The Dark CrystalJim Henson is widely regarded as one of the most beloved and talented wizards of puppetry. His name conjures forth nostalgia in those who grew up with his legacy--his iconic, highly detailed and lifelike, often anthropomorphic "Muppets". As his success in the early Eighties progressed, Jim Henson--along with frequent collaborator and co-director, Frank Oz--released The Dark Crystal, with conceptual designs by Brian Froud. The Dark Crystal is a fantasy film about a world different from our own, where a prophesy portends that a young, elfin creature named Jen will make the eponymous "Dark Crystal" whole and restore order to the world.
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The Dark Crystal was quite the departure for Jim Henson, whose career up to that point was synonymous with children's entertainment, like "Sesame Street". While The Dark Crystal is a film with children as the intended audience, it is a film that explores mature themes. It delicately balances the fine line between presenting these themes in an appropriate context for younger audiences without patronizing nor overwhelming them. As a result, the balance makes the film an entertaining yarn for virtually all ages, while the technical prowess is itself a wonder. The Dark Crystal is inspired by some of fantasy's most recognizable classics; Jen's journey to the decaying Castle of the Crystal--home to the corrupt Skeksis--from his home with the benevolent Mystics has much in common with the journey of Frodo in "The Lord of the Rings". While some backdrops in nature resemble those in our world--such as waterfalls and deserts--other places on this alien world boast truly unusual flora and fauna. The imaginative design of the creatures and locales in The Dark Crystal are striking and distinct, and are translated wonderfully into their hybrid puppet depictions. The Skeksis are the name of the collective antagonists of The Dark Crystal, sometimes differentiated by their title in their twisted mockery of a parliamentary monarchy. They resemble decaying vultures cloaked in copious finery and frippery. They extend their unnaturally long lives by absorbing the magic from the fractured crystal, and the emperor also drains the life essence of his slaves. The Skeksis--whose castle sprouts forth from the desiccated earth like a corrupt weed--have essentially become the rulers of this world. Their will is executed by their brutish, crustacean-inspired enforcers called the Garthim, and the Skeksis have done all they can to prevent the prophesy that would end their vile reign from reaching fruition by committing genocide against the Gelflings--Jen is one of the last surviving members. Knowing that he may be their world's last hope for salvation, the kind Mystics have raised Jen and set him on the quest to recover the fractured shard of the Dark Crystal from the astrologer, Aughra. On route to the castle, Jen encounters a young girl named Kira, a fellow Gelfling who has been raised by the diminutive Podlings, who in turn have taught her how to communicate with the creatures of the world. Due to a schism in power among the Skeksis, a disgraced Chamberlain with a persistent whimper pines for the chance to reclaim his position among his wicked brethren, and tries to coax Jen to accompany him to the castle under the auspices of peace between Skeksis and Gelfling.
Released in 1982, The Dark Crystal is an imaginative vision of a far-off world, a fantasy film that is an escape to a place that is as if from a dream. The musical score by Trevor Jones contributes to the pervading sense of wonder and fantasy, evoking the kind of wide-eyed innocence that recalls both childhood and a myth come to life. The popularity of this kind of escapism was a trend in other fantasy movies from that year, ranging from Dune to E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. The world of The Dark Crystal is surprising complex, with elements of their mythology and ecology hinted at periodically. The world is filled with unique beings--from the long-legged Landstriders to Kira's high-strung pet, Fizzgig, letting the audience's speculate at what kind of world would produce such fascinating critters. Jim Henson has said that he wanted The Dark Crystal to recall the darker tone of "Grimms' Fairy Tales", to give a sense of gravity to the perils Jen and Kira face, so that children can be more fully vested in their odyssey. It is clear that there is a parallel relationship between the Skeksis and the Mystics; the narrator describes that they appeared together after the sundering of the crystal, and at the start of the film, only ten of each race remain. The rituals they perform are similar to one another, and it becomes clear that when one suffers some fate--being wounded or even death--its counterpart experiences the same effect. The idea of duality and the conflict that arises from a world out of balance is at the core of The Dark Crystal. Although the Chamberlain's methods are dubious at best, his assertion that the "prophesy" was the root of the poor judgment by the Skeksis is not far wrong. Their genocide only widened the gulf between the Skeksis and the Mystics, who are so different at this juncture that one cannot help but wonder if this was always the case. The sense of duality is also evident in Jen and Kira--male and female--both raised apart but trained with unique gifts that make them distinct and complimentary. That there is magic when they are reunited foreshadows the reunion of the crystal and the shard. When Jen and Kira first touch, they experience what she describes as "dreamfasting", a sympathetic exchange of memories where they experience the memories of the other from their earliest days. The ultimate message of The Dark Crystal is that it is arrogant to believe that one can hold power over another when the truest form of strength comes from companionship and unity, harmony with the universe and community.
Recommended for: Fans of a visionary fantasy film, aimed toward younger audiences, but with a richness and intelligence that makes it appreciable for any age. For fans of the amazing Jim Henson, it is requisite viewing to get another perspective on the pure magic of his art.
Released in 1982, The Dark Crystal is an imaginative vision of a far-off world, a fantasy film that is an escape to a place that is as if from a dream. The musical score by Trevor Jones contributes to the pervading sense of wonder and fantasy, evoking the kind of wide-eyed innocence that recalls both childhood and a myth come to life. The popularity of this kind of escapism was a trend in other fantasy movies from that year, ranging from Dune to E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. The world of The Dark Crystal is surprising complex, with elements of their mythology and ecology hinted at periodically. The world is filled with unique beings--from the long-legged Landstriders to Kira's high-strung pet, Fizzgig, letting the audience's speculate at what kind of world would produce such fascinating critters. Jim Henson has said that he wanted The Dark Crystal to recall the darker tone of "Grimms' Fairy Tales", to give a sense of gravity to the perils Jen and Kira face, so that children can be more fully vested in their odyssey. It is clear that there is a parallel relationship between the Skeksis and the Mystics; the narrator describes that they appeared together after the sundering of the crystal, and at the start of the film, only ten of each race remain. The rituals they perform are similar to one another, and it becomes clear that when one suffers some fate--being wounded or even death--its counterpart experiences the same effect. The idea of duality and the conflict that arises from a world out of balance is at the core of The Dark Crystal. Although the Chamberlain's methods are dubious at best, his assertion that the "prophesy" was the root of the poor judgment by the Skeksis is not far wrong. Their genocide only widened the gulf between the Skeksis and the Mystics, who are so different at this juncture that one cannot help but wonder if this was always the case. The sense of duality is also evident in Jen and Kira--male and female--both raised apart but trained with unique gifts that make them distinct and complimentary. That there is magic when they are reunited foreshadows the reunion of the crystal and the shard. When Jen and Kira first touch, they experience what she describes as "dreamfasting", a sympathetic exchange of memories where they experience the memories of the other from their earliest days. The ultimate message of The Dark Crystal is that it is arrogant to believe that one can hold power over another when the truest form of strength comes from companionship and unity, harmony with the universe and community.
Recommended for: Fans of a visionary fantasy film, aimed toward younger audiences, but with a richness and intelligence that makes it appreciable for any age. For fans of the amazing Jim Henson, it is requisite viewing to get another perspective on the pure magic of his art.