The Dark Crystal
More Henson, more supreme puppeteering,
and a deeper longing for movies of this caliber. There's very little
to complain about this film as it's nearly flawless. As a kid, I
loved the Skeksis. The Skeksis were a petty, deceitful, cowardly race
that came from the Crystal when it cracked. The Mystics came from the
same Crystal at the same time, but were the complete opposites. With two
diametrically opposing beings, this movie reeks of duality and is
illustrated when any member of the factions dies, so does its
unlikely twin. In the end, when both races became one with each
other, it created balance. That was the Henson way.
Though this film was never held to the
same regard as Labyrinth, it is by far the better movie. When you
compare the two, you can see Henson and crew are there to create
something from their imagination without much regard in TDC. In contrast,
Labyrinth was a much safer script. There were no deaths, stabbings,
or violence in general. This is all due to the criticisms The Dark
Crystal suffered when first released, despite having a clear message
about what evil looks like and what courage really is. This film just
had more meat on it's bones.
Some notes, however:
Aughra's nipples were clearly present.
FIZZGIG!!!
Jen's puppet still creeps me out more
than any Skeksis, Mystic, or Garthim.
Thunder. Thunder. Thunder Chickens. Ho!
ReplyDeleteTrying to explain how wonderful this movie is to people who only see puppets is such a daunting task. I've always loved this. The message of how interconnected we all are is so profound and expertly woven into the imagery and minutiae of the tale, it never needs to be stated. That all actions have a consequence and that the universe is always seeking balance is also threaded throughout the film. Too bad these masterpieces are rarely made anymore. Today it's all about big names and flashy effects.