The Dark Crystal (1982)

This Movie Can Only Be Described With One Word.

Good start, but then it gets ruined

The movie is wonderful and true, an act of love in all its contradictions and complexity

This is a gorgeous movie made by a gorgeous spirit.

Ueberfantastic movie by Jim Henson and Frank Oz. I watched The Dark Crystal in my youth and I still watch it from time to time, and after all those years the magic is still there. If you like fairy-tales, fantasy, magic, puppets, this one is made for you.The Dark Crystal: easy one of the best fantasy movies of all time and if, for whatever reason, you still don't know this pearl yet, watch and follow Jen & Kira on their quest.

I'm sure that kids of today would think this rather crude, what with the CGI that permeates...but if they give it 30 minutes, they'll be hooked. The story is simply that well done...Sure, Dark Crystal moves slowly through much of the film, but the scenery makes up for that in a strange way. This is another planet, after all...These are muppetts with an attitude, seemingly crude, yet when you look closely, the astounding detail hits you right on the head. A delightful departure from the norm...

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.

The Dark Crystal is one of the more personal fantasy films made in the 80s. It's also one of the biggest triumphs practical special effects have had in the history of cinema. Because, if you didn't know already, every single character in this film is a puppet. They're animatronics, designed by fantasy illustrator Brian Froud, and they're all fantastic, ground-breaking even. They're all visually distinct, evocative designs that are sure to stick with you after you've seen this film. On a technical level this film is a marvel and it's a shame it was so hard to make because I'd love to see more films done this way.The story is also pretty good, following the quest of a gelfling named Jen as he sets out to find the missing piece of the eponymous Dark Crystal in order to restore balance and to stop the villainous skeksis from taking over the world. Basic stuff, but the execution really makes an impact here. The whole story plays out in front of you like something larger than life, like an epic from the ancient times. The themes appear clear and easy to understand, yet the deeper you dig, the more you find to analyze.Though there are some problems as well. Like the character of Kira, who's pretty superfluous to the plot and mainly there to give Jen a love interest and someone to save in the third act. She's an interesting personality, so she's not as bad as some damsels in distress, but a damsel in distress she still remains. The final third as a whole is overall somewhat disappointing because it's so predictable. I don't really mind it being classic because the whole story heavily leans on literary traditions, but it could have been a little more innovative.Nevertheless, The Dark Crystal is a brilliant experience for all fans of fantasy and for those that appreciate practical effects and knowing that what's in the screen was actually there during the filming as well.