It’s full of little flourishes that are essentially just the puppeteers showing off, including an extended sequence featuring two characters putting on an elaborate puppet show. The emphasis on practical effects makes the world feel grounded and tangibly real. The production design is faultless throughout, with some suitably epic cinematography and a truly beautiful score.
The dark crystal streaming series#
The best character in the show by a mile, Hup is an absolute delight, and I would happily watch an entire series based on him. Other character highlights are the deranged Skeksis Heretic ( Andy Samberg) the irascible sorceress Aughra ( Donna Kimble) lovingly recreated, and finally the plucky, adorable Podling, Hup. Meanwhile the rest of the baddies – including Mark Hamill, Jason Isaacs, Benedict Wong and Awkwafina – have an absolute ball, clearly revelling in their characters’ grotesque villainy. He emulates the character perfectly and is virtually unrecognisable in the role. Simon Pegg deserves a special mention as the whimpering, manipulative Chamberlain. In terms of the voice actors, everyone integrates into the story perfectly, but the standouts are clearly the Skeksis. The collaborative performances really pay off, as the fusion of vocal and physical performances genuinely bring the characters to life. The series is notable for paying due credit to the puppeteer performers as well as the voice cast.
The storytelling is mature and well structured and all of the plot developments feel completely organic with very little in the way of filler. We get more insight into the societies that make up the world of Thra, from the twisted evil Skeksis to the cute, fun loving Podlings. The highly anticipated Netflix prequel, The Dark Crystal: Age Of Resistance, is larger in scale with a greater emphasis on story and character. The problem is that the story itself isn’t all that original, or compelling.
The world building is phenomenal and it’s a great showcase for his boundless imagination. I can still remember my horror at the emperor Skeksis crumbling into dust, the click-clack of the sinister Garthim, and the scene where an innocent Podling’s life force is sucked out of him. It’s a genuine cult fantasy, and remains Henson’s most complete film. This is shown plainly in The Dark Crystal, an unsettling, formative experience for my childhood. He didn’t think it was healthy for them to feel safe when watching films. Frank Oz once said that Jim Henson thought it was fine to scare children.
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