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The Dark Crystal (1982)

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Average Rating: 6.1/10
Reviews Counted: 31
Fresh: 22 | Rotten: 9

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Average Rating: N/A
Critic Reviews: 2
Fresh: 1 | Rotten: 1

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Average Rating: 3.6/5
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Movie Info

Jim Henson ventures into Tolkien territory in his all-Muppet fantasy feature The Dark Crystal. The titular Crystal maintains equilibrium in a mythical kingdom. When the Crystal is broken, the evil Skeksis take over, killing off the good-guy Gelflings and enslaving everyone else. Two of the Gelflings have survived: Jen was raised by the all-knowing Mystics, while Kira grew up amongst the swamp-dwelling Podlings. Jen and Kira join forces to "heal" the precious Dark Crystal and restore order to

PG, 1 hr. 33 min.

Action & Adventure, Animation, Kids & Family, Science Fiction & Fantasy

Directed By: Jim Henson , Frank Oz

Written By: Jim Henson, David Odell

In Theaters: Dec 17, 1982 Wide

On DVD: Oct 5, 1999

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

Watch It Now

You have to love a fantasy whose greatest peril is the Bog of Eternal Stench.

July 7, 2005 Full Review Source: Minneapolis Star Tribune

| Comments (11)

Colin Covert

Minneapolis Star Tribune

Top Critic

The screenplay by David Odell, based on a story by Mr. Henson, is without any narrative drive whatever. It's without charm as well as interest.

August 30, 2004 Full Review Source: New York Times

| Comments (4)

Vincent Canby

New York Times

Top Critic

A fantastic, but more intense Muppet adventure.

December 15, 2010 Full Review Source: Common Sense Media

Charles Cassady

Common Sense Media

A wonderfully invented world full of characters that transcend their puppet limitations thanks to the energy and creativity of the Jim Hansen and Frank Oz team of puppeteers and voice actors

May 23, 2008 Full Review Source: Urban Cinefile

Urban Cinefile Critics

Urban Cinefile

A distant, uninvolving experience … characters and emotions, even by the archetypal standards of high fantasy, never come to life, and the overarching mythology seems too self-consciously contrived.

September 21, 2007 Full Review Source: Decent Films Guide

| Comments (4)

Steven D. Greydanus

Decent Films Guide

An extraordinary, often mesmerizing achievement of design and performance that's held back by an underdeveloped script and a milquetoast leading character.

August 14, 2007

Peter Canavese

Groucho Reviews

Crystal is a miraculous rush of innovation and storytelling patience, and, in the last 25 years, the film has grown from a 1982 misfire, to a cult wonder, to a bona-fide classic that's timeless in stature and masterful in execution.

July 30, 2007 Full Review Source: DVDTalk.com

Brian Orndorf

DVDTalk.com

Points to the Henson team for trying to broaden the scope of their creatures -- and there's little denying that this particular flick still seems to hold up pretty darn well.

November 15, 2006 Full Review Source: DVD Clinic

Scott Weinberg

DVD Clinic

Os personagens s�o bem realizados e animados, mas o roteiro, al�m de plagiar O Senhor dos An�is, � burocr�tico e pouco envolvente.

January 8, 2006 | Comments (2)

Pablo Villaca

Cinema em Cena

This ersatz Tolkien with puppets looks and plays like ersatz Tolkien with puppets.

October 12, 2005 Full Review Source: Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

| Comment (1)

Ken Hanke

Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

Comes off as an overblown puppet show.

June 3, 2004 | Comment (1)

Forrest Hartman

Reno Gazette-Journal Source: Reno Gazette-Journal

Ponderous, yet unique and strangely charming.

May 22, 2004

Rob Vaux

Flipside Movie Emporium

A leap into the darker side of Jim Henson's imagination, a wonderful movie.

March 27, 2004

Blake Davis

KFOR Channel 4 News

One of the most imaginative films I've ever seen, a fitting tribute to the brilliant career of the late master puppeteer, Jim Henson.

April 18, 2003 Full Review Source: Laramie Movie Scope

Robert Roten

Laramie Movie Scope

Yeah, the puppets look neat; too bad the story's stupid and the voice-acting sucks.

October 18, 2002 | Comments (3)

Luke Y. Thompson

New Times

One of Henson's shining moments in modern-day cinema

September 17, 2002

Clint Morris

Moviehole

It's a story as old as time redone in books and films over and over again. But this one's got the one-of-a-kind Henson vision and style.

August 1, 2002 Full Review Source: Film Threat

Ryan Cracknell

Film Threat

Immerses us in a familiar yet utterly unique world that's deeper, wider and more vibrantly alive than any mere puppetry.

March 14, 2002

Gregory Weinkauf

New Times

A bittersweet spectacle.

January 1, 2000

Bill Chambers

Film Freak Central

View all critic reviews (37)

Audience Reviews for The Dark Crystal

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A complete disconnect from much of Henson's earlier work, "Dark Crystal" is darker, more mysterious, heartfelt, and mystical. It combines the movie magic of puppetry, which is one of the more nuanced art forms, and a magical story about the last of a race of people, hidden from a villainous race of vulture-like creatures. Jen, a "Gelfling", who looks like an elvish character, is the only humanistic character included in this film, which was completely without any human actors, the first of its kind. He is cared for by one of the masters, who is kidnapped, prompting Jen to go off into the torrid jungle settings of a world complete with a plethora of other creepy crawlies. Much of the film circles upon two stories: one is between Jen and Kira, another Gelfling who can communicate with animals, as they realize their role in an ancient prophecy surrounding a shard and the infamous Dark Crystal. The other surrounds the vulture-like society of Garthim, who destroyed the Gelfling race to keep the prophecy of the reunion of the crystal from happening. The Garthim scared the crap out of me as a child, and here they are as menacing and dark as the subject matter suggests. They are ostensibly creepy as they act like real and malicious animals, including engaging in duels, snapping at one another with their beaks, and tearing each other to bits at the behest of their leader. The sets are beautiful, airy affairs that are just as whimsical and spritely as Henson's later film "Labyrinth". The Gelflings speak with light voices and speak intermittently through their minds. Though it is darker than past Henson projects it is his seminal best and most interesting, much less ostentatious than Labryrinth, and more versatile than The Muppets.

July 29, 2010

Spencer S.

Super Reviewer

Extremely weird and grim fantasy-film with unique look and and vision. This certainly has some cult following among some filmgoers, but for me Henson' creations here feels just too lifeless and stiff to be rooted for.
Screenplay by Henson and David Odell is nothing that special either. There is this familiar cliched theme of good versus evil on top of everything, but it is not without it's potential entirely.
I myself do admire much more these kind of handmade puppetry effects than often lifeless cgi-animation and i do give credit for Jim Henson for his imagination and creativity. The problem lies mostly in film's sloppy pacing. At times the direction of Jim Henson and Frank Oz moves forward with snail's pace and some scenes feel like they are happening underwater.
Dark Crystal is a curiosity and brave attempt in fantasy genre. Still it cannot escape it's weak structure and cliched moments.

August 22, 2012

Emil Kakko

Super Reviewer

The Dark Crystal Quotes

1. General: GARTHIM! ATTACK!
– Submitted by Emil � (7 months ago)
1. Chamberlain: Trial by stone.
2. General: TRIAL BY STONE!
– Submitted by Emil � (7 months ago)
1. Historian: Hold her to you, for she is part of you, as we all are part of each other.
– Submitted by ethan t (11 months ago)
1. Jen: Oh, no. Right in the mud.
– Submitted by Rodrigo S (12 months ago)
1. Aughra: The angle of eternity.
– Submitted by Rodrigo S (12 months ago)
1. Jen: Wings! I don't have wings.
2. Kira: Of course not. You're a boy.
– Submitted by Adrian G (20 months ago)

View all quotes (6)

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Movie: ID: 10235 Title: The Dark Crystal Release Date: 1982-12-17 00:00:00.0 MPAA: 2 Status: 1

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