I’m a huge fan of The Dark Crystal (it and Labyrinth are my favourite movies of all time ever) so I was of course thrilled when a special collector’s edition was released. However, I’m disappointed in the “features”.
Pretty much everything on the disc is the same as what’s on the non-collector’s edition. The few new things to me aren’t worth it. Character Illustrations and storyboards are nice and all. I was excited about “The Mithra Treatment”, which I thought was the original print of the movie…where the characters speak their own language and not English (you see some of this in the deleted scenes on the disc). It is not. It is simply screens and screens of Henson’s original notes. Interesting yes… but I’d rather have that in a booklet, not in screens on my TV. Then again, the fact that it was only 1 disc should have tipped me off.
The packaging is nice, the replica of Henson’s notepad detailing the original ideas which would become the movie is very interesting… but in my opinion, not worth the $35 or whatever I just shelled out for this.
I’m very disappointed in the amount of “exclusives” on this DVD. The original print of the film would have been *amazing* to see, to see how Henson and Co. originally viewed the film. Maybe some new interviews with some of the other players (Oz and Froud for sure) as they look back on the movie, its box office disappointment but almost cult success. Or even a nifty booklet with a lot of these extras in it. I hate sitting in front of my TV trying to read screens of information or look at drawings which I’d rather have on paper so I can see the detail better.
So to make a long story short… if you like the movie, get the regular edition and not collector’s. If you’re a fanatic like me, bought the re-issued World of the Dark Crystal book and even considered shelling out a few hundred for the original pressing… and somehow MISSED buying the first DVD release of this movie, well then this is probably for you. But if you already own the DVD that came out a few years ago… I’d think very heavily on it, unless you are a fanatic. Even as a fanatic, you probably won’t find any new material here (especially if you own the aforementioned book), and I’d save the $35. Or try to recoup some of your “loss” and sell your other DVD somewhere (like I’m going to try and do). I hope that if Henson and Co. decide to do a Collector’s Edition of Labyrinth they put a little more work into it. I have to say, I’m disappointed with how the kids have carried on Jim’s legend.
This movie is Jim Henson’s magnum opus. There isn’t a fantasy movie out there that brings you to a whole different reality like The Dark Crystal does. Yes the movie is all performed entirely by puppets and yes there isn’t a human being in site. That’s the beauty of it. With a combination of an excellent story, innovative (for its time) animatronics, beautiful sets and cinematography you get a truly dazzling experience that any fantasy fan would be a fool not to miss.
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The biggest aspect of Dark Crystal is the setting. They created a whole different world with its own animals, plants and terrain. The level of detail put into creating this new world is staggering and you get some good scenes to soak yourself up in it. From the rock caves of the Mystics to the jagged spires of the Skesis castle to Aughra’s planetarium to every landscape in between. You will get drawn into this alien world. The beauty of the sets and location shots is only enhanced with some fantastic cinematography and conventional effects.
Since we are essentially talking about a puppet show brought to you as a feature film let’s talk about the puppets. Granted they might seem a bit archaic by today’s standards, they were nothing short of incredible back in 1982. To have puppets act and react in such an organic and lifelike fashion was never done on film before. This is the first movie where you get that sort of eye and mouth movements we have come so used to with current animatronics. Famed artist Brian Froud created all of the creatures and characters for Dark Crystal and if you’re a fan of his work you will definitely see it. When you look at the majesty of the Mystics you forget they are just people covered in foam latex.
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Of course having a truly creative setting and truly creative characters would not be enough to make a great movie. Lord knows fantasy fans have seen plenty of examples that prove that point. However this movie has a story that is as classic as any fable you have read before. By the time you finish this movie if will feel like you just read a grand fairy tale… only about wondrous and fantastic creatures never seen before. It’s not deep storytelling. Then again it shouldn’t be considering the mythical theme.
The original release of this DVD had a host of wonderful extras that made it the only DVD you would ever need… UNTIL NOW! This DVD has everything that made the original release great plus a good deal more. Here’s what you get:
REFLECTIONS OF THE DARK CRYSTAL – Two-part featurette (Shard of Illusion [16 minutes] and Light on the Path of Creation [20 minutes]) with more recent interviews from writers, directors, and performers including co-writer David O’Dell, conceptual designer Brian Froud, and Jim Henson’s son Brian. These featurettes also include newly discovered test footage from Jim Henson’s home in England.
WORLD OF THE DARK CRYSTAL – The most amazing “making of” documentary one can ever ask for. It details over an hour of footage regarding conceptual design, character creation, production, cinematography, the philosophy behind the creation of this movie and the world it is based on, and more. This documentary was made while the Dark Crystal was released so you get interviews with the man himself, Jim Henson at the time of the movie along with scores of others involved in the movie. Most “making of” documentaries that come out with movies these days are little more than lip service to help promote the movie. I wish they would follow the model done on THIS documentary.
WORK PRINT SCENES – The original concept of The Dark Crystal was to have many of the creatures speak their own language, which we would get subtitles for, in order to further put in that different world. I think that would have been a cool way to see the movie and with this footage you get an idea of Jim Henson’s original concept. Keep in mind this is not fully produced footage and it’s not the same as seeing the end product. Namely the character Augra is being dubbed with Frank Oz’s Miss Piggy-esque voice over and of course there is no music or post-production. Still it’s interesting to get a taste of what the movie could have been like.
DELETED SCENE – Just one deleted scene, which was the Skeksis funeral. You’re really not missing much taking it out if you ask me. The funeral itself is boring. The scene has some footwate with Jen talking to one of the Mystics about his quest, which was nice. No remastering on the scene of course. It’s pretty grainy.
Top all of that off with a newly remastered high definition print, dolby digital sound and an audio commentary by Brian Froud and you have the new winner on which is the definitive Dark Crystal DVD. The difference in video quality is almost night and day. The previous DVDs were grainy and the colors weren’t as vibrant. The remastering does these movies a lot of justice in cleaning up the picture and breathing new life in a 25+ year old movie.
Something I noticed on the audio. The original disk had a Spanish dub track in mono, but this version doesn’t. It does, however have a Japanese 5.1 dolby track while the original didn’t. There is also no Spanish subtitles (something I find odd considering how easy it would be to add). I suppose the spanish speaking Dark Crystal fans may be put off from this.
This is the version of the movie to get… until late September. Good News!! The Dark Crystal will be out on high definition Blu-Ray!! It will have all the same features as this DVD plus an exclusive picture in picture featurette (I think it’s a storyboard comparison), and two games: The Book of Thra (collect artifacts from the movie and view your collection) and SkekTek’s Crystal Challenge (all I know is it’s a game in picture). Hopefully the transfer to Blu-Ray doesn’t take out too much of the original film grain like many of these transfers of older movies do. I will report more on the Blu-Ray details when I get them.
I will admit that some people might be put off of this movie due to the lack of human actors in front of you and the fact the puppet animatronics might feel dated. It’s a shame people would feel that way because The Dark Crystal is fantasy storytelling at its finest. If you are a fan of the genre this movie is an absolute must. If you’re a Muppet fan… well these aren’t Muppets so don’t expect Fraggle Rock when you see it. Any fan of grand storytelling who wants to be whisked away to a strange faraway land will find what they are looking for in The Dark Crystal. Do yourself a favor and check this movie out.
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