Movie Review - 'The Dark Crystal'

Reviewed by Justin Colburn and Keayn Dunya

Another world. Another time. 1000 years ago the Crystal of Truth cracked, giving birth to two new creatures: the cruel Skeksis and the gentle Mystics. The Skeksis took control of the land from their new home in the Castle of the Dark Crystal, while the Mystics made their home in the mountain valley far away. A prophecy states that the crystal will be healed by Gelfling hands at the time of the Great Conjunction, ending Skeksis rule over the world. To prevent the prophecy from coming true the Skeksis sent their Garthim soldiers to kill all the Gelflings, but the urRu saved one Gelfling, Jen. "When single shines the triple sun what was sundered and undone shall be whole, the two made one, by Gelfling hand or else by none."

Justin

When I was sick as a kid and I was lucky enough to convince my mom to let me stay home from school, she would always go out to the video store to rent me a couple of movies to watch while she was at work. Every time she asked me what I wanted, the first movie I always told her was the Dark Crystal. Most people consider J.R.R. Tolkien to be the father of modern fantasy, but for me it would have to be Jim Henson.

The Skeksis and the urRu are different sides of the same coin. The urRu are gentle and wise; they fill their days studying science and philosophy, and finding a oneness with nature, whereas the Skeksis live only for their own personal benefit, taking advantage of those less powerful than themselves. Together these two sets of characters represent one of the movie's major themes: balance.

The most interesting thing to me about the Dark Crystal is everything that never made it into the movie. The movie only scratches the surface of a whole world of lush forests and bizarre creatures. The urRu are some of the most important characters in the movie, but they don't have half the screen time the Skeksis do. How or why the crystal came to be cracked is only hinted at, but never revealed. The movie begins at a point where the world has decayed and is in ruin, everything before that can only be speculated. What is the connection between the Dark Crystal and the planet, and how do the mysterious urSkeks fit in? Every time I watch the Dark Crystal I see something new and I have one more unanswered question. It jumpstarts my imagination and keeps me thinking for days. The Dark Crystal is the most ambitious movie I have ever seen.

Keayn

Of all the movies that I have loved and will share with any future progeny, The Dark Crystal is and will always be at the top of the list. This movie holds so much information that all children and most adults can benefit from it. It's extremely rare that a movie can be both timeless and relevant to any generation.

The Dark Crystal's main message is one of balance. On one hand you have the evil Skeksis and all the negative aspects that they represent. Their home is a dank and dirty castle, they drain the essence from their slaves in order to prolong their own twisted lives and they struggle amongst each other for power and position in a rather simplistic society. As a counterpoint, live the urRu, gentle mystics that live as one with nature, who help and encourage all living things, and recognize their place in the cosmos while exploring the culture. It's a lot for a child to think about when they learn that these two very different people are parts of the same whole. It's a duality of nature that most people never resolve.

The F/X of The Dark Crystal are somewhat of a conundrum. This movie was made when CG was not at an acceptable level for what would have been needed. As an adult I can see how that can detract in an age where CG is the norm and in most cases grossly overused. On the other hand, The Dark Crystal is a very ambitious project; there are no on-screen actors. The entire movie was handled through the artistry of the Jim Henson Group. This adds to the feel of another time and place. The Dark Crystal comes across as simple and pure on-screen.

The Dark Crystal is one of the most imaginative movies ever made, on several different levels. The environments that Jen and Kira travel through are lush and ripe with many kinds of life. Every scene in the movie has little nuances that add to the viability that this is an entirely different world and not just some Hollywood backlot. The history of all the races and how they intertwine in the needs of the planet and in the needs of the races themselves is a very bold statement. The Dark Crystal invites you in and lets you explore another world, in an age of wonder.

Top 5 Weird Fantasy Movies from the '80s

1) Dark Cystal

2) Labyrinth

3) Legend

4) Time Bandits

5) Dragonslayer