magpiemb So I just finished watching this piece of garbage and it's bad. Really, really bad. However I watched this a group of friends and we haven't laughed this much in a while. Every time a scene with those bird things showed up or one of the small troll things were snatched everybody laughed until they cried. We couldn't finish it though because the puppets were making us uncomfortable and honestly we don't need that in our lives.

Python Hyena 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

Sean Payne This is a movie for the entire family its full of amazing cinematography and artwork great family values it's certainly a film that will capture every child's imagination there is mild violence in this film so parents some parents start to use our judgment as to whether you want your kids to see violence at all I first saw this movie when I was 7 years old and I absolutely fell in love with it it is a 30 + year old film it is not just visually stunning but are totally stunning and it's an imagination grabber for sure please settle these children down and enjoy an evening watching an amazing Jim Henson film

marcusq22 I'll present my reasons for why The Dark Crystal may be the best fantasy movie ever:It used the marvelous medium of muppets. CG has come a long way, but it still can't quite convey the tactile, palpable quality that muppets can for portraying fantasy characters. (With a nod to Aughra.)The sets were amazing. Not only were they wonderfully otherworldly, but they complemented the muppets perfectly, oftimes including muppetish, living creatures themselves (e.g. the giant cave that was actually a mouth that swallowed up a little creature.)Some fantasy stories start off in the "real world" and then you follow the protagonist into the "fantasy world". Examples include Harry Potter, Alice in Wonderland, and The Neverending Story. Dark Crystal simply starts off with the narrative "Another time, another world, in the age of wonder." and that's all you get. I gotta admire the not-spoonfeeding-the-viewer chutzpah of that move.I really liked the theme of overcoming dualism, personified by the split between the mild Mystics and the brutish Skeksis, and brought to fruition when they merge at the end. You have to pick between either seeing a) good effects or b) a good story, with Dark Crystal you get both.It's a film that grows with you. I enjoyed it as a kid, I still enjoy it as an adult. My hat's off to you, Jim Henson, for this accomplishment.