The Dark Crystal (1982)
Jim Henson's The Dark Crystal is a work of remarkable imagination, and its images are nothing short of stunning. Brian Froud (illustrator of the book Fairies) served as conceptual designer, and a strong Celtic flavor is at work in the look of the film, most notably in its evocation of the spirituality of nature. The cast consists entirely of puppets, but Henson and his fellow puppeteers breathe life into these "latex gloves."
Admittedly, the story bears a resemblance to the work of J.R.R. Tolkien (instead of a ring, a shard of the life-giving Dark Crystal must be returned to whence it came, in order that the world be put right). But whatever The Dark Crystal may lack in plot, it more than makes up for in the forging of a convincing fantasy world. With the exception of two of three exteriors, everything in The Dark Crystalcharacters, wild beasts, vegetation, landscapeswas designed and constructed from scratch. The characters are amazing creations, and their performers bring-out subtleties that put many Hollywood movie stars to shame. The villainous Skeksis, grotesque in their crude opulence, make for a scathing comment on the ruling class of our own world. The protagonists, Jen and Kira, while outwardly less entertaining, are nevertheless engaging, noble heroes (although they admittedly come off as more puppet-looking).
Annoying narration and voice-overs do taint some of the film (imposed by studio executives who found the movie confusing). However, few films have captured the look and essence of faerie land as well as this one. More than just a children's puppet movie, The Dark Crystal is an earthy and dreamlike journey through a mystical realm.
Paul Andrew MacLean
Shelton CT 06484 USA
(800) 232-2224 voice
(800) 775-2729 fax
LadyJanet@RenaissanceMagazine.com