Jim Henson,
Kathryn Mullen,
Dave Goelz,
Brian Muehl,
Kiran Shah
... see more 
Jim Henson ventures into Tolkien territory in his all-Muppet fantasy feature The Dark Crystal. The titular Crystal maintains equilibrium in a mythical kingdom. When the Crystal is broken, the evil Ske... read more
Directed by: Jim Henson, Frank Oz, Brian Muehl, Gary Kurtz, Dave Goelz, Jean Pierre Amiel, Kathryn Mullen
Release Date: December 17, 1982
DVD Release Date: October 5, 1999
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Stats: 9,792 reviews
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Flixster Reviews (9,792)
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December 10, 2011This isn't the best film of 1982 (otherwise known as the year of the cult film, including the likes of "TRON", "The Thing", and none other than "The Dark Crystal"). Not even close. But it's still worth watching. This was the first major film that tried to sell it's entire world o... read more
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December 5, 2011more action-packed than "the Mothman Prophecies." more hilarious than "the Terminal." more innovative than "Righteous Kill." more tear-jerking than "Fight Club." more suspenseful than "Takers." more witty than "the Boondock Saints 2: All Saints Day." more terrifying than "Specie... read more
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October 10, 2011For effects, design, style, puppetry, art and story, this film is 100% Henson genius, fantastic looking and beautifully told in a Muppet cross dark live action tale of wizards and magic in another world.
Its quite dark for kids and will scare, but its a twisted fairytale thats j... read more -
April 24, 2011A meek Gelfling saves the universe by fulfilling a prophecy requiring him to heal the Dark Crystal. A great looking movie, with advanced puppetry and brilliant colors; unfortunately the watered-down "Lord of the Rings" ripoff plot isn't half as interesting as the visuals.
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January 25, 2011An absolutely gorgeous film. This is a film that should be enjoyed more today than ever. In a world of needless CGI, here we have a world that was actually created. Characters that could be touched and felt. They add texture, shadows, and life to their environments. The work of t... read more
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January 11, 2011Jim Henson's all puppet fantasy adventure is something every fantasy fan should check out, it's really very cool.
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September 19, 2010Ye oldie Henson. Thought it was good, weird, and interestingly creepy. Couldve been better.
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February 17, 2010I can't say I'm a huge fan of this. I didn't grow up with it like a lot of its fanbase did. That said, I found it to be really slow (painfully slow actually). The characters were pretty-well imagined, but there was hardly any story to back them up. In the end, it just felt te... read more
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September 17, 2009Jim Henson was a master storyteller who?s magical worlds and loveable characters enriched a generations imagination and made many a child happy. I love everything he?s done and still watch this, Labyrinth and the Muppet movies from time to time, it?s a tragedy he died so young bu... read more
Critic Reviews
July 7, 2005
Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star Tribune
August 30, 2004
Vincent Canby, New York Times
The screenplay by David Odell, based on a story by Mr. Henson, is without any narrative drive whatever. It's without charm as well as interest. Full Review
December 15, 2010
Charles Cassady, Common Sense Media
A fantastic, but more intense Muppet adventure. Full Review
May 23, 2008
Urban Cinefile Critics, Urban Cinefile
A wonderfully invented world full of characters that transcend their puppet limitations thanks to the energy and creativity of the Jim Hansen and Frank Oz team of puppeteers and voice actors Full Review
September 21, 2007
Steven D. Greydanus, Decent Films Guide
A distant, uninvolving experience … characters and emotions, even by the archetypal standards of high fantasy, never come to life, and the overarching mythology seems too self-consciously contri... Full Review
August 14, 2007
Peter Canavese, Groucho Reviews
An extraordinary, often mesmerizing achievement of design and performance that's held back by an underdeveloped script and a milquetoast leading character.
July 30, 2007
Brian Orndorf, DVDTalk.com
Crystal is a miraculous rush of innovation and storytelling patience, and, in the last 25 years, the film has grown from a 1982 misfire, to a cult wonder, to a bona-fide classic that's timeless in sta... Full Review
November 15, 2006
Scott Weinberg, DVD Clinic
Points to the Henson team for trying to broaden the scope of their creatures -- and there's little denying that this particular flick still seems to hold up pretty darn well. Full Review
January 8, 2006
Pablo Villaca, Cinema em Cena
Os personagens são bem realizados e animados, mas o roteiro, além de plagiar O Senhor dos Anéis, é burocrático e pouco envolvente.
October 12, 2005
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
This ersatz Tolkien with puppets looks and plays like ersatz Tolkien with puppets. Full Review
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The Dark Crystal
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