TWO FROM JIM HENSON
THE DARK CRYSTAL and LABYRINTH
Anime Limited in collaboration with Radial Entertainment. 4K & Blu-ray Collector’s Edition, 4K & Blu-ray Steelbook, Blu-ray, and DVD. 22nd June
Both 4 stars
Puppeteer Jim Henson is rightly famous for creating The Muppets in 1955. Following his feature film directing debut on THE GREAT MUPPETS CAPER in 1981 he turned to fantasy with his next outing with THE DARK CRYSTAL in 1982, which he conceived, and co-directed with his longtime collaborator Frank Oz. Of course this lent on their experience with muppets, with a film which was created without any human actors onscreen (though plenty of puppeteers and performers were used to bring to life the numerous creatures).
On an alien planet, a crystal has cracked open and we now have two races. The bird like Skeksis and the gentle Mystics. Living with the Mystics is a Gelfling called Jen. The evil Skeksis had killed off his people. He is sent off on a mission to try and find a missing shard, which will heal the crystal. He only has a short time to achieve this quest – if he fails those nasty old Skeksis will rule the planet.
Some of the creations are amazing, and look great on this 4K release, though inevitably you do have to suspend your disbelief somewhat. The animatronics and puppets were fashioned by Jim Henson’s Creature Shop and the concepts were drawn up by English fantasy illustrator Brian Froud. It has a notable score by Trevor Jones.
There was a late in the day prequel TV series on Netflix in 2019 – The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance. Froud’s son Toby worked as a designer on the series.
Toby nicely links with the second film under review as he plays the baby in LABYRINTH which is kidnapped by Goblin King Jareth (David Bowie), when his half sister Sarah (Jennifer Connelly) wishes he was taken away by the goblins she has read about in a book, after the youngster constantly cries.
When her wish comes true, she meets Jareth and is given 13 hours to solve his labyrinth or Toby will be turned into a goblin!
So Sarah finds herself in a strange world, where she must try and get across the various mazes, whilst meeting odd creatures along the way, which will either help or hinder her.
Working once again with illustrator Brian Froud, Henson and he set out to create a lighter weight story, after the darkness of their previous collaboration. The numerous goblins, trolls and the like she meets along the way are, of course, beautifully realised by Henson’s Creature Shop and the production design is stunning, including a room inspired by M. C. Escher.
Connelly is slightly whiny in the lead role, but she is a young teen after all. Apparently several other actresses were considered for the part, before she won Henson over, including Sarah Jessica Parker, Marisa Tomei, Laura Dern and Ally Sheedy. The coup de grace in terms of casting is, of course, getting Bowie as the Goblin King, as he fills the role perfectly – Sting, Prince, Mick Jagger and Michael Jackson were all in the frame at one time. Trevor Jones once again supplied the score, with Bowie recording several songs for the production.
This was the last feature film that Henson would direct, though the last production he helmed was the ‘Muppet Vision 3D’ film at Disney’s Hollywood Studios – which I have enjoyed many times, though it recently closed to make way for a new land called Monstropolis based on the Monsters, Inc franchise.
Steve Kirkham
EXTRAS
Both releases of The Collector’s Edition will include:
Double walled slipcase holding:
68 Page production art and photos booklet.
3 disc Steelbook with the film on 4K, the film on Blu-ray, and a Blu-ray disc of video extras
The Dark Crystal –
Fan Event Q&A With Lisa Henson
Audio Commentary With Conceptual Designer Brian Froud
Various documentaries: “The Dark Crystal: The Myth, Magic And Henson Legacy”; “The World Of The Dark Crystal”; “Reflections Of The Dark Crystal: Light On The Path Of Creation”; “Reflections Of The Dark Crystal: Shard Of Illusion”
Original Skeksis Language Scenes With Introduction By Screenwriter David Odell
Picture-in-Picture
Labyrinth –
Audio Commentary With Conceptual Designer Brian Froud
Q&As With Brian Henson & Toby Froud
Anniversary Q&A
Contact Juggling Tutorial
Various documentaries: “Reordering Time: Looking Back At Labyrinth”; “The Henson Legacy”; “Remembering The Goblin King”; “Inside The Labyrinth” Making-Of; “Journey Through The Labyrinth: Kingdom Of Characters”
Deleted & Alternate Scenes Including Audio Commentary With Brian Henson
The Storytellers
Picture Gallery
