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Dark Crystal is a brilliant and daring piece of Henson’s work that is often overlooked. Development for this film began in 1977 although shooting did not start until 1981, and it wasn’t released until 1982. Henson was so taken with the illustrations of Brian Froud, that he asked ... Read review
Jim Henson's fantasy epicThe Dark Crystaldoesn't take place a long time ago in a galaxy ... more
far, far away, but likeStar Warsit takes the audience to a place that exists only in the imagination and, for an hour and a half, on the screen. Recalling the world...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Jim Henson's fantasy epicThe Dark Crystaldoesn't take place a long time ago in a galaxy ... more
far, far away, but likeStar Warsit takes the audience to a place that exists only in the imagination and, for an hour and a half, on the screen. Recalling the world...
Postage & Packaging: free Super Saver Delivery Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
The Dark Crystal is a masterful live action fantasy starring some of Jim Henson's most ... more
imaginative creatures ever! Directed by Jim Henson and Frank Oz and produced By Gary Kurtz (Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back), The Dark Crystal brilliantly weaves a timeless myth of good and Evil! In another time, The Dark Crystal - a source of Balance and Truth in the Universe - was shattered, dividing the world into two factions: the wicked Skeksis and the peaceful Mystics. Now, as the convergence of the three suns approaches, the Crystal must be healed, or darkness will reign for evermore! It's up to Jen - the last of his race - to fulfill the prophecy that a Gelfling will return the missing shard to the Crystal and destroy the Skeksis evil Empire. But will young Jen's courage be any match for the unknown dangers that await him'
The Dark Crystal is a remarkable fantasy adventure, starring some of Jim Henson's most ... more
imaginative creatures ever. Five years in the making, this magical tale of good and evil is directed by Jim Henson and Frank Oz and produced by Gary Kurtz (Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back). You can also discover some of the secrets behind the making of the first ever all-puppet film in a special 60 minute featurette! In another time, The Dark Crystal - a source of Balance and Truth in the Universe - was shattered, dividing the world into two factions: the wicked Skeksis and the peaceful Mystics. Now, as the convergence of the three suns approaches, the Crystal must be healed, or darkness will reign forever! It's up to Jen - the last of his race - to fulfil the prophecy that a Gelfling will return the missing shard to the Crystal and destroy the Skeksis' evil empire. But will young Jen's courage be any match for the unknown dangers that await him?
In another time The Dark Crystal - a source of Balance and truth in the Universe - was ... more
shattered dividing the world into two factions : the wicked Skekis and the peaceful Mystics. Now as the convergence of the three suns approaches the Crystal must be healed or darkness will reign forever! It's up to Jen the last of his race to fulfil the prophecy that a Gelfling will return the missing shard to the Crystal and destroy the Skekis' evil Empire. But will young Jen's courage be any match for the unknown dangers that await him? 'Dark Crystal' is a remarkable fantasy adventure starring some of Jim Henson's most imaginative creatures ever. Five years in the making this magical tale of good and evil is co-directed by Jim Henson and Frank Oz and produced by Gary 'Star Wars' Kurtz.
Postage & Packaging:£0.00 Availability:3-5 working days
Production Year: 2007 - Science Fiction - Director: Francis Lawrence - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Alice Braga, Charlie Tahan, Dash Mihok, Will Smith, Salli Richardson, Willow Smith
Science Fiction - Director: Hiroyuki Yamaga - Original Language: Japanese - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Ayako Kawasumi, Fujiko Takimoto
Advantages: Everything! Disadvantages: Far too often overlooked
...comfort us.
Dark Crystal is a brilliant and daring piece of Henson’s work that is often overlooked. Development for this film began in 1977 although shooting did not start until 1981, and it wasn’t released until 1982. Henson was so taken with the illustrations of Brian Froud, that he asked Froud to create an elaborate visual world in which he could bring a unique tale to life. This was to be the first fully animatronic ... ...
Long ago the Dark Crystal was damaged through the arrogance and greed of the Urskeks and an age of peace came to an end. Now control is divided between the evil, power-hungry Skekis and the peaceful, wise Mystics. Jen and Kira are the last of the Gelfling race which was destroyed or driven out long ago due to a now nearly forgotten prophecy. Only a Gelfling can heal the crystal and bring an end to this era of chaos. The Skekis, of course, ... more
I was raised on the innovative form of animation given to us by the marvelous Jim Henson. From Kermit the Frog to the goblins in the Labyrinth, this creative genius managed to invent creatures and worlds of such depth, wonder, and jocularity that they will be delighting audiences of all ages for years to come! Sadly, Henson is no longer with us although the Jim Henson Company continues to delight and amaze, and while the creator himself will be sorely missed, his creations remain to comfort us.
Dark Crystal is a brilliant and daring piece of Henson’s work that is often overlooked. Development for this film began in 1977 although shooting did not start until 1981, and it wasn’t released until 1982. Henson was so taken with the illustrations of Brian Froud, that he asked Froud to create an elaborate visual world in which he could bring a unique tale to life. This was to be the first fully animatronic feature film and who better to further the world of Puppetmation than Jim Henson?
The Story:
Long ago the Dark Crystal was damaged through the arrogance and greed of the Urskeks and an age of peace came to an end. Now control is divided between the evil, power-hungry Skekis and the peaceful, wise Mystics. Jen and Kira are the last of the Gelfling race which was destroyed or driven out long ago due to a now nearly forgotten prophecy. Only a Gelfling can heal the crystal and bring an end to this era of chaos. The Skekis, of course, have no desire to loose their positions of power and will stop at nothing to eliminate any possibility of the Prophecy succeeding...
The range of visual treats in this film is limitless. I have been enjoying this film for ~gulp~ 20 years now, and I still find new aspects to delight me! The verdant world that surrounds the characters, the delicate grace of the Gelflings, the gentleness of the large, homely, four-armed Mystics, the down-to-earth appeal of the placid Podlings, the shriveled horror of the Skekis, the gruff kindness of the witch Ogma, and the sterile intimidation presented in the Garthim servants all contrast greatly. Yet somehow they compliment each other perfectly and complete each other in ways one cannot explain. Although this was made to entertain children, this classic tale of Good vs. Evil is quite a lush, vivid, spellbinding treat for film buffs of any age!
I was lucky enough to catch the Jim Henson exhibit at our local Children’s Museum one summer and I was even more entranced than the troop of Brownie Girl Scouts that we took there. Of course, I probably paid a lot more attention to the storyboards that they had on display at the exhibit than the girls did, but a great time was had by all. It was quite a thrill to see the actual puppets used in the making of this film. The beetle-like Garthim were nearly as strange and intimidating in person Without anyone animating them, as they had been in Dark Crystal. I was also quite surprised at how Large the Mystics are! They must weigh a ton, and I marveled anew at the skill of the many puppeteers who helped to make this lovely film.
Fraggle Rock, Sesame Street, Mopatop’s Shop, The Muppet Show, the Muppet movies, Labyrinth…the list of creations with which Henson has touched the lives of children and adults around the world is impressive when viewed as a whole. I will never forget the sheer wonder that filled me at having the opportunity to sing a room full of Girl Scouts and Scout Leaders to sleep while I perched on the edge of Big Bird’s nest, yet of all the displays we viewed in that long evening it was the creations of Dark Crystal that I came back to most often. It was a marvel just to be able to stand before them and let their unique beauty fill my eyes. If you have somehow missed this masterful Henson creation, I sincerely invite you to explore this exceptional world of wonder.
Advantages: Incredibly imaginative and creative, an absorbing and often beautiful film. Disadvantages: Very few-perhaps some of the animation (not the puppetry)
...adults, although there are some dark moments and scary images that may frighten the younger, more sensitive child, so best watch it with them. The traditional plot line - a hero defeating evil and ultimately saving his world- is one that will engage and inspire the younger viewer, and the art work and puppet work are skillfull and creative enough to make this a film perfect for many fantasy-loving adults.
The basic plot line is relatively simple ... ...are no human characters, instead there are two main races; the evil skeksis and the gentle, peace-loving mystics. The mystics are dying out however, and the way to prevent this is to return a shard of crystal to its original place in the huge crystal found in the skeksis castle. The hero is a gelfling, Jen, who believes he is the only one left of his forgotten race (although later he finds out that there is one other gelfling, conveniently female.) ...
SMAL 20.12.2003
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Dark Crystal (Superbit) (DVD)
Advantages: A Jim Henson story Disadvantages: not too sure yet
-The Dark Crystal the film was written by David Odell which was taken from a Jim Henson story.
-It was directed by Jim Henson and Frank Oz
-94 minutes long (1hr 34mins)
-Rated a 'pg'
- presented by Jim Henson Home Entertainment, Columbia Tristar Home video
- the best price is £1.85 from amazon.co.uk , I checked and i couldnt find out whether you had to pay for post and packaging though.
-The film was released in 1982.
- a science fiction film.
... ...was infamously known as the dark crystal from then on.this then divides the world into two halves where one side is controlled by the evil vulture looking skekses [skek-seas] and the other is occupied by the peace-keeping mystics. there was an ancient prophecy made that if the crystal was going to become pure once agian and the evil occupants of the world overthrown then a member of the gelfling race could only do so.Therefore the skekses over a ...
prawnface 15.01.2005
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Dark Crystal (Superbit) (DVD)
Advantages: No human actors visible! Disadvantages: Not many people have viewed it! Their loss!
...3 suns came together, the Dark Crystal was broken in two. A shard was lost, two controlling races came into being, the Mystics and the Skexies(not sure of the spelling!) Other races also inhabit the world. We see mostly Podlings and Gelfling (our hero and heroine). Prophecy predicts that a Gelfling will find the shard and mend the Crystal.
This Jim Henson movie follows the fortunes of the two Gelflings (the last of their race) as they race to fix ... ...My copy of the movie includes extra footage, of the story of the making of The Dark Crystal, with Jim Henson and Frank Oz.
I like the character of Ogra best!! She is a forceful creature!
Good movie and I would recommend it to anyone to see! ...
mousicle 14.01.2003
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Dark Crystal (Superbit) (DVD)
A luxuriant live-action fantasy inhabited by alien beings and set in a world without light. Jen, the last survivor of an elfin-like race, sets to the task of returning a crystal shard to the all-powerful dark crystal, making it whole again and restoring light to the world.
Release details
DVD Region
DVD
Studio(s)
SONY PICTURES HOME ENTERTAINMENT; CINRAM LOGISTICS
Release date
12/05/2003
No of Discs
1
Catalogue No
CSB 11508
Barcode
5035822150867
Languages
Main Language
English
Subtitle Language
Dutch, English, Hindi
Hearing Impaired Language
English
Technical information
Special Features
None
Sound
Dolby Digital 5.1, Dolby Surround, DTS Surround 5.1
Dubbing Sound
Dolby Digital 5.1 English Dolby Surround English DTS Surround 5.1 English
Professional reviews
Review
"...A dazzling technological and artistic achievement by a band of talented artists and performers..." (Variety, 15/12/1982)
DVD Description
A fantastical, puppet-filled adventure, this tale co-directed by Muppet creator Jim Henson and Frank Oz reveals the story of Jen, a young Gelfling boy chosen by prophecy to mend the Dark Crystal, which broke 1,000 years ago and plunged the land under the dominion of the evil, quarrelsome Skeksis. Fearing the prophecy, whose fulfillment would mean the end of their reign, the Skeksis exterminated the Gelflings--all but Jen and Kira, a girl he meets on his journey to the crystal. Pursued by the Skeksis and their dark creatures, Jen and Kira race to the crystal, even as their time runs out.
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