Title: The Dark Crystal
Starring: Jim Henson, Kathryn Mullen, Frank Oz
Directors: Jim Henson and Frank Oz
Rated: PG
Length: 93 minutes
Released on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray & DVD on March 5 from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Revisit the masterful fantasy epic, The Dark Crystal, from the brilliant imaginations of Jim Henson and Frank Oz. The visually spectacular tale of a young hero Gelfing, Jen, who must find a legendary relic in order restore harmony to the universe.
In another time, The Dark Crystal was the Balance and Truth in the Universe, but was destroyed dividing the world into two factions: the wicked Skeksis and the peaceful Mystics. Sounds a little like Star Wars, so far doesn’t it? Now as the convergence of the three suns approaches, the crystal must be healed or darkness will reign forever. Jen, the last of his race (or is he?) must fulfil the prophecy that a Gelfing will return the missing shard of crystal and destroy the Skeksis’ evil Empire.
Jim Henson and Frank Oz join forces (once again after their triumphant run together with The Muppets) to bring their puppet skills to the big screen with The Dark Crystal - an otherworldly fairy tale that was an instant 80s classic, much like The Never Ending Story and The Princess Bride. Although I admit to having never seen it as a child so I was eager to watch it now and perhaps introduce my own children to this story in the future.
And so I found upon watching it that yes it is a children’s adventure story but it’s also a great film for adults to watch alongside their children. It was of course the forerunner to the much better known, but perhaps in some ways inferior - Labyrinth, starring David Bowie. But unlike Labyrinth, The Dark Crystal is a film completely inhabited by puppets. This idea was at the time - and perhaps still is - rather unusual, but it works delightfully in a tale of true good versus evil unlike any that you have seen before, or since.
The reason for the success of The Dark Crystal is that Henson and Oz put these characters into the sort of peril that we’ve not seen since Frodo and Samwise went off to Mordor to return the one ring to Mount Doom, and perhaps that story was an influence on this. Fighting against evil to save their world, these characters have life and energy that you’d never expect from a film inhabited by puppets.
What might surprise adults watching with their children (and might concern them a little) is that the Skeksis are truly evil - draining the essence of Gelfings with unrestrained glee. They look extremely weird too and they’re not afraid of a little bit of slavery and the wanton desire to be immortal.
Of course the Gelfings are exactly the opposite, truly pure of heart and soul, Kira even has wings - like an angel, although for some reason Jen doesn’t. The film is also inhabited by strange rodents, evil beetle-type creatures and a whole range of other unusual creatures - all from the minds of Oz and Henson.
The Dark Crystal is a fantasy masterpiece, pitting good against evil and creating a riveting adventure that is unapologetically weird, strangely believable and extremely charming in about equal measure. Younger children probably shouldn’t watch because they’ll probably have nightmares… I’m not certain I’ll get a sound night of sleep myself after all the essence draining. The film and the puppetry might be 30 years old but the story and the battle of good against evil is eternal.
Blu-ray includes 30 Page Collectable Booklet
Special Features include an All-New Featurette with Lisa Henson and Toby Froud
Blu-ray Disc Bonus Features
(included in 4K Ultra HD (Blu-ray disc) & Blu-ray formats)
• All New: “The Myth, Magic and Henson Legacy” featurette:
• Go behind the scenes of this iconic film with stories from Lisa Henson and Toby Froud.
• Deleted Scenes
• Commentary with Brian Froud
• Picture-in-Picture Storyboard Track
• Original Skeksis Language Scenes with Introduction by Screenwriter David Odell
• “The World of The Dark Crystal” Documentary
• “Reflections of The Dark Crystal: “Light on the Path of Creation” & “Shard of Illusion””
• Photo Galleries
• Theatrical Teaser & Trailer
DVD Disc Bonus Features:
• Deleted Scenes
• Original Skeksis Language Scenes with Introduction by Screenwriter David Odell
• Photo Galleries
• “The World of The Dark Crystal” Documentary
