The Dark Crystal
Released in 1982, “The Dark Crystal” remains one of the most wonderful, imaginative fantasies in contemporary cinema. It lacks the dramatic weight and epic scope of “Lord of the Rings” and “Harry Potter,” but as directed by Jim Henson and Frank Oz, and executed by Henson’s peerless team of puppeteers, “The Dark Crystal” is a classic adventure that’s acceptable for children, but wicked and intelligent enough for adults to enjoy as well.
The story is a traditional hero’s quest, as a Gelfling named Jen– thought to be the last of his race –is to set forth on a quest to retrieve a long-lost shard from the Dark Crystal, and return it to the castle where the Crystal is housed. The Crystal is guarded by the grotesque Skeksis, who control the land; meanwhile, the Mystics, an ancient race with whom Jen has lived since childhood, have prophesied that Jen will bring an end to the rule of the Skeksis. But can Jen find the courage to do what must be done?
Prophecy and fate have always played a role in fantasy, be it the overtly religious “Chronicles of Narnia,” the secular adventure of “Harry Potter,” or the complex world of “Lord of the Rings.” Even the more spiritual elements of the “Star Wars” saga, reportedly the input of Gary Kurtz (who also co-produced this film, in addition to the first two “Star Wars” films), fit more within the classic fantasy epics that they do the average sci-fi film. When done right, fantasy can be a powerful storytelling genre, in addition to a visual wonder, and the screenplay by David Odell (working from Henson’s original story) tells a deeply emotional tale of accepting one’s fate, overcoming adversity, and the ways that all are connected in the universe, although watching the film as an adult, I found the personal emotions of Jen’s quest muted by finding it difficult to invest much feeling into a puppet main character– no doubt a result of watching the thrilling artistic successes of the “Rings” and “Potter” films; audiences were simply spoiled by those films.
That said, “The Dark Crystal” set a dramatic and creative template for those films to live up to. This isn’t simply another Muppet movie but a living, breathing world, with some of Henson’s most ingenious creatures (created by illustrator Brian Froud). The sinister Skeksis are still some of the creepiest antagonists in the history of fantasy films: their ungainly bodies; their creepy voices; and a worldview of ultimate rule over the rest of the races. On the opposite end, we have the Mystics: wise, spiritual, and resembling the sloths their movements feel inspired by. And I would be remiss if I didn’t mention Aughra, the unsightly, one-eyed character who posesses the crystal shard, and whom studies the greater universe much like a scientist does. Only the happy-go-lucky Podlings and Fizzgig, the dog-like pet of Kira, a fellow Gelfling that Jen encounters on his quest, are too close to Muppets for comfort; I’m much more thrilled at watching the crab-like Garthim and the Landstriders that carry Jen and Kira to the castle. In those sights, and many others in this visually exciting world (scored by Trevor Jones with his typical innovation) Henson, Oz, and their myriad of collaborators created.
