Review on The Dark Crystal

My Review on The Dark Crystal

 

The scenes in this film with the characters moving about can blend into the background too much as the background also seems quite busy with moving creatures. This is mentioned in Vincent Canby's 1982 review on The New York Times 'A further problem is that the animated ''characters,'' with the exception of the Gelfling boy and girl, are so unexceptional that, most of the time, they could be part of the very busy background, which is often alive with anthropomorphic plants. The film is as much of a visual muddle as a dramatic one.' (The New York Times) Canby explains that it can all look a bit of a mess instead of it being graceful looking and less involving. In some places the environment looks elegant for example, the castles interior with its dark sinister theme and in others such as the forest it can look over done and too busy.  

Apart from the overdone environment the creatures known as the Skesis, an evil race that are depicted as vulture like and with their features like they don't tend to be that intimidating as the review on Film Threat agrees 'For instance the Skesis are introduced as a sinister race that look like a hideous mix of vultures and skeletal rats. Yet Henson manages to tone down their dark sides by including a comedic dinner scene that does nothing to move the plot forward.' (Film Threat) The idea to make these creatures less frighting, but with a hint of evil is perhaps so this film can appeal to the younger generation as well as adult viewers.

The story is bland and is about good verses evil and getting a crystal shard just to save their world from complete annihilation. It looks as if all the money was put into special effects and just slapped together a basic storyline. This is agreed with from the review on Time Out London'Given this enormous advantage, it is therefore disappointing that this $26 million film should restrict itself to a very basic pulp fantasy plot - the hero's quest to free his world from the ravages of an evil race - when there are superior models available in any bookshop.' (Time Out London) With its expensive puppet designs and special effects its storyline could of done better while its environment succeeded well in eye candy.