The Dark Crystal Review

The Dark Crystal


Release Date: 22nd April 1983 - Australia


Production Companies
Incorporated Television Company (ITC) (presents)

Henson Organisation
Henson Associates (HA)

Distribution
Sony Pictures Australia


Genre: Fantasy/Family

Rating: G

Runtime: 93 minutes


Budget: $25,000,000

Box Office Gross: $44,625,778 (Worldwide)


Plot Summary

In another world from another time, in the age of wonder, ravaged by the tyrannical race of the Skeksis. Now, a young orphaned Gelfing named Jen must end the Skeksis' power and restore balance by using a shard that would heal the Dark Crystal.


Performers
Jim Henson - Jen/SkekSo the Emperor
Kathryn Mullen - Jen/Kira
Frank Oz - Aughra/SkekSil
the Chamberlain/The Podlings

Jerry Nelson - SkekZok the Ritual Master

Kiran Shah - The Body of Jen, Kira and Aughra
Dave Goelz - SkekUng the
Garthim Master/Fizzgig
Steve Whitmire - SkekTek the Scientist
Brian Muehl - UrZah the

Ritual Guardian/UrSu the

Master/SkekEktt the Ornamentalist

Bob Payne - SkekOk the Scroll Keeper
Louise Gold - SkekAyuk the Gourmand
Mike Quinn - SkekNa the Slave Master
Tim Rose - SkekShod the Treasurer
David Greenway - Urlm/
Healer

Voice Cast
Stephen Garlick - Jen
Lisa Maxwell - Kira
Billie Whitelaw - Aughra
Percy Edwards - Fizzgig
Barry Dennen - SkekSkil the Chamberlain/Podling
Michael Kilgariff - SkekUng the Garthim Master
Sean Barrett - UrZah the Ritual Guardian

Jerry Nelson - SkekSo the Emperor
John Baddeley - SkekOk the Scroll Keeper
Thick Wilson - SkekAyuk the Gourmand
David Buck - SkekNa the Slave Master
Charles Collingwood - SkekShod the Treasurer
Joseph O'Conor - Narrator/Unglm


Crew
Story/Producer/Director - Jim Henson
Director - Frank Oz
Screenplay - David Odell

Associate Producer: Henson Organisation -
Duncan Kenworthy

Associate Producer - Bruce Sharman

Executive Producers - David Lazer
and Lew Grade

Assistant to Executive Producer - Martin G. Baker

Producer/Second Unit Director - Gary Kurtz
Conceptual/Creature/Costume Designer -
Brian Froud
Production Designer - Harry Lange

Supervising Art Director - Charles Bishop

Art Directors - Brian & Terry Ackland-Snow

and Malcolm Stone

Assistant Art Directors - Richard Dawking,

Fred Evans and Katharina Kubrick

Sketch Artists - Michael G. Ploog,

Denis Rich and Bill Stallion

Draftsmen - Michael Boone, Roger Bowles,

Reg Bream, Richard Holland, Don Dossett,

Jim Morahan and Alan Ross

Set Decorator - Peter Young
Direcror of Photography - Oswald Morris

Operating Cameraman - Derek V. Browne

Production Manager - Philip Kohler

First Assistant Director - Dusty Symonds

Second Assistant Director - Christopher Newman

Assistant Director: Second Unit - Vincent Winter

Choreography & Mime Training - Jean-Pierre Amiel

Creative Supervisor: Creature Development/
Creature Design and Fabrication Supervisor:

"Mystics", "Podlings" and "Slaves" - Sherry Amott

Creature Design and Fabrication Supervisor:
"Gelfing" - Wendy Midener

Creature Design and Fabrication Supervisor:
"Skeksis", "Aughra" and "Urseks" - Lyle Conway

Creature Design and Fabrication Supervisor:
"Skeksis" - Sarah Bradpiece

Creature Design and Fabrication Supervisor:
"Garthim" - Fred Nihda

Creature Design and Fabrication Supervisor:
"Fizzgig" - Rollin Krewson

Creature Design and Fabrication Supervisor:
"Landstriders" - Valerie Charlton

Creature Design and Fabrication Supervisor:
"Mystics" - Tim Clarke

Creature Design and Fabrication Supervisors:
"Environmental Creatures" - Tim Miller and

John Coppinger

Special Mechanical Design - Bob Baldwin,

Tad Krzanowski and John Stephenson

Mechanical Effects Supervisor: Production

Effects Unit - Ian Wingrove

Wire Effects: Production Effects Unit -

Robert Harman

Special Visual Effects/Director: Miniature Effects

Unit - Brian Smithies
Special Visual Effects - Roy Field

Director of Photography: Miniature Effects Unit -

Paul Wilson

Camera Operator: Miniature Effects Unit -

John Morgan

Camera Assistants: Miniature Effects Unit -

Johanna Abey and Jonathan Taylor

Scenic Matte Paintings: ILM - Christopher Evans

and Michael Pangrazio

Scenic Matte Photography: ILM - Neil Krepela

Scenic Matte Photography Assistant: ILM -

Craig Barron

Film Editor - Ralph Kemplen

Special Sound Effects Creator - Ben Burtt

Production Sound - Peter Sutton,

Robert Taylor and Don Wortham

Re-Recording - Bill Rowe

Foley Editor - Campbell Askew
Music/Synthesised Electronic Sounds -

Trevor Jones


Review
THE DARK CRYSTAL takes on a dark and mysterious atmosphere of a fantasy world that doesn't include human characters with unique puppetry and a simple plot that makes it the most imaginative picture, thanks to Muppet maker Jim Henson. When the film came out, critics misunderstood it as they were unkind to its darker and more dramatic tone in contrast to the whimsical and lighthearted feel of Henson's previous movies that featured the Muppets. Nowadays, it has a cult following and gained a positive critical re-evaluation. It's packed with everything, including beautiful landscapes, interesting characters like the Mystics and the evil Skeksis, and a powerful music score by Trevor Jones. What makes it more interesting is Brian Froud's design of the characters, which brought them to life.

For an unforgettable classic like THE DARK CRYSTAL, I loved it because it was an epic fantasy film that contained a spirit of significance. It is enjoyable for fans of Henson's work.

Star rating: (5/5) Best Movie Ever

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