The Dark Crystal (1982)
- Thread starter Foxbat
- Start date
polymorphikos
Scrofulous Fig-Merchant
It's very pretty. It resembles Graeme Base come to life. And the imagination, detail and sets are brilliant. Whilst the story and everything worked fine, I think I liked the sheer immersion factor most of all.
Lidora
of the Pirate Isles
the detail that went into the design of the sets, costumes, and character is what truly brings this film to life. brian froud's work in this picture is very apparent in every scene and i love it! i met him 2 years ago at a comic convention and was lucky enough to have him sign my dark crystal playing cards!
i also love the story of this film. it's simple, yet strangly facinating. i love the gelflings and the intimacy they share. background stories were developed for each of the characters, including the skeksies and mystics, that you can't find in the film, but if you read some of the books that came out later, they describe them.
jim henson put his entire being of creativity into the five years it took to make this movie, this is obvious through the detail and attention taken to the film. it's unfortunate that it did so poorly at the box office. some blame it's failure as the beginning to the depression henson fell into, eventually turning his company over to disney.
regardless, dark crystal remains one of my fantasy/sci-fi favorites. an underappreciated gem.
i also love the story of this film. it's simple, yet strangly facinating. i love the gelflings and the intimacy they share. background stories were developed for each of the characters, including the skeksies and mystics, that you can't find in the film, but if you read some of the books that came out later, they describe them.
jim henson put his entire being of creativity into the five years it took to make this movie, this is obvious through the detail and attention taken to the film. it's unfortunate that it did so poorly at the box office. some blame it's failure as the beginning to the depression henson fell into, eventually turning his company over to disney.
regardless, dark crystal remains one of my fantasy/sci-fi favorites. an underappreciated gem.
I've just watched this film and I have to say that I agree wholeheartedly with Lidora's comments. This is a wonderful piece of work. I'm surprised it did so badly when it was first released. Perhaps the nature of the work itself confused the potential audiences. Whatever the reason, I found myself enjoying this one almost from the word go.
One question begs an answer: why in God's name did it take me so long to get around to watching this fabulous little movie?
One question begs an answer: why in God's name did it take me so long to get around to watching this fabulous little movie?
Winters_Sorrow
Well-Known Member
Gelfling? 
I love this movie - best Jim Henson creation for me.
A rather sweet little story with very scary overtones (does anybody else just get totally creeped out by the life draining machine? )
I also loved the mad witch - very much a henson concept that one!
Interested to hear about the books which came out afterwards, Lidora.
What were they about?
I love this movie - best Jim Henson creation for me.
A rather sweet little story with very scary overtones (does anybody else just get totally creeped out by the life draining machine?
)I also loved the mad witch - very much a henson concept that one!
Interested to hear about the books which came out afterwards, Lidora.
What were they about?
Last edited:
Lidora
of the Pirate Isles
the books were about the movie. they have detailed descriptions of the characters and go in depth about their histories. a particularly wonderful book is the art of the dark crystal. it shows many concept sketches and designs for the movie. the book itself is beautifully designed.
McMurphy
Apostate Against the Eloi
Dark Crystal really is brilliant, isn't it? Jim Henson's imagination has been greatly missed already because I can't imagine a film as rich as this one being released today without playing down to children.
Here are some discussion questions I have thought of:
1.) Speaking of children as an audience, do you feel that this one would be too scary at parts for them? Where any of you terrified at any parts when watching it as a child? I know that the part were the eldest Skeksis dies and rapidly decays still creeps me out a bit.
2.) How does the final product of Dark Crystal compare to Henson's work on The Labyrith? What are the similar motifs, characters, and themes found between the two fantasy films?
3.) Are there lessons being taught in Dark Crystal? If so, what are they?
Here are some discussion questions I have thought of:
1.) Speaking of children as an audience, do you feel that this one would be too scary at parts for them? Where any of you terrified at any parts when watching it as a child? I know that the part were the eldest Skeksis dies and rapidly decays still creeps me out a bit.
2.) How does the final product of Dark Crystal compare to Henson's work on The Labyrith? What are the similar motifs, characters, and themes found between the two fantasy films?
3.) Are there lessons being taught in Dark Crystal? If so, what are they?
I have mixed feelings about this film. Visually, it's stunning, and all the work that went into developing the back story and the different cultures was (and still is) amazing. The basic story is good, too. I think it's the somewhat uninspired (and sometimes unintelligible) dialogue that makes it feel a little plodding in parts. If the script had been anywhere nearly as good as the art direction it would have been incredible. I still love it, but not as much as I COULD have loved it.
As to whether it's a good movie for small children to see, mine all saw it when they were fairly little, and at least one of them (they're all adults by now) still considers it one of the nightmare experiences of their young life. It probably depends on the child.
As to whether it's a good movie for small children to see, mine all saw it when they were fairly little, and at least one of them (they're all adults by now) still considers it one of the nightmare experiences of their young life. It probably depends on the child.
garreth Jacks
master of weapons
The Dark Crystal
I first watched this film years ago and have recently Sean it on DVD with my little sister (who how loves it) and realised what a great story line it has and the characters are very well put to getter the DVD has lots of extras on it like how the characters are made and interesting stuff about the film. My favourite creatures are the crab thing called Garthim. What do you think of this film and also what are you favoutire characters?
for more information go to http://welcome.to/darkcrystal
I first watched this film years ago and have recently Sean it on DVD with my little sister (who how loves it) and realised what a great story line it has and the characters are very well put to getter the DVD has lots of extras on it like how the characters are made and interesting stuff about the film. My favourite creatures are the crab thing called Garthim. What do you think of this film and also what are you favoutire characters?
for more information go to http://welcome.to/darkcrystal
Winters_Sorrow
Well-Known Member
Re: The dark cristal
loved the movie - btw a sequel called the Power of the Dark Crystal is due to be made shortly.
My favourite character (even those she was incredibly annoying) was the Witch/Hag thing
Although, I had to laugh at the sole female skegski (either that or he's a crossdresser )
I would loved to have seen the war between the Gelflings & the Skegsi in their prime, though
loved the movie - btw a sequel called the Power of the Dark Crystal is due to be made shortly.
My favourite character (even those she was incredibly annoying) was the Witch/Hag thing
Although, I had to laugh at the sole female skegski (either that or he's a crossdresser
) I would loved to have seen the war between the Gelflings & the Skegsi in their prime, though
kaneda
Did you not know?
Re: The dark cristal
Used to scare the hell out of me when i was a kid
But it is great though, have it on video somewhere, will have to get it on the dvd at some point
Used to scare the hell out of me when i was a kid
But it is great though, have it on video somewhere, will have to get it on the dvd at some point
The Master™
Science fiction fantasy
Re: The dark cristal
Been a helluva long time since I last saw this film... Can't fully remember much about it... Though I remember seeing the "making of" programme that was on around the time...
Suppose the evil "birds" were my favourite characters...
Been a helluva long time since I last saw this film... Can't fully remember much about it... Though I remember seeing the "making of" programme that was on around the time...
Suppose the evil "birds" were my favourite characters...
Re: The dark cristal
You will find a discussion threadon the Dark Crystal here:
http://www.chronicles-network.net/forum/showthread.php?t=4517
It was a Film Club choice for february and got a fairly positive responbse
You will find a discussion threadon the Dark Crystal here:
http://www.chronicles-network.net/forum/showthread.php?t=4517
It was a Film Club choice for february and got a fairly positive responbse
longplay
Active Member
Re: The dark cristal
Both the Dark Crystal and Labyrinth seem to hold a special place for my generation (spookily I've just finished watching Labyrinth).
Both the Dark Crystal and Labyrinth seem to hold a special place for my generation (spookily I've just finished watching Labyrinth).
Re: The Dark Crystal
This has to be one of my favorite movies of all time! I grew up on it, can quote it, and my sister and I used to "play" Dark Crystal all the time. My favorite character is Kira, of course! I even have a Kira doll my friend got me for my birthday a year or so ago. It came with a Fizzgig and everything. ^_^ I have the DVD and soundtrack. LOVE this one. It's a classic!
This has to be one of my favorite movies of all time! I grew up on it, can quote it, and my sister and I used to "play" Dark Crystal all the time. My favorite character is Kira, of course! I even have a Kira doll my friend got me for my birthday a year or so ago. It came with a Fizzgig and everything. ^_^ I have the DVD and soundtrack. LOVE this one. It's a classic!
dwndrgn
Fierce Vowelless One
Re: The Dark Crystal
Definitely one of the older movies I'd like to own on dvd.
Definitely one of the older movies I'd like to own on dvd.
Re: The Dark Crystal
When I was younger I taped Pinnochio of the television and after that was Dark Crystal which is also on the tape but I have never watched. I had never heard of it until recently so I must give it a try sometime.
When I was younger I taped Pinnochio of the television and after that was Dark Crystal which is also on the tape but I have never watched. I had never heard of it until recently so I must give it a try sometime.
ThulsaDoom
Member
Re: The Dark Crystal
I loved the strider's. I thought they were a really unique looking creature design, done in a practical and fantastically original way. They could've easilly ended up looking like blokes in suits, but didn't at all.
It's one of those rare films, that is totally unique in format, and can never be duplicated. (Short maybe of the sequal mentioned above!)
I loved the strider's. I thought they were a really unique looking creature design, done in a practical and fantastically original way. They could've easilly ended up looking like blokes in suits, but didn't at all.
It's one of those rare films, that is totally unique in format, and can never be duplicated. (Short maybe of the sequal mentioned above!)
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