This movie may have great puppets and it may be well made and being scary was probably the point, but this movie is terrifying. I've seen it multiple times and its hard to sit through. I'm not saying that childrens' movies can't be scary, but this is nightmare fuel.

he is the heart of this touching fantasy who reminds old truths, who redefine old values, who remains fascinating for the lovely manner to reinvent the laws of fairy tale in inspired manner. a film about friendship and courage and love and discover the other as part of yourself. nothing new. but magical presented. The Dark Crystal is the expression of a great artist genius. strange and beautiful. fascinating and old fashion using technology. a noble pledge for peace and self definition. not original but useful for the art to build a world who , remaining bizarre, is definitely charming. one of films of many childhoods. same strange and seductive at each new meeting. and good motif for remind Jim Henson and his profound personal perspective about fantasy.

The Dark Crystal (1982): Dir: Jim Henson, Frank Oz / Voices: Stephen Garlick, Lisa Maxwell, Billie Whitelaw, Percy Edwards, Barry Dennen: Inventive Muppet style adventure that explodes onto the screen with such flair for detail yet it ultimately fails as a story. The plot introduces the peaceful Mystics that resemble a cross-breed of sloth and camel. They send a Gelfling on a quest to obtain a shard missing from the Dark Crystal. Failure will result in darkness at the aligning of the three suns. The Gelfling's name is Jen, which is actually a girl's name. His enemies are the evil Skeksis empire that drain fluid out of their victims because their leader wishes to retain his youth. Why doesn't he just take part in a skin care commercial? This is way too dark for young children and there is little to hold interest for adults either. Detailed production with direction by Jim Henson and Frank Oz. Jen is the underdog hero sent on the quest, and Kira is his female counter-part worth her weight. There is an ogre with a flair for wisdom, which the screenwriter never displays. Other characters are not quite so broad but the effects and costumes seem to be the payoff over presenting personalities. The climax lacks the payoff needed but not much of this made any sense to begin with. The production is crystal clear Henson at his best but it is not up to par with the Muppets. Score: 3 ½ / 10

The Dark Crystal is one of the more personal fantasy films made in the 80s. It's also one of the biggest triumphs practical special effects have had in the history of cinema. Because, if you didn't know already, every single character in this film is a puppet. They're animatronics, designed by fantasy illustrator Brian Froud, and they're all fantastic, ground-breaking even. They're all visually distinct, evocative designs that are sure to stick with you after you've seen this film. On a technical level this film is a marvel and it's a shame it was so hard to make because I'd love to see more films done this way.The story is also pretty good, following the quest of a gelfling named Jen as he sets out to find the missing piece of the eponymous Dark Crystal in order to restore balance and to stop the villainous skeksis from taking over the world. Basic stuff, but the execution really makes an impact here. The whole story plays out in front of you like something larger than life, like an epic from the ancient times. The themes appear clear and easy to understand, yet the deeper you dig, the more you find to analyze.Though there are some problems as well. Like the character of Kira, who's pretty superfluous to the plot and mainly there to give Jen a love interest and someone to save in the third act. She's an interesting personality, so she's not as bad as some damsels in distress, but a damsel in distress she still remains. The final third as a whole is overall somewhat disappointing because it's so predictable. I don't really mind it being classic because the whole story heavily leans on literary traditions, but it could have been a little more innovative.Nevertheless, The Dark Crystal is a brilliant experience for all fans of fantasy and for those that appreciate practical effects and knowing that what's in the screen was actually there during the filming as well.