The Dark Crystal

Puppets get a pass only when they are muppets I’m going to be honest, I tried once to watch this movie a few years ago. Didn’t make it half an hour in, but I can’t remember if it was because I was bored or got busy. But that was before the new tv version on Netflix came out. So I watched it this time on youtube in parts because I didn’t want to pay to rent it. So the movie was split in like 5 minute segments with partial director commentary at the end of each video. So while it didn’t exactly flow great, it did give me some interesting insight to the movie’s making. Overview: In ancient times an ancient crystal broke into two parts, creating two groups of people and plunging the world into terror and darkness. Now it is up to a young Gelfling, last of his kind, to unite the crystal again so that peace may reign.

The puppets were really cool to watch. I mean it should be, it was made by Jim Henson after all. He did an amazing job with this movie. I loved just watching the sets and the background creatures burst into life. The Gelflings were just…a little creepy in the face. The Gilfling’s smooth faces sort of threw me off, but I loved the other creatures. The Skeksis and Elder Turtle guys, they were really cool to look at. And I literally have no idea at all how the hell they were able to do any of that! Were they hand puppets? Stop motion puppets? Puppets on strings? That shit is amazing to try and figure it out.

The plot had this grand epic scale to it. Old ancient beings both good and evil reaching the ends of their long lives. The commentary actually pointed out that there were a few similarities to Star Wars and I can see why. Just this feeling of big purpose that was put on the weight of one’s shoulders. I especially liked how connected the Skeksis and Urru (humming turtle elder guys) are to each other. The other half of the same coin. The Urru elder dying peacefully and disappearing into the universe. The Skeksis Emperor fighting and clinging to his power until his last breath where he dissolved into nothing. It was just, nice to see their relationship to each other throughout the film.

Aughra is like the best character here. She is so energetic and literally didn’t give a shit no matter who she was talking to. She just started yelling at the Ancient Millennia Evil Beings like she’s lodging a complaint at the housing committee in her neighborhood. Like, that is a life goal right there. So I liked the puppetry, and I liked the plot. I wasn’t actually too keep on them being together for some reason. I don’t know why exactly, maybe because I’m not use to an all puppet story (muppets had some human characters in there too). It’s probably just a medium thing where some people don’t like a particular art style. Some people aren’t a fan of black and white, some don’t like anime, so I guess I’m not too into puppets. So I was sort of watching the movie as two distinct parts and not as a whole, but it still was enjoyable to see.

Overall: Yeah this was a fun watch. Maybe not my absolute favorite film or something I would rewatch, but it was still cool to see. I’d say give the puppet movie a chance. It’s weird and fun, and even if there aren’t some parts you like, there’s still enough to enjoy.