A Crystal Darkly

We watched The Dark Crystal (1982) in case we want to see the new TV series. I had seen it way back when - late 80s - on TV, and Ms. Spenser hadn’t seen it at all. When I first saw it, I liked it but didn’t love it. I still feel the same way, and I’m not sure why.

The movie takes place on a world of puppets Skeksis, gross, decadent, evil creatures who use the cracked Crystal to extend their lives, and Mystics, ancient, benign, but maybe also decadent creatures who chant in resonance with all being. The Mystics have raised a gelfling, a small gentle being with pretty, fairy-like features. This gelfling, Jen, last of his race, will be our protagonist.

The Mystics decide that he will heal the crystal, once he gets the missing shard from an astrologer, who will let him know what to do. He gets his shard, but before he gets any more info, the Skeksi shock troopers arrive and he escapes.

On his way to the crystal, Jen meets another gelfling, Kira. They have a telepathic bond, and she can also talk with animals. They travel together with her pet Fizzgig on this quest.

The whole thing is beautifully put together, and the puppeteering is first class (since this is a Frank Oz production). The art direction is like Labyrinth without live actors. So why was I again underwhelmed? Was it excessively fey? (Like that would bother me.) Did it lack stakes, because puppets? Maybe it just wasn’t our thing for some reason. Ms. Spenser felt the same. We’ll probably give the TV series a shot anyway.