Comments on: The Dark Crystal
http://www.metafilter.com/88949/The-Dark-Crystal/
Comments on MetaFilter post The Dark CrystalFri, 05 Feb 2010 08:07:19 -0800Fri, 05 Feb 2010 08:07:19 -0800en-ushttp://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss60The Dark Crystal
http://www.metafilter.com/88949/The-Dark-Crystal
In the 1980s, the creative team of Jim Henson and Brian Froud, together with Frank Oz and George Lucas, collaborated on two ambitious film projects: <a href="http://www.darkcrystalthemovie.com/home.html"><em>The Dark Crystal</em></a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labyrinth_(film)"><em>Labyrinth</em></a>. While <em>Labyrinth</em> (incredibly exhaustive fan site <a href="http://www.astrolog.org/labyrnth/movie.htm">here</a>) was more lively and featured actors as well as puppets, <em>The Dark Crystal</em> embodied a darker vision and featured only puppets. Rumors have circulated in the last few years that <a href="http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2009/08/05/fraggle-rock-and-dark-crystal-sequel-updates-from-brian-henson/">a sequel to <em>The Dark Crystal</em>,</a> entitled <em>The Power of the Dark Crytal</em>, is in production. While the status of the film is still up in the air, <a href="http://powerofthedarkcrystal.blogspot.com/">there is a blog for the project</a> that contains a video of new concept art. <br /><br />Some extra links:
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psRNaqL8tHc&feature=related">Robot Chicken tries to update <em>The Dark Crystal</em></a> for a new audience.
Link to a download of <a href="http://www.darkcrystalthemovie.com/downloads.html"><em>The Dark Crystal</em> font</a> at the bottom this page.
There is also a book of drawings and concept art by Brian Froud - <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2v76DMC-jQ">this SLYT</a> shows the contents of the book in its entirety.post:www.metafilter.com,2010:site.88949Fri, 05 Feb 2010 08:04:49 -0800(Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) OatesdarkcrystaldarkcrystallabyrinthhensonjimhensonfrankozthedarkcrystalpowerofthedarkcrystalthepowerofthedarkcrystalBy: chinston
http://www.metafilter.com/88949/The-Dark-Crystal#2936906
Oh man, the scene where the skeksis are sucking the life-force out of those cute little creatures is right up there with a dying ET lying in the stream bed in my pantheon of childhood nightmares.comment:www.metafilter.com,2010:site.88949-2936906Fri, 05 Feb 2010 08:07:19 -0800chinstonBy: bewilderbeast
http://www.metafilter.com/88949/The-Dark-Crystal#2936926
Oh wow, I am inappropriately excited about this. I watched <i>The Dark Crystal</i> over and over when I was a kid and had a thousand dreams about being one of the skeksis (I was an ambitious and power-mad six-year-old I guess). Now I want to watch it again! Thanks for this post.comment:www.metafilter.com,2010:site.88949-2936926Fri, 05 Feb 2010 08:14:24 -0800bewilderbeastBy: (Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) Oates
http://www.metafilter.com/88949/The-Dark-Crystal#2936929
<em>The Dark Crystal</em> is available on YouTube [part 1 <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KjA2zoUaRFg">here</a>] but the video quality is not great. <em>The Dark Crystal </em>and<em> Labyrinth</em> are both now available on regular DVD and Blu-Ray.comment:www.metafilter.com,2010:site.88949-2936929Fri, 05 Feb 2010 08:17:56 -0800(Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) OatesBy: yeloson
http://www.metafilter.com/88949/The-Dark-Crystal#2936935
The Dark Crystal is still one of my favorite movies ever. It was originally shot all in a made-up language, which I wish was an option on the DVDs.comment:www.metafilter.com,2010:site.88949-2936935Fri, 05 Feb 2010 08:21:20 -0800yelosonBy: yeloson
http://www.metafilter.com/88949/The-Dark-Crystal#2936938
"most favorite" Look, I'm making up my own syntax there! When triple shine the edit function...comment:www.metafilter.com,2010:site.88949-2936938Fri, 05 Feb 2010 08:21:56 -0800yelosonBy: DevilsAdvocate
http://www.metafilter.com/88949/The-Dark-Crystal#2936939
<i>While the status of the film is still up in the air</i>
Prophets don't know everything!comment:www.metafilter.com,2010:site.88949-2936939Fri, 05 Feb 2010 08:22:43 -0800DevilsAdvocateBy: Admiral Haddock
http://www.metafilter.com/88949/The-Dark-Crystal#2936952
When DC came out, a lot of the props and costumes were exhibited in Manhattan. I remember going to see the show--it was totally cool. I may be one of the few MeFites to see gelflings and skeses in person.comment:www.metafilter.com,2010:site.88949-2936952Fri, 05 Feb 2010 08:26:09 -0800Admiral HaddockBy: WolfDaddy
http://www.metafilter.com/88949/The-Dark-Crystal#2936955
The <a href="http://darkcrystal.wikia.com/wiki/Aughra%27s_observatory">orrery</a> that Augrha had was like the coolest thing ever. I still want one.comment:www.metafilter.com,2010:site.88949-2936955Fri, 05 Feb 2010 08:27:53 -0800WolfDaddyBy: Dr.Enormous
http://www.metafilter.com/88949/The-Dark-Crystal#2936966
<i>The Dark Crystal</i> was the first movie we rented on VHS when my mother got a player. It scared the crap out of me. Twenty years later, I got it from Netflix. It still scares the crap out of me.comment:www.metafilter.com,2010:site.88949-2936966Fri, 05 Feb 2010 08:33:14 -0800Dr.EnormousBy: brundlefly
http://www.metafilter.com/88949/The-Dark-Crystal#2936968
I'm happy to see on that blog that the sequel will make use of CG-enhanced animatronics. Last I read about it, rumor had it the film would be completely CG, which sounded like a terrible, lazy idea that would have put it in direct-to-video* territory.
*In the negative sense of the word.comment:www.metafilter.com,2010:site.88949-2936968Fri, 05 Feb 2010 08:33:30 -0800brundleflyBy: edheil
http://www.metafilter.com/88949/The-Dark-Crystal#2936971
Loved Dark Crystal since it came out when I was a kid; still own The World of the Dark Crystal book and it is a prized possession.comment:www.metafilter.com,2010:site.88949-2936971Fri, 05 Feb 2010 08:35:44 -0800edheilBy: Smegoid
http://www.metafilter.com/88949/The-Dark-Crystal#2936975
Nothing to add but love dark crystal. What? Don't give me looks. This is the bloody dark crystal yo. It's extra plus more dark than bergman.
Hands up if you've tried to impress people with your impression of chamberlain. Mmmmmmmmmm?comment:www.metafilter.com,2010:site.88949-2936975Fri, 05 Feb 2010 08:37:16 -0800SmegoidBy: dlugoczaj
http://www.metafilter.com/88949/The-Dark-Crystal#2936985
Adding to the "scared the crap out of me as a child" list. I think I slept with the light on for six months after I saw it.
However, Smegoid--I married someone who has, indeed, tried to impress people with his impression of the Chamberlain. Not sure what that says about me.comment:www.metafilter.com,2010:site.88949-2936985Fri, 05 Feb 2010 08:41:37 -0800dlugoczajBy: PhoBWanKenobi
http://www.metafilter.com/88949/The-Dark-Crystal#2936989
I actually didn't see the Dark Crystal until I was a teenager (we were a Labyrinth family), but I love, love, love it. It's like Labyrinth with out that whiny teenage girl and David Bowie's package to distract you from the <i>magic</i>!comment:www.metafilter.com,2010:site.88949-2936989Fri, 05 Feb 2010 08:43:01 -0800PhoBWanKenobiBy: aacheson
http://www.metafilter.com/88949/The-Dark-Crystal#2936992
Mmmmmmmmm? became part of the lexicon of my family when I saw this when I was a kid. I took my six year old to see it on the big screen a few month ago and now she does it all the time.
Incidentally, the first song on The Crystal Method's "Vegas" album starts with the into from the movie "....the grass was green and good until the crystal cracked....once more they will replinish themselves..cheat death for another day...the power of their source, the crystal.." For years I listened to it and didn't realize that was what it was from until I saw it last month again. Props to The Crystal Method!comment:www.metafilter.com,2010:site.88949-2936992Fri, 05 Feb 2010 08:43:32 -0800aachesonBy: Ghidorah
http://www.metafilter.com/88949/The-Dark-Crystal#2937000
edheil beat me to it, but yeah, there's a copy of The World of the Dark Crystal on the bookshelf behind me. Do you have any idea how hard it is to pick and choose which books to take with you on a transoceanic flight when you've realized that you're going to live overseas for probably the rest of your life? There's only so much room in your carry on, and they're too heavy to check.
The World of the Dark Crystal came over on the first trip. First ballot. The concept art, the tissue thin layovers that show you the various designs within the designs. I loved everything about that movie, from the making of shorts, to the movie itself, to the fact that Aughra is the narrator of the book as well. And that it ends with a full page drawing of Aughra staring at you, saying
"Of the race of Aughra, I was alone, first and last, and this was my song."
Pure genius, each and every person involved with it.comment:www.metafilter.com,2010:site.88949-2937000Fri, 05 Feb 2010 08:47:02 -0800GhidorahBy: phylum sinter
http://www.metafilter.com/88949/The-Dark-Crystal#2937002
There is no movie, in the history of... me... that i have watched, purchased, or spent more time wishing i lived within than the Dark Crystal.
Absolutely gorgeous film. More film makers ought to try and outdo it.comment:www.metafilter.com,2010:site.88949-2937002Fri, 05 Feb 2010 08:47:13 -0800phylum sinterBy: ninjew
http://www.metafilter.com/88949/The-Dark-Crystal#2937008
<i>Everything I've done, I've done for you. I move the stars for no one. </i>comment:www.metafilter.com,2010:site.88949-2937008Fri, 05 Feb 2010 08:51:25 -0800ninjewBy: HumanComplex
http://www.metafilter.com/88949/The-Dark-Crystal#2937011
Genndy Tartakovsky of Samurai Jack fame is directing. Wow.comment:www.metafilter.com,2010:site.88949-2937011Fri, 05 Feb 2010 08:54:30 -0800HumanComplexBy: madajb
http://www.metafilter.com/88949/The-Dark-Crystal#2937017
Puppet sequel. Awesome.
CGI sequel. Lame.comment:www.metafilter.com,2010:site.88949-2937017Fri, 05 Feb 2010 08:59:50 -0800madajbBy: Ghidorah
http://www.metafilter.com/88949/The-Dark-Crystal#2937021
HumanComplex, you just made me happy... I hadn't seen that, and if anything was going to make me edge away from my growing 'let the past be the past' stance, it'd be news like that.
While I know I wouldn't be able to resist the sequel, I'm still nervous that it would have a negative impact on my memories and feelings for the original.comment:www.metafilter.com,2010:site.88949-2937021Fri, 05 Feb 2010 09:00:46 -0800GhidorahBy: The Card Cheat
http://www.metafilter.com/88949/The-Dark-Crystal#2937038
<i>> It's like Labyrinth with out that whiny teenage girl and David Bowie's package to distract you from the magic!</i>
David Bowie's package in Labyrinth has been a running joke of my sister's for 20 years, ever since she watched it (the movie, not the package per se) at a sleepover. Sounds like there were some poor decisions made in the costuming department...comment:www.metafilter.com,2010:site.88949-2937038Fri, 05 Feb 2010 09:09:59 -0800The Card CheatBy: TrialByMedia
http://www.metafilter.com/88949/The-Dark-Crystal#2937041
I loved this movie as a kid, even though it terrified me.comment:www.metafilter.com,2010:site.88949-2937041Fri, 05 Feb 2010 09:11:07 -0800TrialByMediaBy: mcwetboy
http://www.metafilter.com/88949/The-Dark-Crystal#2937051
Never mind the effects or the CG-vs.-puppetry, what about the story? How the hell did they come up with a decent storyline for a <i>Dark Crystal</i> sequel? I mean, at the end of the first movie,[1] the crystal isn't exactly <em>dark</em> any more. What are they going to do, break it <em>again</em>? (See also the hey-let's-build-<em>another</em>-Death-Star gambit, or the entire premise of Disney's direct-to-DVD sequels.)
<small>[1] Don't give me shit about spoilers, fuckos; it came out 28 years ago.</small>comment:www.metafilter.com,2010:site.88949-2937051Fri, 05 Feb 2010 09:13:29 -0800mcwetboyBy: PhoBWanKenobi
http://www.metafilter.com/88949/The-Dark-Crystal#2937052
<b>The Card Cheat</b>, you've never seen it? <a href="http://ivealwaysbeenhere.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/6a00e55396b685883301053721a61a970b-800wi.jpg">Take a gander</a>.comment:www.metafilter.com,2010:site.88949-2937052Fri, 05 Feb 2010 09:13:35 -0800PhoBWanKenobiBy: emjaybee
http://www.metafilter.com/88949/The-Dark-Crystal#2937057
See, I have a 4-year-old, and a copy of this movie, and judging from all the "I loved it and it scared me stupid as a kid!" comments...I am not going to combine the two just yet. He's scared of random bugs that are two rooms away ("Squish it Mama!"). I don't need to introduce soul-sucking Skekses yet.
...or giant spiders...or Aughra...yeek.
Maybe he'll be ready by the time the sequel comes out. I think I was 12 or something when I saw it, so I can't judge.comment:www.metafilter.com,2010:site.88949-2937057Fri, 05 Feb 2010 09:18:32 -0800emjaybeeBy: Theta States
http://www.metafilter.com/88949/The-Dark-Crystal#2937061
I was terrified by this movie as well, but felt compulsion to watch it.
It wasn't as terrifying as The Neverending Story, however.
And Labyrinth? I still rock out to Dance Magic Dance.comment:www.metafilter.com,2010:site.88949-2937061Fri, 05 Feb 2010 09:19:55 -0800Theta StatesBy: Astro Zombie
http://www.metafilter.com/88949/The-Dark-Crystal#2937065
<em>It's like Labyrinth with out that whiny teenage girl and David Bowie's package to distract you from the magic!</em>
David Bowie's package was the magic.comment:www.metafilter.com,2010:site.88949-2937065Fri, 05 Feb 2010 09:21:56 -0800Astro ZombieBy: ExitPursuedByBear
http://www.metafilter.com/88949/The-Dark-Crystal#2937072
My short lived metal band in High School was "Fizzgig."
I guess a fluffy ball of muppet from a kids movie, doesn't really project menace as much as we had hoped.comment:www.metafilter.com,2010:site.88949-2937072Fri, 05 Feb 2010 09:24:51 -0800ExitPursuedByBearBy: quin
http://www.metafilter.com/88949/The-Dark-Crystal#2937073
The <em>Dark Crystal</em> has had an enduring impact on my in that, to this day, I still refer to pets acting crazy as "doing a Fizzgig".
<small>I've often wondered how much of origins of the Furry culture today can be traced to people finding the Gelflings attractive as kids.</small>comment:www.metafilter.com,2010:site.88949-2937073Fri, 05 Feb 2010 09:28:40 -0800quinBy: vibrotronica
http://www.metafilter.com/88949/The-Dark-Crystal#2937075
<em>Genndy Tartakovsky of Samurai Jack fame is directing.</em>
I just went from "meh" to "yeah!"comment:www.metafilter.com,2010:site.88949-2937075Fri, 05 Feb 2010 09:29:22 -0800vibrotronicaBy: The Card Cheat
http://www.metafilter.com/88949/The-Dark-Crystal#2937092
<i>> The Card Cheat, you've never seen it? Take a gander.</i>
*moment of silence*
I guess they were hoping audiences would be too distracted by that wig to notice anything else.comment:www.metafilter.com,2010:site.88949-2937092Fri, 05 Feb 2010 09:40:02 -0800The Card CheatBy: usonian
http://www.metafilter.com/88949/The-Dark-Crystal#2937098
I could see a <em>Dark Crystal</em> sequel working in the same way that 'Return to Oz' did... technically a sequel set in the same universe, even with some of the same characters, but without being overly slavish to the original.
I wonder what the odds are of such a film being CGI-free.comment:www.metafilter.com,2010:site.88949-2937098Fri, 05 Feb 2010 09:43:31 -0800usonianBy: Civil_Disobedient
http://www.metafilter.com/88949/The-Dark-Crystal#2937106
<i>I am not going to combine the two just yet.</i>
Do you not see all the love and fond reminiscence here? That's <b><i>because</i></b> their parents let them see the damned movie when they were still impressionable.
Parents these days.comment:www.metafilter.com,2010:site.88949-2937106Fri, 05 Feb 2010 09:49:57 -0800Civil_DisobedientBy: Civil_Disobedient
http://www.metafilter.com/88949/The-Dark-Crystal#2937109
Also, the <i>Dark Crystal</i> fucking rules. That is all.comment:www.metafilter.com,2010:site.88949-2937109Fri, 05 Feb 2010 09:50:35 -0800Civil_DisobedientBy: cavalier
http://www.metafilter.com/88949/The-Dark-Crystal#2937116
The Dark Crystal rules.
And dude, (Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) Oates? That is like the most amazing handle ever. If I could favorite your name I would do so 5 times.comment:www.metafilter.com,2010:site.88949-2937116Fri, 05 Feb 2010 09:54:32 -0800cavalierBy: aldurtregi
http://www.metafilter.com/88949/The-Dark-Crystal#2937118
I think a little CGI enhancement could be a good thing. I just rewatched the movie and while the puppets and puppetry are almost entirely wonderful, so expressive and alive, the Gelflings themselves are oddly stilted and their faces feel too inexpressive.comment:www.metafilter.com,2010:site.88949-2937118Fri, 05 Feb 2010 09:55:31 -0800aldurtregiBy: dlugoczaj
http://www.metafilter.com/88949/The-Dark-Crystal#2937119
<em>That's because their parents let them see the damned movie when they were still impressionable.</em>
Yeah, but I was EIGHT, and still impressionable. emjaybee's kid is FOUR. Huge difference, and she's absolutely right about waiting several years, IMHO.comment:www.metafilter.com,2010:site.88949-2937119Fri, 05 Feb 2010 09:56:07 -0800dlugoczajBy: The World Famous
http://www.metafilter.com/88949/The-Dark-Crystal#2937127
I loved the Dark Crystal when I saw it as a kid when it first came out. Then I tried to watch it as an adult and oh. my. gosh. it's. the. longest. most. boring. movie. ever.
<small>(But still awesome and scary.)</small>comment:www.metafilter.com,2010:site.88949-2937127Fri, 05 Feb 2010 10:00:48 -0800The World FamousBy: immlass
http://www.metafilter.com/88949/The-Dark-Crystal#2937138
I've never seen either Labyrinth or the Dark Crystal, and I'm kind of scared to watch them now. I know a lot of films are best when seen at a magic age and I'm no longer at that magic age. I've seen so many films that were billed as great that proved out to be lame to my adult self that it's hard to overcome that reluctance. Which is not to say Labyrinth and the Dark Crystal aren't great movies, just that I don't know how they'll stand up to my ubercritical adult self picking at them without the fond halo of youthful memory to protect them.comment:www.metafilter.com,2010:site.88949-2937138Fri, 05 Feb 2010 10:07:08 -0800immlassBy: jabberjaw
http://www.metafilter.com/88949/The-Dark-Crystal#2937145
<em>Labyrinth</em> actually began a long crush on Jennifer Connelly for me, which was rekindled with <em>The Rocketeer</em>, and more importantly, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0101545/"><em>Career Opportunities</em></a>.
This once-innocent childhood infatuation was promptly crushed after watching <em>Requiem for a Dream</em>.comment:www.metafilter.com,2010:site.88949-2937145Fri, 05 Feb 2010 10:14:05 -0800jabberjawBy: (Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) Oates
http://www.metafilter.com/88949/The-Dark-Crystal#2937148
immlass:
Just as a data point, I recently watched both <em>The Dark Crystal</em> and<em> The Neverending Story</em> - two films I adored as a child. <em>The Dark Crystal</em> held up surprisingly well (to me at least - obviously that's not true for everyone, including The World Famous, natch), but <em>The Neverending Story</em> was absolutely heartbreakingly thin and boring compared to how I remembered it and it really did, kinda, sorta, ruin the perfectly imagined piece of cinema I had been carrying around in my head. But if you enjoy the kind of inventive puppetry that Henson was known for, I think you'll still like <em>The Dark Crystal </em>even if the story is a bit of a LoTR ripoff.comment:www.metafilter.com,2010:site.88949-2937148Fri, 05 Feb 2010 10:14:39 -0800(Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) OatesBy: steef
http://www.metafilter.com/88949/The-Dark-Crystal#2937149
The Skeksis: those dudes are craaa-zy assholes.comment:www.metafilter.com,2010:site.88949-2937149Fri, 05 Feb 2010 10:15:06 -0800steefBy: immlass
http://www.metafilter.com/88949/The-Dark-Crystal#2937160
AHWO: Thanks, that's actually useful to know. I'll keep it in mind when we clear out some room in our Netflix queue.comment:www.metafilter.com,2010:site.88949-2937160Fri, 05 Feb 2010 10:18:14 -0800immlassBy: rodgerd
http://www.metafilter.com/88949/The-Dark-Crystal#2937172
<i>Just as a data point, I recently watched both The Dark Crystal and The Neverending Story - two films I adored as a child. The Dark Crystal held up surprisingly well </i>
Funny, I had the opposite experience. The Dark Crystal was great visually, but the acting... ugh. It's like someone condensed all of Mark Hamill's whining from Star Wars and put it into one puppet.
Conversely, I was surprised much fun Labyrinth still is.comment:www.metafilter.com,2010:site.88949-2937172Fri, 05 Feb 2010 10:26:03 -0800rodgerdBy: brundlefly
http://www.metafilter.com/88949/The-Dark-Crystal#2937176
<a href="http://www.metafilter.com/88949/The-Dark-Crystal#2937118">aldurtregi</a>: "<i>I think a little CGI enhancement could be a good thing.</i>"
I still haven't seen it, but the titular creatures in the "Where the Wild Things Are" movie are a mixture of (Henson's) puppetry and CG, and are apparently pretty remarkable. That's also one of things I love about Guillermo Del Toro: he loves to augment his practical FX with subtle CG.comment:www.metafilter.com,2010:site.88949-2937176Fri, 05 Feb 2010 10:28:23 -0800brundleflyBy: brundlefly
http://www.metafilter.com/88949/The-Dark-Crystal#2937179
MetaFilter: like someone condensed all of Mark Hamill's whining from Star Wars and put it into one puppetcomment:www.metafilter.com,2010:site.88949-2937179Fri, 05 Feb 2010 10:28:55 -0800brundleflyBy: Sparx
http://www.metafilter.com/88949/The-Dark-Crystal#2937242
Play the Apple II Dark Crystal Hi Res* Adventure in your <a href="http://www.virtualapple.org/darkcrystaldisk.html">browser</a>, by Gelfling hand, or else by none!
<small>*for values of Hi Res current in 1984 - and don't forget to rock with your CAPS LOCK</small>comment:www.metafilter.com,2010:site.88949-2937242Fri, 05 Feb 2010 10:55:01 -0800SparxBy: blahblahblah
http://www.metafilter.com/88949/The-Dark-Crystal#2937246
For every ninth birthday, I have had a Dark Crystal watching party, each in a different media.
I saw the Dark Crystal in theaters for my ninth birthday, on VHS for my 18th, and on DVD for my 27th. I was really, really hoping to see the sequel for my 36th, next year, but it looks like I may have to go with the Blu-Ray version instead. But, there better be a sequel in the next 9 years.
Or a musical.comment:www.metafilter.com,2010:site.88949-2937246Fri, 05 Feb 2010 10:57:21 -0800blahblahblahBy: spikeleemajortomdickandharryconnickjrmints
http://www.metafilter.com/88949/The-Dark-Crystal#2937314
all girls have wingscomment:www.metafilter.com,2010:site.88949-2937314Fri, 05 Feb 2010 11:27:22 -0800spikeleemajortomdickandharryconnickjrmintsBy: six-or-six-thirty
http://www.metafilter.com/88949/The-Dark-Crystal#2937334
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlyZakylqyk&feature=related">This</a> 'Sweded' version of The Labyrinth is one of my favorite things ever, originally in the <a href="http://www.filmmakingfrenzy.com/">filmmaking frenzy</a> contest. Seems like the right place to put it.comment:www.metafilter.com,2010:site.88949-2937334Fri, 05 Feb 2010 11:36:14 -0800six-or-six-thirtyBy: Atreides
http://www.metafilter.com/88949/The-Dark-Crystal#2937354
I would have been three when Dark Crystal came out, so unless it was re-released in the 80's I suppose my first viewing of it was on VHS. Regardless, I loved it. We taped it off of HBO or something at one point, and we still have that copy somewhere in the basement. While I remember many parts of the movie, there are parts that just stuck out in my mind. The long-legged rabbit creatures, the Skeksis and yes, the "MmmmMMMMmmmm...!" The scene that for some reason haunted me as a child was the scene in Aughra's observator when the Garthim come crashing through and our gelflin hero flees with the building in flames behind him. I was also bothered by the crystal bats for some reason. There was something also about how Aughra saving Fizzgig with the pitch fork like thing. On top of all of these, the music resonated with me.
Incidentally, the Skeksis sort of have a re-birth in Farscape as <a href="http://farscape.wikia.com/wiki/Halosians">Halosians</a>. (Farscape offering another example of what puppetry can still accomplish in our CG age.)
Lastly, Labyrinth was one of those spectacular childhood favorites. The only scenes I didn't really care for were the ones involving the baby. Enough with the babe, I don't care about its power!comment:www.metafilter.com,2010:site.88949-2937354Fri, 05 Feb 2010 11:49:48 -0800AtreidesBy: madajb
http://www.metafilter.com/88949/The-Dark-Crystal#2937359
<strong>jabberjaw</strong> -
Totally with you on the Jennifer Connelley thing.
I had no idea what a Target was, but I sure as hell wanted to work there!comment:www.metafilter.com,2010:site.88949-2937359Fri, 05 Feb 2010 11:52:12 -0800madajbBy: Dormant Gorilla
http://www.metafilter.com/88949/The-Dark-Crystal#2937405
I STILL can't watch the Dark Crystal. It scares the crap out of me. That sound the Skeksis make goes right through my head like a waking nightmare. But even the Gelflings freak me out-they just look and move like jittery little melted people and I can barely look at them. Maybe it's an uncanny valley thing, but I'm just seriously creeped out on such a basic level that I'm not exaggerating when I say I am unable to watch it. Which is weird, because I love Labyrinth, and the only thing in it that gives me the same reaction is the Fieries-I have to leave the room when they come in. Although maybe I was so distracted by David Bowie's pants that I didn't have a chance to develop labryrinth muppet fear.
Maybe it's just bird-looking muppets? Pointy-faced muppets? I don't know. There's just some kind of wrongness there that makes me need to hide in a closet.comment:www.metafilter.com,2010:site.88949-2937405Fri, 05 Feb 2010 12:17:16 -0800Dormant GorillaBy: quin
http://www.metafilter.com/88949/The-Dark-Crystal#2937416
<em>...distracted by David Bowie's pants...</em>
In all fairness, Bowie's pants have been distracting people of all genders and sexual orientations for decades now. The man is indeed a powerful and sorcerous goblin king.comment:www.metafilter.com,2010:site.88949-2937416Fri, 05 Feb 2010 12:22:17 -0800quinBy: incessant
http://www.metafilter.com/88949/The-Dark-Crystal#2937430
I read the Genndy Tartakovsky/Scott Stewart draft of the script from 2006, before it was rewritten by Craig Pearce. It's a lot of fun. It introduces a race of creatures called firelings who live in the hollowed interior of the planet. The star in the center of the planet keeps them alive (and aflame!) but the star is going out. They need a shard of the Dark Crystal to relight the star. Aughra is in a lot of the script; she hasn't changed at all. Jen and Kira, rulers of the land now, are asleep during most of the story, stuck in a dreamworld. The Dark Crystal is broken midway through, splitting the Urskeks back into Mystics and Skekses, which is sorta fantastic. It's all pretty great, although I was disappointed that so much of the story was set underground and in confined spaces, which eliminates some of the grandeur and scope and scale of the first film. The script did a phenomenal job at getting bleak, a tone I don't think enough modern kids movies capture (Pixar, I'm looking at you). All-in, the script gave me high hopes.comment:www.metafilter.com,2010:site.88949-2937430Fri, 05 Feb 2010 12:33:04 -0800incessantBy: The Card Cheat
http://www.metafilter.com/88949/The-Dark-Crystal#2937454
Okay, so I forwarded <a href="http://www.metafilter.com/88949/The-Dark-Crystal#2937092">PhoBWanKenobi's comment</a> to my <a href="http://www.metafilter.com/88949/The-Dark-Crystal#2937038">aforementioned sister</a>, and this is the email I got in response:
"I told you, his package should have gotten second billing in that movie. I swear it looked me right in the eye."comment:www.metafilter.com,2010:site.88949-2937454Fri, 05 Feb 2010 12:44:57 -0800The Card CheatBy: emjaybee
http://www.metafilter.com/88949/The-Dark-Crystal#2937465
For all of you <em>Neverending Story </em>types, did you know that it's based on a book by Michael Ende, a German author? That has a whole other second half not used in the movie?
The book is pretty awesome, read that instead of watching the movie again.
And he also wrote another book called <em>Momo </em>that's equally weird/awesome.comment:www.metafilter.com,2010:site.88949-2937465Fri, 05 Feb 2010 12:49:24 -0800emjaybeeBy: asperity
http://www.metafilter.com/88949/The-Dark-Crystal#2937476
I can't believe nobody's linked <a href="http://www.areaology.com/area.html">Areaology</a> yet.comment:www.metafilter.com,2010:site.88949-2937476Fri, 05 Feb 2010 12:57:07 -0800asperityBy: KirkJobSluder
http://www.metafilter.com/88949/The-Dark-Crystal#2937495
Perhaps it's just me, but I see a direct link between Dark Crystal and Avatar. Henson and Froud went over the top in giving us an alien world in which we could take very little for granted. That attention to scenic detail was beyond what most other science fiction/fantasy directors were doing at the time. Heck, Lucas even punted by using familiar creepy-crawlies on the Dagobah set. Avatar shares that attention to scenic and biological detail.comment:www.metafilter.com,2010:site.88949-2937495Fri, 05 Feb 2010 13:11:09 -0800KirkJobSluderBy: KirkJobSluder
http://www.metafilter.com/88949/The-Dark-Crystal#2937514
Making-of footage of Dark Crystal is fun to watch because Froud and Henson appear to have a creative and intellectual love-fest of a collaboration going on. It's really kind of sweet and unusual compared to similar works.comment:www.metafilter.com,2010:site.88949-2937514Fri, 05 Feb 2010 13:30:44 -0800KirkJobSluderBy: six-or-six-thirty
http://www.metafilter.com/88949/The-Dark-Crystal#2937548
Atreides:
The Skeksis are basically alive and well in World of Warcraft, too, with the <a href="http://www.wowwiki.com/Arakkoa">Arakkoa</a>, whose capitol city is called 'Skettis'. They even kind of make the noise and have that creepy, twitchy stance. I could unfortunately not find suitable video/audio.comment:www.metafilter.com,2010:site.88949-2937548Fri, 05 Feb 2010 13:56:32 -0800six-or-six-thirtyBy: six-or-six-thirty
http://www.metafilter.com/88949/The-Dark-Crystal#2937550
Oh my god I meant 'capital'. I'm sorry, MeFi.comment:www.metafilter.com,2010:site.88949-2937550Fri, 05 Feb 2010 13:57:19 -0800six-or-six-thirtyBy: quin
http://www.metafilter.com/88949/The-Dark-Crystal#2937558
<small>It's too late for "Sorry". Get into this chair and stare into this pinkish light. Your life force energy will keep the rest of us young for years to come.</small>comment:www.metafilter.com,2010:site.88949-2937558Fri, 05 Feb 2010 14:03:46 -0800quinBy: Biblio
http://www.metafilter.com/88949/The-Dark-Crystal#2937606
Speaking of Bowie's Magical Package, <a href="http://thatguywiththeglasses.com/videolinks/thedudette/nostalgia-chick/5570-labyrinth">this video</a> cracked me up mightily.comment:www.metafilter.com,2010:site.88949-2937606Fri, 05 Feb 2010 14:43:05 -0800BiblioBy: nosila
http://www.metafilter.com/88949/The-Dark-Crystal#2937637
<em>Enough with the babe, I don't care about its power!</em>
What power?comment:www.metafilter.com,2010:site.88949-2937637Fri, 05 Feb 2010 15:15:11 -0800nosilaBy: PhoBWanKenobi
http://www.metafilter.com/88949/The-Dark-Crystal#2937758
Power of the voodoo!comment:www.metafilter.com,2010:site.88949-2937758Fri, 05 Feb 2010 16:26:23 -0800PhoBWanKenobiBy: obiwanwasabi
http://www.metafilter.com/88949/The-Dark-Crystal#2937835
Who do?comment:www.metafilter.com,2010:site.88949-2937835Fri, 05 Feb 2010 17:53:23 -0800obiwanwasabiBy: spikeleemajortomdickandharryconnickjrmints
http://www.metafilter.com/88949/The-Dark-Crystal#2937846
You docomment:www.metafilter.com,2010:site.88949-2937846Fri, 05 Feb 2010 18:11:53 -0800spikeleemajortomdickandharryconnickjrmintsBy: KathrynT
http://www.metafilter.com/88949/The-Dark-Crystal#2937851
What?comment:www.metafilter.com,2010:site.88949-2937851Fri, 05 Feb 2010 18:16:02 -0800KathrynTBy: aetg
http://www.metafilter.com/88949/The-Dark-Crystal#2937897
Remind me of the babe!comment:www.metafilter.com,2010:site.88949-2937897Fri, 05 Feb 2010 19:10:49 -0800aetgBy: jb
http://www.metafilter.com/88949/The-Dark-Crystal#2937999
I very much second the original book for Never-ending story fans. It doesn't have the awesome title song, but there is so much that got cut from the movie which is rich and wonderful in the book -- plus the second half which was so poorly adapted in the sequel.
And no one should diss Bowie for anything in Labyrinth. Magic Dance made it all perfect. Though not as weird and wonderful as the Dark Crystal. I, too, am baffled as to how a sequel would work. And I also think that such imaginative world creation is wasted on the 2 hour feature format. If they were going to go back to that world, it would be better as a 10 hour miniseries or similar.comment:www.metafilter.com,2010:site.88949-2937999Fri, 05 Feb 2010 21:15:12 -0800jbBy: ikahime
http://www.metafilter.com/88949/The-Dark-Crystal#2938090
nosila thru aetg: you are my new heroes.comment:www.metafilter.com,2010:site.88949-2938090Fri, 05 Feb 2010 23:18:49 -0800ikahimeBy: Ghidorah
http://www.metafilter.com/88949/The-Dark-Crystal#2938110
brundlefly, I just saw Where the Wild Things Are last night (it was... okay. Would have been a stunning short film) and the CG of the faces was unnoticeable. At the end, just the expression of Carol made me cry, and I caught myself wondering how they could get a puppet face to deliver such perfect emotion. Really, that good.
Since that was done by the Hensons, I imagine they could do something pretty special with puppetry and cg if there was a sequel.comment:www.metafilter.com,2010:site.88949-2938110Fri, 05 Feb 2010 23:52:57 -0800GhidorahBy: Vavuzi
http://www.metafilter.com/88949/The-Dark-Crystal#2938152
Odd. This past week at work, we've been discussing our favorite films from childhood. I mentioned both Dark Crystal and Labyrinth, as well as the fact that I once dated a guy because he had a Pomeranian named Fizzgigg. I admit it: I'm easy. My tastes, however, have matured. Now I'm looking for <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lfv1Jx3_PRs">Cary Grant.</a>comment:www.metafilter.com,2010:site.88949-2938152Sat, 06 Feb 2010 00:50:19 -0800VavuziBy: pearlybob
http://www.metafilter.com/88949/The-Dark-Crystal#2938241
Amazon has all three on Blu-Ray, packaged together, one low price!!
Win!!!comment:www.metafilter.com,2010:site.88949-2938241Sat, 06 Feb 2010 07:22:24 -0800pearlybobBy: hippybear
http://www.metafilter.com/88949/The-Dark-Crystal#2938478
<em>I very much second the original book for Never-ending story fans. It doesn't have the awesome title song, but there is so much that got cut from the movie which is rich and wonderful in the book</em>
Not the least of which is that it is a book about the wonder of reading books, is done is two colors of type to distinguish between the two layers of reality present in the book, and my favorite trick of all... each chapter begins with the next consecutive letter of the alphabet. Even better -- the English translation of the German text pulls off that same excellent literary trick.
It's a really great book. One of the few novels I've read in two languages, and I recommend it highly in any language.comment:www.metafilter.com,2010:site.88949-2938478Sat, 06 Feb 2010 12:19:23 -0800hippybearBy: Askr
http://www.metafilter.com/88949/The-Dark-Crystal#2938614
SKEKSIS GONNA WHIP THAT ASS THIS TIME, GELFLINGS!comment:www.metafilter.com,2010:site.88949-2938614Sat, 06 Feb 2010 15:28:19 -0800AskrBy: Sparx
http://www.metafilter.com/88949/The-Dark-Crystal#2939177
<em>SKEKSIS GONNA WHIP THAT ASS THIS TIME, GELFLINGS!</em>
Of course not. You're a boy.comment:www.metafilter.com,2010:site.88949-2939177Sun, 07 Feb 2010 11:49:15 -0800Sparx
¡°Why?¡± asked Larry, in his practical way. "Sergeant," admonished the Lieutenant, "you mustn't use such language to your men." "Yes," accorded Shorty; "we'll git some rations from camp by this evenin'. Cap will look out for that. Meanwhile, I'll take out two or three o' the boys on a scout into the country, to see if we can't pick up something to eat." Marvor, however, didn't seem satisfied. "The masters always speak truth," he said. "Is this what you tell me?" MRS. B.: Why are they let, then? My song is short. I am near the dead. So Albert's letter remained unanswered¡ªCaro felt that Reuben was unjust. She had grown very critical of him lately, and a smarting dislike coloured her [Pg 337]judgments. After all, it was he who had driven everybody to whatever it was that had disgraced him. He was to blame for Robert's theft, for Albert's treachery, for Richard's base dependence on the Bardons, for George's death, for Benjamin's disappearance, for Tilly's marriage, for Rose's elopement¡ªit was a heavy load, but Caro put the whole of it on Reuben's shoulders, and added, moreover, the tragedy of her own warped life. He was a tyrant, who sucked his children's blood, and cursed them when they succeeded in breaking free. "Tell my lord," said Calverley, "I will attend him instantly." HoME²Ô¾®¿Õ·¬ºÅѸÀ×Á´½Ó
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