Review of The Dark Crystal (1982) by Jon T — 26 Mar 2014
A common misconception about Jim Henson's Muppet creatures is that they are primarily children's fodder. Even Henson wanted to shed that image, so he crafted this fantasy adventure epic. Unlike, say, SESAME STREET and THE MUPPET SHOW, THE DARK CRYSTAL is an appropriately grim tale with a cast of alternatingly bizarre and grotesque creatures that somehow exude a feel of realism.
All the characters in this film are puppets, and while there are times where the technique shows its age, the overall effect is that THE DARK CRYSTAL is nothing short of a masterpiece of puppetry. While the story may not be terribly original and the elfin lead characters (Gelflings) less well-defined than others (half of their chemistry is upstaged by much of the other cast, including a ferocious but adorable little fuzzball named Fizzgig, who acts like a faithful watchdog while maintaining a sense of fear as well as the hideous-looking but benevolent one-eyed Aughra), but all in all, THE DARK CRYSTAL is one of the finer examples of fantasy films from the '80s.
Imaginative, dark, and frightening at times, this is a must-see for fantasy buffs.
This review of The Dark Crystal (1982) was written by Jon T on 26 Mar 2014.
The Dark Crystal has generally received positive reviews.
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