The Dark Crystal: Another Film, Another Time, In the Age of Wonder

    Yep, another fantastic film by Jim Henson! It's one of those few films that's live-action but you don't actually see a human actor. Mind blown! Made in 1982, The Dark Crystal takes us to the planet of Thra. (A name not actually mentioned in the movie.) You can't really understand the place or the creatures until you actually watch it. So bear with me as we get into it. :) 

Jen and Kira

The Mystics

The Skeksis. Yes, I know they look creepy.

     Once upon a time, the land was in pretty good shape, until the Crystal cracked. Let me fill you in: The Crystal was watched over by a noble race of beings called "Urseks". (Another name not mentioned in the film..... You wish they would start naming a couple more things around here!) Anyway, they were having issues and ended up cracking the Crystal. In doing so, a shard of the Crystal was lost, and they divided into two new races: The cruel Skeksis, the gentle Mystics. Now the Skeksis ruled. That's when the prophecy was foretold, that a Gelfling would restore the Crystal and end their power. Attempting to stop this, the Skeksis sent their evil Garthim to kill all of the Gelflings. They were all killed- or so they thought. Only two Gelflings, named Jen and Kira, survived. After Jen finds the Crystal shard, they must journey to restore the Dark Crystal in order for the two to be made one again. 

Garthim

       How Jim Henson came up with this world is mind boggling. I have trouble coming up  with answers to "why" questions on a biology worksheet! But then again, your imagination is easier to work with. Especially when you have someone like Jim Henson doing it. What we love about Jim Henson is that he was one of the only people to work with puppets and he made his creatures look realistic. 

The Podlings

Nebrie

         Each creature in the world of The Dark Crystal is something you haven't seen before. Except for the Gelfling maybe- they look a little bit like elves. But the world of The Dark Crystal is the only place to find Podlings and Nebrie. All of these marvelous creatures were created by Brian Froud. Basically the only person I would pick to design new creatures for a fantasy film. But you know, sometimes the creatures are so bizarre they're just plain creepy. Like the Skeksis and the Garthim, for example. The UrSeks were a little weird too. Yet I was never scared/creeped out by them. 

A supposed Queen Kira

        A word concerning sequels: They were going to make a sequel entitled The Power Of The Dark Crystal. For some reason, it was cancelled. I would have like to see that! The plot was about a strange a girl made of fire  who, with another Gelfling, stole a shard of the crystal to save the sun. Would you have liked to see this sequel come into place?

        Do you like The Dark Crystal? Tell me in the comments! Don't forget to request a non rated-R Halloween film to see on the blog! Be sure to like, comment, share, and follow to always come back for more enchanted tales of film!