting new standards and bewitching both adult and childish eyes as does the set design, which words cannot describe in some cases. This movie is the perfect holiday family movie....the kind you used to go see or see on TV at Easter or Christmas back when Eisenhower was president. It's a forgotten masterpiece of family entertainment with depth, soul and entertaining staging. Get it and you will NOT be sorry!

This review is for the boxed Collector Edition that includes the 2 disc Blue Ray + 4K + Crystal set. The product was double boxed, packed in foam, and wrapped in cellophane. It arrived in prestine condition, collector box is sturdy and includes all the extras mentioned in the description. Discs were firmly placed in it's box, nothing loose. Since I don't have a 4K yet, I played the Blue Ray disc and was GREATLY surprised that it has been remastered, crisp, clean along with the audio! It's as if it was made today in HD, I was super impressed! The bonus features are an added plus and I enjoyed learning the background, interviews, and everything that went into this unique production. Truly a work of art and a valued addition to my movie collection.

The Dark Crystal heralded a new age of puppeteering into the lives of many a young person and their easily influenced minds in the 1980s, showcasing not only the beauty of characters manipulated by a vast array of contraptions and the magic that could be woven on the loom of storytelling but also the dreariness that some legends hold within their epic grasps. This is one of the things I can clearly envision each and every time I look back in wonder on the tale of the Crystal and the "land that was green and good" that it lorded over, remembering how the thing came to crack and how the Skeksis began their rule over it. We join the Skeksis as they gather in a time of transition, one that sees them ushering in a new era as their emperor dies and another will ascend to a place of power. It is also an era that will usher in a renewal of power for these reptilian/birds as well, assuring their reign for another 1000 years if nothing amiss happens before the stars and planets align. Everything seems to be going well for them, too, except for a little prophecy that states that a Gelfling will bring about the a time of transition. Still, there isn't anything to be worried about because all of the Gelflings were killed long ago when this was first heard, right? Well, that's when the last male Gelfling, Jen, enters the picture and the quest to heal the shard begins; one that will lead in down the paths of loss, love, and the conquest of fear. As far as epic movies go, the Dark Crystal has it all. There are evils to be watched in admiration and their counterparts, the Mystics, to study under a cautious microscope for any sign of weakness, tiny villas full of "people" to see, jungles writhing with lifeforms both fascinating and bizarre, and many a support characters to enjoy. Also, the DVD version has The World of the Dark Crystal documentary on it, an informative piece in its own right, and a deleted scene depicting the Skeksis funeral scene. This all bonds together into one complete puzzle that is good enough for kids but is pH balanced for adults as well.

Top line: An amazing technical achievement and fun fantasy that stands the test of time. Rented from Amazon to watch with my 5yo son. Good: The Dark Crystal is a technical masterpiece, showing the value and timelessness of true craftsmanship and practical effects. In the 21st century, this film would cost $200 million to make and be loaded with shoddy CGI and overbearing voice actors from your favorite Thursday night sitcoms. But in 1982, Jim Henson, Frank Oz, and crew were given the creative freedom and resources to produce a tale that captured the imagination of viewers for generations. Images from TDC still both amaze and haunt to this day, from Trial by Stone, to Kira taking flight, to anytime the Garthim appear to terrorize. A terrific cast of characters and creatures, many of whom remain unnamed (yet unforgettable). Bad: Unfortunately, the lead, Jen, is very weak. Although he starts off in a tropish, by-the-numbers foundling quest, his story quickly falls by the wayside as he is ushered from plot point to plot point. He's doesn't have much to do, and repeatedly ends up watching his female companion, Kira, steal the show. Not only does Kira repeatedly save the duo from imminent danger, [SPOILERS] but SHE is the one that makes the ultimate sacrifice in the climax while Jen sits mostly dumbfounded, waiting for inspiration.[/SPOILERS] Other: I had no idea that Netflix was planning a 2018 prequel series to TDC before randomly settling down to watch this with my son, but the timing was great. Don't miss out on catching up on this classic before the new series hits!

This collectors item is SO cool! I didn't want to spoil anything so I'm not posting photos of the actual items, but there is a youtube video of someone reviewing this and the labyrinth limited edition. In this, you get a really nice crystal replice piece. It looks a lot like the piece in the movie which is super fun, and even has decent weight to it. The concept art is absolutely beautiful and I cannot wait to it all up! The concept art is a big reason why I personally got this and it lived up the expectations. My only complaint is that my movie came with the DVDs loose in the box and the paper on the box is torn. I definitely would've thought this would've been better packaged a little bit more better. Thankfully everything else was fine, but definitely check out the DVDs when you receive this.

Classic. Must have and share with your children

Those who haven't seen The Dark Crystal have been missing out on what may be the greatest live-action fantasy film of all time (or at least the '80s). A completely alien world is presented as vivid, believable reality via the deceptively "simple" technique of puppeteering. The result is very unlike a Muppet film as some might expect, much more like something truly out of this world; it is a storybook brought to life. The tale is simple and enjoyable enough for children, but deep and layered enough for adults as well. Fans of the movie should own this DVD not just for the exceptional crispness of the picture and the virtues of the ultra-widescreen format (2.35:1) but for the bonus materials. In particular the documentary explaining the production process gave me a whole new appreciation for the difficulty of making this film, and the incredible artistry and talent that was poured into it. The complexity of getting everything to work just right seems to have given the piece a strong sense of unity; the creature effects don't fight the plot nor do the characters fail to convey emotion in ways ordinary actors might. Because the technical challenges of working entirely with puppets have been somewhat scrapped in favor of CGI over the last decade, I think we're unlikely ever to see another movie like it--more's the pity. If you liked the movie on VHS, buy the DVD. If you just like fantasy and would like to see a worthy film in the genre, buy the DVD. If you're a fan of the late Jim Henson's work and want to see something different from his other stuff, buy this DVD. This one is worth every penny.

NO viene ni AUDIO ni SUBTÍTULOS en español!!! La estética muy bonita, pero lo compré confiada de que si que venía en español por comentarios anteriores y... zasca!!!

Bought for an ex, but love the film, can't complain, childhood classic.

Disc works without problems. No complaine

In einer Zeit, in der jede noch so kleinste Kleinigkeit computeranimiert wird und man so gut wie überhaupt keine Puppen- oder animatronischen Modelle in Filmen mehr einsetzt, hebt sich ein Film wie "Der dunkle Kristall" einfach nur wunderbar hervor und man träumt sich doch insgeheim in die gute alte Zeit der Achtziger Jahre zurück, in der noch gute alte Handarbeit an der Tagesordnung war und die Monster, Mutanten, Elfen, Kobolde und andere phantastische Wesen noch nicht aus dem Computer kamen. Mal ehrlich, wenn man Filme wie "Der Dunkle Kristall" oder "Die Unendliche Geschichte" nimmt und sich die phantastischen Geschöpfe dieser Welten ansieht, hat man sich doch gefragt, wie zum Teufel noch mal haben die das hingekriegt??? Heute ist die Antwort (leider) denkbar einfach: mit dem Computer. In den letzten Jahren hat bei mir allmählich eine gewisse CGI-Übersättigung eingesetzt, ich kann diese übertrieben perfekt generierten Wesen aus der Dose nicht mehr sehen, teils sind deren Bewegungsabläufe unnatürlich schnell und alles wirkt zu sauber und zu geleckt...Da war teils die Stopp-Motion-Animation eines Ray Harryhausens ansprechender....Seit die Monster aus der Dose kommen, hat man irgendwie keine Angst mehr vor ihnen. Puppen und Roboter waren damals weitaus realistischer... Nein, nein, dann doch lieber ein Meisterwerk wie der Dunkle Kristall ansehen und sich eine Welt träumen, wie sie ein Computer niemals erschaffen kann. Jim Henson, der Godfather of P(M)uppets, Frank Oz (Yoda), Brian Froud und seine Frau Wendy haben eine einzigartige Welt mit grandiosen Geschöpfen ersonnen und erdacht, mit denen man mitfiebert und leidet, über die man schmunzelt und lacht... Es ist schon traurig, dass solche Filme in der heutigen Zeit nicht mehr realisiert werden....die geplante Fortsetzung "Power of the Dark Crystal" stagniert seit geraumer Zeit....vielleicht ist das auch besser so. Eine GCI-Version von Jen und Kira würde das Andenken des großen Jim Henson nur schmälern... Was gilt es noch zu sagen? Nicht mehr viel, da meine Vorredner schon vorzügliche Arbeit geleistet haben in Bezug auf Geschichte, Charaktere, Musik, Ausstattung und allem anderen...Ich schließe mich hiermit den positiven Rezensionen an und kann nur jeden empfehlen, sich dieses absolute wegweisende Juwel, diesen Klassiker unter den Phantasie-Filmen, anzusehen. Vorzugsweise sollte man sich dieses Meisterwerk in der Originalsprache ansehen, die deutsche Version ist zwar ordentlich in Bezug auf Übersetzung, leider wirkt aber einiges irgendwie lieblos hingesprochen. Also dann: When Single Shines the Triple Sun What was Sundered and Undone Shall be Whole, The Two made One By Gelfling Hand, or Else by None

les films de jim henson me replonge directement aux films et séries tv des années 80.