The Dark Crystal

Fun movie

Still love this as an adult!!! Brought back so many childhood memories

This is a great movie. If you like Jim Henson and Brian Froud, you will love this movie

Yes, it does.

Delivery took a while. However everything was in excellent shape

Dear Movie Appreciators,I've seen THE DARK CRYSTAL several times over the last thirty years or so (wow, am I really that old?) but it has been several years since my last viewing I pulled out my trusty old VHS copy that had been recorded from HBO in about 1984, hoping to interest my son in something from my childhood, and was amazed at the terrible sound and picture quality - we could only watch about 30 min. or so before giving up - I should have known though. I guess this is one I had just never taken the time to upgrade - funny to think that people might still be popping in old tapes from the 80's…but it was fun skipping all the technological advances over the years and jumping from 80's home recording right to Amazon HD quality with the flexibility to play the movie across so many devices, including our TV.The movie look great and sounds great in HD. It's nice to now be able to match the idealized memories in my head with the reality of seeing the movie again 30 years after it came out.After reading Jim Henson's biography I felt like I had a better appreciation for the significance of this film both in the context of its release date, and many years later. There's a quote from someone in the book saying something about how the movie will likely always have historical importance as it is and always will be the only big budget feature length motion picture where everything we see on the screen is hand made.Henson's biographer (Brian Jay Jones) also explored the theme of Jim Henson often being more concerned with how a movie looked visually than the story and characters, and would build movies beginning with a visual concept rather than with a story. This proves true in The Dark Crystal, where the story and characters may have some weak spots but the whole movie is still exciting and interesting to look at, even after all this time.I've also been interested to learn that Henson originally had the Skeksis and The Mystics speaking their own language without subtitles, but decided to add English dialogue later after negative reactions in test screenings. It would be fascinating to see the film as he originally intended, and had Jim Henson lived into the age of the DVD and Blue Ray I'm sure he would have had lots of bonus features to give us. Nothing extra with this particular version - perhaps other DVD or Blue Ray versions?Sincerely,Constant Viewer

This classic Jim Henson film from 1981 is now on blu-ray, much better than the 2 disc dvd setbrilliantly Directed by Puppeteer master Jim Henson & some scenes are also directed by Frank ozthe creature effects still look amazing today, of course back in the early 80's no computer effects were availableso the puppeteers had to make lots of amazing effort to make the characters seem realespecially the 2 Gelfling characters and it definitely shows on the screen for surethis film is Definitely a treasure that will stand the test of timeSony pictures who owns the rights to this classic film have now released it on blu-raywith a new HD transfer & i tell you what the picture quality looks very sharp & clear for sure in 2:35:1 ratioplus the sound quality has been boosted to a new 5.1 Master audio mix which does sound better than the Dolby digital mixit does not stop thereall the special features from the 2 Disc dvd set have been carried overREFLECTIONS OF THE DARK CRYSTAL-2parts to this1st is LIGHT ON THE PATH OF CREATION-36mins which is a retrospective making of featuretteinterviews with screenplay writer David Odell, conceptual Designer Brian froud andKathryn mullen who was the puppeteer for one of the Gelflings-Kirathe other Gelfling Jen was puppeteered by Jim Henson himself who also shared the Directing with Frank OZsome other behind the scenes crew are also interviewedbut sadly producer Gary kurtz or Frank oz are not interviewed2nd part is SHARD OF ILLUSION which is about the filming & shooting of the Dark crystalso about 1 hour of new interviews that could be played continouslybut for some reason are split into 2 featurettesplus the TV broadcast Doco from the early 80's called the World of the Dark crystalwhich of course has on the set interviews with Jim Henson, Frank oz, Kathryn mullen & other crewthis TV Doco has been Digitally remastered in 1:33:1 ratioso it's of course better clearer picture quality than VHSthere's also Deleted scenes, original theatrical trailerplus 2 new Blu-ray exclusives-the Book of Thra- Dark crystal collectorskektek's crystal challenge, and picture in picture storyboard trackall this on 1 blu-ray Disc, incredible!definitely time to upgrade5 stars for this new blu-ray

I'll buy this gem in every format available.

I hate some things about this film and adore others. It has beautifully imagined puppets,it unashamedly throws you into the middle of an outrageous looking, sometimes almost horrific fantasy world and amongst truly vile bad guys without much exposition or back history blended in. Yet, it is a brave stab at elevating puppetry into high fantasy and I truly wish it had worked. It's decent entertainment in itself but you see glimpses of how good it could have been and it's frustrating that it didn't quite make it as a great movie.Nevertheless, it's a rare piece of uniqueness in an often bland cinematic landscape and for that it deserves a peek and perhaps more recognition than it got on its release.

I can remember seeing the trailer for The Dark Crystal when I was probably 7 or 8 years old and being absolutely gobsmacked at the visuals - and a bit scared too. I knew I had to see this film!It certainly didn't disappoint and remains a film I watch with great fondness. Technically this film is something else, the designs are lavish and suitably fantastic with a look and feel that's unique amongst fantasy, and probably all, children's films.Is this really a kid's film though? The themes are dark for sure and the Skeksis are genuinely horrible, but like the best fairy stories it doesn't shy away from the darker side of life. But I have to say I think it would freak out particularly sensitive youngsters.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.The Bluray release is a definite upgrade over DVD. The film was made in 1981 but the presentation is clear and sharp with a lot of detail visible. Is it one to demo your system with? Well no, but it's by far the best home presentation of this film you can get.A mention must be made of Trevor Jone's score which really is quite beautiful. It adds a lot of character whilst sounding unique and linking up to the visuals well - the opening motif of the film being a case in point; very otherworldly and a bit haunting - a great score overall.Extras listed are a bit different to the old region 1 DVD I have of this film but the old 'making of' feature is still present and this gives possibly the best overall view into how the film was made. It's shame to have lost the isolated musical track but then again, you do get a truhd 5.1 soundtrack so...I had noticed talk the interweb over the last few year of a possible sequel (something about a 'girl of fire' from within the planet's core posing a threat to all mankind) which seemed to have got quite far down the development path only to read earlier this year that the project had effectively been cancelled which is a real shame.Anyway, for any fan of the film this bluray is a worthy purchase.

Amazing movie that I watched religiously when I was a child. kids these days will probably find it very scared of the skeksis and their soldier beetles. This movie is a huge influence on the art that I draw to this very day....30 years later. the mystics are covered in swirly Celtic like patterns that I use as a general filler in. I only noticed that when I went back to watch it and was astounded when I discovered this.The story is way outside the box and is nothing like you will be used to these days. This is old school story telling at its best and the entire movie is done using puppets. It is strange to see how much I have actually bonded with this movie as an adult just by watching it when I was a kid. The two main characters are extremely likable and you want them to make it. the Skeksis are nasty, disgusting dark scrawny vulture type creatures that desire nothing but power.This movie is one that you will never forget.

This is one of the sweetest and most delightful fantasy movies ever made. It was made mainly for the young public, but I must confess, that although being now in the second half of my life, I still cherish this movie greatly.So - here, instead of a barrel chested half-naked barbarian, the main hero is Jen, a Gelfling, a pixish diminutive being with delicate face, orphaned in his early childhood and raised by a race of benevolent ancient creatures, the Mystics. One day, when Jen is already a young adult, he is told, that he was chosen to accomplish a great mission - he is the one and the only one who can save the world...Begins an incredibly perilous journey, during which he will meet a fair maiden Gelfling, find a magic item of major importance, face monsters and traitors and ultimately go to the fortress of evil, where dwells hideous Skeksis... who are desperate to catch Jen, but really not to hug him...Well, this is the same story we all saw already dozens of time - but this one has some unique features. First - all the characters are puppets, marionettes, etc. and still look really great, even in our time of CG special effects. The music is very impressive. The vision of the world is totally unique - nothing familiar for us, Earthlings, it is clear that this story is happening long time ago, in a galaxy far far away...The girl Gelfling is possibly one of the sweetest creatures I ever saw - she is clearly a fairy princess (and she will prove it at a moment in the movie). Jen is a very kind and quiet hero, but definitely not a whimp - and his noble attitude will impress the most hardened hearts... In one word, this movie is a monument of cinema! See it with your kid, with your date or with your dog and a beer - but see it you must!

Before you needed a computer to make a movie and before it disappeared into Muppet territory Jim Henson used to design and make puppets for movies (The Labyrinth among many). More than that they realised that kids can take dark themes and monsters without it causing them nightmares, if you give the viewer resolution. This is a dark, very dark in places, fantasy film. Henson's puppets and use of puppets is perfect, realising things you just couldn't with human actors on the same budget. It says PG, but for more sensitive under nines it might be too dark. It has all the trademark Henson humour and attention to detail, coupled with a good story. The one downside is the very anemic gelfling lead, Jen. A great blast from the past and a reminder that these days films for kids aren't as challenging and are more afraid to go to the dark places that Roald Dahl and others used to take us to.