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Dark Crystal/Labyrinth [1982]
![Dark Crystal/Labyrinth [1982]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51B8YSusOyL._SL160_.jpg)
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Fantasy come to... life?
Review date: 2008-07-29 Rating: 10 out of 10
Of course, we all remember Jim Henson for bringing us those fuzzy, adorable animal puppets and their kooky variety show.
But Henson also produced some very memorable, intriguing fantasy films, full of otherworldly beauty, humor and a distinctly horrific note at times. This two-pack brings together the quirky, dreamlike coming-of-age tale "Labyrinth" and the exquisite, otherworldly, horrific "Dark Crystal," both of which were swimming with very unique Henson creations.
"Labyrinth" becomes a problem for teenage Sarah, who is stuck babysitting her crying baby stepbrother, but would prefer to stay in her romantic, fantastical daydreams instead. When she idly wished that the goblins would steal him, she never expected goblins to appear and snatch him away -- or that the Goblin King Jareth (David Bowie) would challenge her if she tries to get her brother back.
He gives Sarah thirteen hours to navigate a changing, hazardous maze, with Jareth's castle at the center of it -- and endless bizarre perils along the way. To find her way, she will have to befriend strange creatures and avoid lethal bogs, nasty fairies, head-jugglers, and finally the clever, eerie Jareth himself -- or her brother will be turned into a goblin as well.
"The Dark Crystal" is the heart of this movie, where on another world, there are two strange races that appeared one thouysand years ago -- the enormous, gentle, peaceful Mystics, and the nasty, vulture-like, vicious Skekses who ruin the surrounding lands. They are somehow connected to a massive crystal that was broken a thousand years ago, and now a shard is missing from it. What's more, three suns are about to come into conjunction, and the shard has to be back in place when that happens.
The Mystics have cared for one of the last Gelflings, an orphan named Jen whom they rescued from the insectile Garthim. As the conjunction approaches, they send him out to find the lost shard. Along the way, Jen gains the crystal shard for himself, and meets the only other living Gelfling, Kira. Now they must both evade the Skekses' Garthim henchmen and bat-winged spies, and somehow infiltrate their castle. But what will happen when the suns line up, and the crystal is completed?
Both "Labyrinth" and "Dark Crystal" are well-crafted, well-deserved classics, even though they are wildly different kinds of fantasy stories -- one is all about wanting to be swept into a fantasy world, and the other is about the perils of one such world. And they're coming-of-age stories, whether for a teenage girl or a Gelfling -- both focus on pursuing something that can save what is important to you.
But they are quite different in tone -- "Labyrinth" is goofier and a bit more childlike, with the fox chevalier and the bouncing heads among others. On the other hand, "Dark Crystal" aims at portraying a truly alien world, and Brian Froud's slightly weird designs make it seem so -- strange swamp reptiles, colorful anemones, vast crystalline castles, desiccated vulture-like creature, shrieking fuzzballs, and gorgeous forests full of strange plants and animals. Not to mention the abrasive, lumpy witch Aughra, who's an absolute riot.
Additionally, "Dark Crystal" also has the honor of being the first major movie to entirely star puppets, with nary a human being in sight -- some of those puppets still walk in a herky-jerky Muppet manner, but their design is utterly detailed and believable, from Jen's sort-of-human, fawnlike features to the vast four-armed Mystics, and the rattling armored Garthim soldiers. And the special effects end up being pretty spectacular, especially during the climax.
By comparison, "Labyrinth" has a few special effects snags, but it rarely detracts from the visual grandeur and creepiness of the maze. A then-teenaged Jennifer Connelly gives a solid, mature performance as a young girl whose reckless wish threw her in over her head, and David Bowie perfectly brings across the Goblin King's ruthlessness and chilliness, while also giving him a warmth and affection at times.
"Labyrinth" and "The Dark Crystal" are among the better fantasy movies ever made, and definitely among the most striking. Utterly fantastical and very endearing.
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Product Details/Specifications
Actor(s):
David Bowie
Lisa Maxwell
Stephen Garlick
Jennifer Connelly
Creators:
David Bowie (Primary Contributor)
Jennifer Connelly (Primary Contributor)
Director(s):
Recording label: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
EAN: 5035822734111
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 2
Format: Box set, PAL, Special Edition,
Release date: 2007-11-12
Audience rating: Parental Guidance
Region code: 2
Running time: 186 minutes
Theatrical release date: 1982