The Dark Crystal

The just announced sequel to The Dark Crystal, The Power of the Dark Crystal, got me thinking that it was time to re-visit the original film. The performances are staggeringly good. Sitting and watching those fantastically designed creatures move and speak completely transported me. The detail of the puppets, the intricacy of the movement...and some of it so unexpected! I loved those landstriders! To me, the Dark Crystal stretched the bounds of puppetry. For all of it's faults (and there are a few) It made you really think outside the box, the stage, the television, and pushed the possibilities. Highlights for me are the mysterious and earthy Aughra, everything about the mystics, and of course, the Chamberlain. The Gelflings are a little harder to identify with and feel stilted to me (I think this has to do with the design limitations and not any lacking of performer ability). The sequel is reportedly going to be directed by Genndy Tartakovsky from the new Orphanage Animation Studio.

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