Laikals The greatest movie ever made..!

Smartorhypo Highly Overrated But Still Good

Nayan Gough A great movie, one of the best of this year. There was a bit of confusion at one point in the plot, but nothing serious.

Sarita Rafferty There are moments that feel comical, some horrific, and some downright inspiring but the tonal shifts hardly matter as the end results come to a film that's perfect for this time.

Predrag "The Dark Crystal" is the brainchild of Muppets-creator Jim Henson. The Dark Crystal is often compared to Labyrinth (and you can also buy the pair on a double-disc set), but, apart from both of them being fantasy films starring Jim Henson's puppets, I really think they're very different films. Labyrinth is more cheesy, with its dance numbers and comic relief. The Dark Crystal has none of that. It's played straight all the way. Don't expect any laughs here. In fact, there are some downright disturbing and creepy moments (drinking people's 'essence' comes to mind). The plot is pretty basic. The orphan Gelfilng Jen has to leave his adoptive 'Mystic' protectors to ultimately 'heal' the titular Dark Crystal whose shattering so many years ago has led to the current threat over the land. So it's your basic young lad needs to save the world whilst becoming a man (well, an adult Gelfling at least). There's talk of a prophecy and a portentious conjunction of three suns but it's all fairly generic. The real strength of the film lies in its setting and its visual design. I should mention that this film is 100% puppets and no human actors appear at all - at least not as humans but a few performers in suits may be apparent. The film makers were meticulous in their efforts to make this convincing and have succeeded admirably given the restrictions on manipulating rod puppets.I would say that the film is perfect in every way, but, despite its brilliant (and incredibly lifelike) puppets and sets, in my opinion it has one major drawback - the two central characters - the Gelflings themselves. Every secondary creature is brilliantly created and comes across as real beings. We either love or hate them accordingly, able to forget that they aren't real. But not the Gelflings. Not only do they look and move like Thunderbirds without any knee or elbow joints, but the vocal artists don't seem to be able to inject much life into them. And the special effects end up being pretty spectacular, especially during the chaotic literally earthshattering climax, while the finale is rather predictable, it is no less awe-inspiring for that. "The Dark Crystal" has some predictable plot twists, but it is also a glorious visual feast and a coming-of-age journey with the Gelflings, leading to a finale both awe-inspiring and bittersweet. Definitely a must-see.Overall rating: 8 out of 10.

Kirpianuscus he is the heart of this touching fantasy who reminds old truths, who redefine old values, who remains fascinating for the lovely manner to reinvent the laws of fairy tale in inspired manner. a film about friendship and courage and love and discover the other as part of yourself. nothing new. but magical presented. The Dark Crystal is the expression of a great artist genius. strange and beautiful. fascinating and old fashion using technology. a noble pledge for peace and self definition. not original but useful for the art to build a world who , remaining bizarre, is definitely charming. one of films of many childhoods. same strange and seductive at each new meeting. and good motif for remind Jim Henson and his profound personal perspective about fantasy.

Jackson Booth-Millard I had seen many images of this puppet filled movie, which was made three years after The Muppet Movie, and four years before Labyrith, it was one I had always wanted to see, and I'm glad when I finally did, directed by Jim Henson (The Great Muppet Caper) and Frank Oz (The Muppets Take Manhattan). Basically a thousand years ago on the planet Thra, the mysterious magical Crystal of Truth harnesses the forces of nature, especially the light of the three suns; the Great Sun, the Rose Sun and the Dying Sun. The crystal was cracked, turning into the Dark Crystal, creating two races of creatures, the hunchbacked, gentle beings known as Mystics, and the vulture-like, cruel beings known as Skeksis. The Mystics were driven away from the castle, where the shattered crystal resides, by the Skeksis, but a prophecy says a Gelfling, an elf-like being, will restore the crystal and bring peace to the world once again. Jen (puppeteered by Jim Henson, voiced by Stephen Garlick) is an Gelfling taken in by the Mystics after his clan was killed, his Mystic master, before dying, tells him he must find and restore the missing shard to heal the crystal before the aligning of the three suns, or the Skeksis will rule forever. While Jen sets out to find the astronomer Aughra (puppeteered by Frank Oz, voiced by The Omen's Billie Whitelaw), who holds the crystal shard, the Skeksis' emperor dies, following a duel, The Garthim Master (puppeteered by Dave Goelz, voiced by Michael Kilgarriff) takes power and the throne, and exiles his opponent the Chamberlain (puppeteered by Frank Oz, voiced by Barry Dennen), learning of Jen's existence the Skeksis send large crab- like creatures called Garthim to track him. Jen reaches Aughra, she has a box full of shards, Jen causes the correct shard to resonate playing music on his flute, the Garthim appear and destroy Aughra's home and take her prisoner, but Jen escapes with the shard. Jen meets another surviving Gelfling, Kira (puppeteered by Kathryn Mullen, voiced by Loose Women's Lisa Maxwell), and her pet Fizzgig, she can communicate with animals, they discover that they have a telepathic connection, and share their memories of what forced them away from their homes. Jen and Kira discover a ruined Gelfling city with ancient writing describing the prophecy, Chamberlain interrupts them and claims that the Skeksis want to make peace, but they mistrust him and refuse to give him the crystal shard, following a chase Jen is trapped and Kira is taken prisoner, but an imprisoned Aughra helps her work out how to free herself. The two Gelflings reach the Crystal's chamber as the three suns begin to align, and the Skeksis gather for the ritual that will grant them immortality, Jen leaps onto the Crystal, dropping the shard, but Kira throws it back, before being stabbed to death, Jen inserts the shard into the Crystal, it is unified and the castle's dark walls crumble away to reveal a structure of bright crystal. In the end the Mystics and Skeksis merge into tall glowing beings, known as urSkeks, they and the world Thra have been restored, and Kira is revived in gratitude, the urSkeks give the Crystal to the two Gelflings to continue the restoration of the world, they depart, leaving a now-rejuvenated land. Also starring Steve Whitmire as the Scientist and Jerry Nelson as the High Priest and the Dying Emperor. The story is nice and basic, a quest to restore a fractured magical crystal and save the world, full of swords and sorcery, light humour and dark thrills, and many imaginative and enchanting puppet creatures, a most enjoyable family fantasy adventure. It was nominated the BAFTA for Best Special Visual Effects. Very good!

FilmBuff1994 The Dark Crystal is a very mediocre movie with a well structured storyline, despite not putting in enough time for heart, and a terrific voice cast. It's certainly a visually dazzling film, every moment looks absolutely beautiful, Jim Henson really went above and beyond for this project (which he made simultaneously with the Great Muppet Caper), building puppets and sets that can easily distract it's audience from the pure mediocrity of the story. I felt like the film didn't put in enough time to really develop this story beyond the complexity, trying to restore order to the world and the pure imagination of this universe is great and it's right that they put in the time to develop it, but they didn't give enough time for heart and emotional scenes, it's stuff like that that could have made this a really great film, and it's what Henson has done so well in the past with the likes of Sesame Street and the Muppets. I also didn't find myself really caring for these characters journey, Jen and Kira have very poor dialogue and I simple didn't find them likable, and when the two main characters aren't doing anything for you, then you're going to have a hard time being intrigued by the story. It's certainly a beautiful and very well made production that is worth the watch for the sake of the legend that is Jim Henson and his dedication to this art form, but when it comes to story and characters, the Dark Crystal didn't take my breath away, it really wasn't for me, other people may like it, die hard puppet and fantasy fans should love it, but I couldn't recommend it. The Grellings now face a bleak future under the control of the Skeksis, unless they manage to find and replace the missing shard of a powerful crystal.