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The Dark Crystal's narrative never quite lives up to the movie's visual splendor, but it remains an admirably inventive and uniquely intense entry in the Jim Henson canon.
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All Critics (47) | Top Critics (7) | Fresh (37) | Rotten (10)
As narrative, the incidents in The Dark Crystal are unremarkable; as the excuse for special effects, fanciful decor and eccentric characters, they do nicely enough. May 2, 2019 | Full Review…
As narrative, the incidents in The Dark Crystal are unremarkable; as the excuse for special effects, fanciful decor and eccentric characters, they do nicely enough.
Richard Corliss
Jim Henson and Frank Oz... designed and directed this 1983 film, in which no human actors appear (except as crude long-shot doubles for the animated figures); it's a cute gimmick, but the puppets are so stiff and inexpressive that the film drops dead. May 2, 2019 | Full Review…
Jim Henson and Frank Oz... designed and directed this 1983 film, in which no human actors appear (except as crude long-shot doubles for the animated figures); it's a cute gimmick, but the puppets are so stiff and inexpressive that the film drops dead.
Dave Kehr
The story is a standard fairy-tale concoction, but the New Agey philosophy about healing and heroism makes for a classic Henson story, all heart and rapturous wonder at the world's incredible possibilities. May 2, 2019 | Rating: B+ | Full Review…
The story is a standard fairy-tale concoction, but the New Agey philosophy about healing and heroism makes for a classic Henson story, all heart and rapturous wonder at the world's incredible possibilities.
Tasha Robinson
A children's fantasy film so enjoyable, imaginative and devoid of cuteness that you want to shake the hand of each individual member of the huge team of collaborators. April 28, 2018 | Full Review…
A children's fantasy film so enjoyable, imaginative and devoid of cuteness that you want to shake the hand of each individual member of the huge team of collaborators.
John Engstrom
The Dark Crystal, besides being a dazzling technological and artistic achievement by a band of talented artists and performers... that could teach a lesson in morality to youngsters at the same time it is entertaining their parents. October 18, 2008 | Full Review…
The Dark Crystal, besides being a dazzling technological and artistic achievement by a band of talented artists and performers... that could teach a lesson in morality to youngsters at the same time it is entertaining their parents.
Variety Staff
Desiccated, clawing villains feasting on rotting food in a castle as unprepossessing as the crashed spaceship in Alien have a splendour that is almost operatic. January 26, 2006 | Full Review…
Desiccated, clawing villains feasting on rotting food in a castle as unprepossessing as the crashed spaceship in Alien have a splendour that is almost operatic.
David Pirie
Though the puppet technology wasn't adequate in 1982 for Jim Henson's imagination, Dark Crystal still possesses an innate, undeniable magic. September 9, 2019 | Rating: 4.5/5 | Full Review…
Though the puppet technology wasn't adequate in 1982 for Jim Henson's imagination, Dark Crystal still possesses an innate, undeniable magic.
Christopher Lloyd
The story is unoriginal, but the images are quite inventive. [Full Review in Spanish] August 28, 2019 | Full Review…
The story is unoriginal, but the images are quite inventive. [Full Review in Spanish]
Diego Galán
The puppetry is incredible. Unbelievable how fluid it is with such great attention to detail May 21, 2019 | Rating: 6.5/10 | Full Review…
The puppetry is incredible. Unbelievable how fluid it is with such great attention to detail
Rachel Wagner
In many ways it's a flawed masterpiece, which shows much more imagination than it's ultimately able to deliver on. May 2, 2019 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…
In many ways it's a flawed masterpiece, which shows much more imagination than it's ultimately able to deliver on.
Mark Pickavance
The Dark Crystal has an ethereal alien quality to its startling visions, far removed from the Earth-bound contours of traditional fairy tales. May 2, 2019 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…
The Dark Crystal has an ethereal alien quality to its startling visions, far removed from the Earth-bound contours of traditional fairy tales.
Ian Nathan
The Dark Crystal remains a wonderfully crafted adventure from a simpler time. May 2, 2019 | Full Review…
The Dark Crystal remains a wonderfully crafted adventure from a simpler time.
Rob Hunter
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