| | | 25th Anniversary Edition.
Features: DVD, Widescreen, Aspect Ratio 2.35:1, Dolby Digital (5.1), English, French, Subtitled, Dubbed & Subtitled
Enjoy incredible footage from the Henson archives in this 2-disc 25th Anniversary Edition of The Dark Crystal. Travel back in time to the faraway planet of Thra. Cheer on the Mystics as they fight to overthrow the evil Skeksis and take back control of their planet! When Jen, a member of the Gelfling tribe, sets out to find the crystal's missing shard, his dangerous journey brings him face to face with monsters at every turn. Determined to restore peace to their planet, Jen will not back down! From the brilliant imagination of Jim Henson, this masterpiece of animation recounts the timeless tale of good vs. evil and has become a cult favorite of children and grown-ups alike!
"...The Dark Crystal is fantastic!" Boston Globe
"Elaborate fantasy...with imaginative [characters]." Leonard Maltin's Movie & Video Guide
"...Jim Henson's most inspired and ambitious work." Mike Pinsky, Daily Reviews
"Significant and timeless!" Vincent Canby, The New York Times
"...a one-of-a-kind imaginative marvel..." Washington Post
Editor's Note
Featuring fantastical puppet flora and fauna from Muppet man Jim Henson, this dark but wonderful children's movie follows Jen and Kira, two young Gelflings who are the last of their kind, as they try to fulfill the prophecy of the Dark Crystal. Jen's wise master reveals on his deathbed that only a Gelfling will mend the crystal that cracked 1,000 years ago and placed the land under the dark rule of the evil, selfish Skeksis. To break the prophecy, the Skeksis killed all the Gelflings, and only Jen and Kira escaped their wrath. Now, though, Jen and Kira must journey into the heart of the Skeksis castle to reach the crystal and return the land to its former goodness.Like all good children's movies, THE DARK CRYSTAL contains enough scary elements to keep the tension tight and the kids enthralled, while the puppet mastery will impress and tickle adults. THE DARK CRYSTAL was the first co-directorial effort of Frank Oz, who went on to direct THE MUPPETS TAKE MANHATTAN, LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, IN & OUT, and BOWFINGER, among many other comedies.
Plot Summary
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.
| Features | Audio: English, Japanese Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound | | Dubbed: Japanese | | Interactive Menus | | Scene Selection | | Subtitles: English, French, Japanese |
| Technical Info
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Release Information
| | Studio: Sony Pictures |
| Release Date: 8/14/2007 |
| Running Time: 93 minutes |
| Original Release Date: 1982 | | Catalog ID: 18580 | | UPC: 00043396185807 | | Number of Discs: 2 |
Audio & Video
| | Original Language: English | | Available Audio Tracks: English [CC], English, Japanese Dubbed | | Available Subtitles: English, French, Japanese | | Video: Color |
| Cast & Crew | Brian Ackland-Snow, et. al. - Art Director | | Dave Goelz - Voice Of | | David Lazer - Executive Producer | | David Odell - Screenplay | | Frank Oz - Voice Of | | Harry Lange - Production Designer | | Jim Henson - Based On Story By | | Jim Henson - Producer | | Jim Henson - Voice Of | | Jim Henson, et. al. - Director | | Kathryn Mullen - Voice Of | | Oswald Morris - Cinematographer | | Ralph Kemplen - Editor | | Trevor Jones - Original Music By |
| Awards |
Nominee (1984) | | | British Academy Awards, Roy Field, et. al., Best Special Visual Effects |
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| | Professional Reviews | Variety
"...A dazzling technological and artistic achievement by a band of talented artists and performers..." 12/15/1982Entertainment Weekly
"...This live-action yet actorless exercise is distinct enough to stand apart from typical fantasy fare..." 11/28/2003 p.107 Variety 9 of 10
The Dark Crystal, besides being a dazzling technological and artistic achievement by a band of talented artists and performers, presents a dark side of Muppet creators Jim Henson and Frank Oz that could teach a lesson in morality to youngsters at the same time it is entertaining their parents...While there is plenty of humor in the film, it is actually an allegory of the triumph of good over evil, of innocence over the wicked...The creation of a small world of memorable characters is the main contribution of Henson and Oz. The outstanding character is the Aughra, an ancient one-eyed harridan of an oracle who somehow reminds one of a truly blowsy Shelley Winters.
DVD Town 8 of 10
A fantasy film noir. The Muppets on steroids. The Brothers Grimm through the eyes of Edgar Allan Poe. Directors Jim Henson and Frank Oz produced a fairy-tale tour de force in their 1982 release, "The Dark Crystal," featuring amazingly intricate inventions from the Creature Shop, imaginative sets, dark landscapes, and a bleak, moody atmosphere. All for the good...When the prophecy is finally fulfilled, the good and bad factions literally reunite into one and turn into creatures who look suspiciously like Don King. It was a long time coming, but that final shot amused me. Perhaps it's not enough to recommend a whole show, but it's more than a lot of films provide in their entirety. "The Dark Crystal" is imaginative and inventive in appearance, if not in action. However, if the film's "look" alone can sustain you for an hour and a half, you'll have a good time. - John J. Puccio
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