The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance coming to Netflix

[TigerClaw]

The Dark Crystal prequel series is coming to Netflix, its titled "The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance"
https://www.comicbookmovie.com/fantasy/jim-hensons-the-dark-crystal-prequel-series-in-the-works-at-netflix-check-out-a-bts-teaser-a151220

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[sdp]

I always confuse The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth and forget which one is which... I never liked either movie much but I want to support this for being a new Henson company production.

Imagine if we could get another show like Dinosaurs, I'd love it. It's owned by Disney but they could make something similar.

[IndigoErth]

Just saw something about it on FB, came to make sure it was posted. :) Not a Netflix subscriber, but I may have to consider when this is out. :D


And agree, Dinosaurs or a show like it really needs to return! I loved that show, esp the older two dino kids; in particular the sister character who was around my age back then.

[NinjaPug]

I don't understand hiring Louis Leterrier to run this.

[Andrew NDB]

I don't understand hiring Louis Leterrier to run this.

Probably a passion project for him. There's no way they brought this to his doorstep.

[NinjaPug]

Probably a passion project for him. There's no way they brought this to his doorstep.

I hope that's the case although it doesn't mean LL will make anything worthwhile. Just seems like a really odd pairing.

[Andrew NDB]

I hope that's the case although it doesn't mean LL will make anything worthwhile. Just seems like a really odd pairing.

Yeah, gotta be passion project. He probably even had some role in finding financiers for it.

Otherwise, it'd be a pretty weird tagline:

"THE DARK CRYSTAL: AGE OF RESISTANCE... FROM THE HULK MOVIE DIRECTOR THAT ALMOST BURIED THE MARVEL CINEMATIC UNIVERSE BEFORE IT BEGAN."

[Allio]

Not even posting the remake

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[Utrommaniac]

...Well, I'm down for this.

[MsMarvelDuckie]

Ooh I would SOOOO be all over this if it were like the movie. Dark Crystal is on of my all-time favorite fantasy movies.

[Andrew NDB]

Ooh I would SOOOO be all over this if it were like the movie.

Uh, it looks like... it is?

[MsMarvelDuckie]

Was't enough in the teaser to really tell. And most of what was shown was original concept art and an interview with Jim from YEARS ago(before he died). Sooooo.... Maybe? I meant if it was AS GOOD AS, which is currently a question that is up in the air. I'd like to think so but I guess it depends on the budget and writing.

[Powder]

Whoooooooa, how exciting!

[IndigoErth]

Here's the full press release: https://www.henson.com/press-releases/2017/press-release-2017-05-18.php

Definitely sounds like they're aiming to be like the movie:
The 10-episode fantasy adventure series is a prequel to the groundbreaking 1982 fan favorite The Dark Crystal, and takes place many years before the events of the film. The series will be shot in the U.K., and will star an ensemble of fantastical, state-of-the-art creatures created by Jim Henson’s Creature Shop™ and Brian Froud, the original feature’s conceptual designer.

The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance returns to the world of Thra with an all new adventure. When three Gelfling discover the horrifying secret behind the Skeksis’ power, they set out on an epic journey to ignite the fires of rebellion and save their world.

“The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance will combine the art of puppetry perfected by The Jim Henson Company, with Louis’ vision, powerful storytelling and a mix of cutting-edge digital imagery and visual effects,”

[TheBlueTurtle1]

Awesome news, hopefully NO CGI:P

[Andrew NDB]

Awesome news, hopefully NO CGI:P

Hopefully a little bit for things like lip movements and blinking. If it can genuinely help, why not use it?

[TigerClaw]

Hopefully a little bit for things like lip movements and blinking. If it can genuinely help, why not use it?
The CGI will probably be for backgrounds and things they can't do practically.

[TheBlueTurtle1]

Hopefully a little bit for things like lip movements and blinking. If it can genuinely help, why not use it?

CGI sucks lol, that's why.

[Candy Kappa]

No it doesn't lol

[Allio]

keep it all practical. that's the appeal to these types of things.

[IndigoErth]

Agree it certainly does not suck.

But (IMHO) there are places/times when it should be used sparingly and in ways where it is an asset; this is one of them. Nothing wrong with using it to accomplish part of a vision that practical effects just can't reach (and might have had to have been entirely excluded years ago), but don't let it dominate it.

Don't know if I agree on using it for the puppets... Maybe only if it aids in a degree of smooth/naturalness they could aim for. Though I'd be curious to see what the Henson studio is capable of pulling off for it in this century. To some extent though puppets are, I assume, still supposed to feel like puppets... else you erase the reason to even use them as an art form.

[sdp]

Mix of CG and practical is what everyone needs to do, you get the best of both worlds.

[TheBlueTurtle1]

I think CGI does work, when absolutely necessary, but in a movie and TV series that is supposed to be about the art of stop motion, or in this case puppetry, it's best to avoid it.

CGI is fine in stuff like Pirates of the Caribbean, and Planet of the Apes, but given a choice, I would always opt for traditional effects.

[IndigoErth]

Pardon the old thread bump, but look!

https://www.perfectorganism.com/blog/2018/12/17/netflix-releases-first-images-from-new-dark-crystal?fbclid=IwAR2Q57nEUuaVJlFsgMDyayfgPVTqO40SO PKAnYguA30dFMvuIwL-J8Ymu-4

December 17, 2018
NETFLIX Releases First Images From New Dark Crystal

The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance First Photos Revealed!

On the 36th anniversary of the release of Jim Henson’s original masterpiece, The Dark Crystal, NETFLIX has finally released three character images of the new Gelfling characters set to take the audience through a ten hour series, which will drop in 2019.

https://static1.squarespace.com/static/598b5f49d482e97953d22893/t/5c17bf622b6a28e46b7bf7c9/1545060204421/48377102_10218476692895567_225989513984344064_o.jp g

https://static1.squarespace.com/static/598b5f49d482e97953d22893/t/5c17bfba0ebbe81cdf403aef/1545060290788/48413678_10218476724776364_6535362073138823168_o.j pg

https://static1.squarespace.com/static/598b5f49d482e97953d22893/t/5c17bfde352f53eec9769c9f/1545060329919/48364179_10218476693575584_4160752656081485824_o.j pg

[drgon78]

At least they are using actual puppets.

[ProactiveMan]

They're still making Olsen Twins movies?

[Utrommaniac]

Yeah, the puppets have been in he plan for a long time.


Now to watch those guys die at the end...

[Leo656]

They're still making Olsen Twins movies?

:lol: I just high-5ed you so f*cking hard. I hope you felt it.

[IndigoErth]

Now I can't unsee it, thanks. And I was looking forward to this... lol

[Utrommaniac]

They're still making Olsen Twins movies?

:lol: I just high-5ed you so f*cking hard. I hope you felt it.

Now I can't unsee it, thanks. And I was looking forward to this... lol

With Zac Efron as a co-star

[MsMarvelDuckie]

I'm loving the fact that the gelflings have a very Celtic vibe in their clothes and other bits. Very Tir Na Nog, which I think suits the race. Right down to the triskele on his belt buckle and knotwork on the armor.

[Leo656]

https://i.imgflip.com/10lydd.jpg

[Egon1982]

I'm a huge fan of the original movie since i was 4 when my parents taped me the movie on a blank tape from a rental tape of the movie as i'm a huge Henson fan and i loved it since and been one of my fave movies, i mean the story, the effects, the wonderous world and i had a crush on Kira when i was a kid and a teen.

I also have the movie poster, a couple of t-shirts, graphic novels, 2-disc CD soundtrack, blu-ray, UltraHD-4K disc (amazing restoration), Making of Book, the new book, couple of action figures and all that. This prequel show should be cool and all.

Who thinks 1982 was an incredible year for motion pictures? i mean you had Blade Runner, The Thing, ET, Tron, Star Trek II, Conan the Barbarian, Pink Floyd The Wall, Creepshow, Poltergeist, 48 Hrs, Rocky III, First Blood, The Dark Crystal, The Secret of NIMH, The Last Unicorn, The Flight of Dragons and more.

[MsMarvelDuckie]

https://i.imgflip.com/10lydd.jpg


Oh, hello, Mr. Pot.....

[Leo656]

C'mon, I don't do it THAT much, just for anxiety and stuff or for aphrodisiac purposes.

....oh. OH. Hey, F*CK YOU lady! :tgrumble:

[MsMarvelDuckie]

ROFLMFAO!! :tlol: :tlol: :tlol: :tlol:

Took ya long enough. (Darn potheads....)

[Raph's Girl]

*squees* Aug 30th can't come soon enough!! :o

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[Zulithe]

Yeah looks like they put top effort into this. Should do well.

[Utrommaniac]

Ah, gotta get that Chamberlain whine at the end :lol: . HRMmmmMMMM

This is looking really impressive though. So far, the mouth movements seem a lot more natural too, which was one of the more off-putting parts of the original. With this being a series, the leads are bound to have a lot more dimension too.



And with this being in the past...we'd actually get to know the Skeksis Emperor was like when he wasn't on his death bed and mortifying us all.

Now he can be healthy and mortifying us all.

[Egon1982]

Looks awesome and it's one of my most anticipated shows of the year since i'm a huge fan of the original since i was a kid! looks like a labor of love and a passion project with the right balance, budget and all that just like Blade Runner 2049 of being true to the source materal instead of being a halfassed moneygrab insult to a franchise like Critters A New Binge, the sequels after Aliens (which was the last Alien film worth a damn), Predators/The Predator, Stinkbusters 2016, Star Wars after the original trilogy especially The Last Straw, Robocop 3/the tv show and miniseries/Robocop 2014 and all that.

[Powder]

Looks so pumped, I can't wait. I hope Netflix does more stuff like this into the future, too! Imagine a new Neverending Story or something.

[Egon1982]

Looks so pumped, I can't wait. I hope Netflix does more stuff like this into the future, too! Imagine a new Neverending Story or something.

Yup a series based on the book would be cool.

And who agrees with everything i said about this series being a passion project than a ****** halfassed moneygrab to piss on a legacy than those i mentioned and more in common with Blade runner 2049?

[Egon1982]

https://toynewsi.com/news.php?itemid=33774&utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook&fbclid=IwAR2XUsdgzm8_9y4xYTBMRjk7maanAwUavcI9ulLEY L2fw6HHfEmkSZihmqM

Nice solid cast and i bet Sigourney is gonna be the narrator.

[Egon1982]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UMRz6Hfjelo

"As a filmmaker, one of my earliest influences was Jim Henson’s masterpiece The Dark Crystal, a movie that brought to life a universe rich in detail and teeming with incredible characters. The creativity in the film was limitless and groundbreaking for that time, restricted only by the special effects tools of its day.
As I envision Age of Resistance, I am most excited about joining today’s film techniques with the practical visual effects that are such an integral part of The Dark Crystal – the artistry, the craftsmanship, the performances, and of course the puppets! It is a gift and an honor to work alongside the teams at The Jim Henson Company and Netflix, the artists at Jim Henson’s Creature Shop, and the Frouds, as we begin this new adventure, diving deeper into the world of Thra and working hard to bring fans all they have hoped for.
– Louis Leterrier (Executive producer and show developer and director of the series)".


You heard it here from the director's mouth! it's an actual passion project made by a filmmaker who actually knows what's doing and like Denis villeneuve was to Blade Runner whom he has been a fan of BR all his life and when a sequel was greenlighted, he was passionate about doing the impossible of a sequel no one thought of as he deeply respected the world/ideas/characters of Blade Runner especially Deckard with his amazing sequel.


That's the thing if your gonna bring back a retro movie or property back, you have to have a fine filmmaker who has passion to do something like this as Louis grew up with the original movie since he was a kid seeing it at the movies when it came out in France in 1983 and he loved it as it was one of the movies that influenced him to make movies along with the classic Star Wars trilogy, Jaws and more.


It's not something like Ghostbusters which was an obvious corporate cash-in where Paul Feig didn't give a flying damn about the property nor any passion for the franchise and did the movie for the paycheck to fill in his pockets and it was an insulting disaster of a film in 2016 or that Elm Street remake where Samuel Bayer who had little experience when only doing videos as he did it only for a paycheck and didn't give a damn about the property.


No, it's nothing like that but that's an important thing is you need to have actual passion for a property to make it work and this new show looks like a winner due to it. this series looks to be made to really honor and expand on the movie rather than just cash in like so many other franchises.i mean it's getting huge buzz, positive responses, big interests,solid cast, huge anticipation from Sci-fi/fantasy fans like myself who want something now that Game of Thrones has ended as it and The Witcher are hugely anticipated netflix fantasy shows even HBO's Watchmen and His Dark Materials. It's getting advertising, merchandise even books and all, it's gonna be a blockbuster series among fans and newcomers/a new generation of fans who are interested in the world of the dark crystal even the history of the world before Jen and Kira came along.


And once it becomes a huge hit on netflix, i guaranteed it will usher a new age of puppetry and animatronics and practical effects into hollywood and i hear two more seasons are coming. And it looks much better than star Wars episode 9.

[IndigoErth]

Was just watching this video and definitely look forward to checking it out.

I assume most are new characters, but it's cool that at least Aughra seems to be returning. Along with some (all?) of the Skeksis, of course. (Not so sure about the Landstriders though, they always kinda creeped me out. lol)

UMRz6Hfjelo

[MsMarvelDuckie]

Well given that this is way before Jen and Kira's time, they won't be in it, but I imagine the Mystics who raised him will be. They and the Skeksis are/were basically immortal, after all. (Or at least aged so slowly that they might as well be.)

[Egon1982]

Well given that this is way before Jen and Kira's time, they won't be in it, but I imagine the Mystics who raised him will be. They and the Skeksis are/were basically immortal, after all. (Or at least aged so slowly that they might as well be.)

Precisely why.

And you like the cast so far?

[MsMarvelDuckie]

I don't know much about the cast, as I've only seen the trailers. But they sound good.

[Egon1982]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4MjxmT51m3Y

Anyone senses a Demolition Man vibe with the idea that the Skeksis were kind and good just like Cocteau from that movie and Rian is like Edgar Friendly who can see there is greed, corruption, abuse of power and all that to the so called benevolent leader and the gelflings are like the scraps from that movie?

[Utrommaniac]

I was pretty sure they were all one race until individuals literally split apart into the best and worst parts of themselves (hence why when a Skeksis died, so did its respective Cocteau)

[MsMarvelDuckie]

Actually, they are called Urs. The original race was called Ur-Skeks. Hence Skeksis and Urs. And yes, they were each half of one whole, which was why healing the Crystal was so important. It healed THEM, too! I spent a bit of time last week thumbing through a novel tie-in, and it seems it has to do with how the Skeksis began using gelflings life-essence to prolong their own lives, and a group of gelflings learns of it and tries to warn their people. And it has a lot of dream-fasting, and there are different gelfling clans, including one that can breath water, apparently. I'm intrigued by the entire concept, of how the gelflings became "extinct", because the Skeksis basically were committing genocide to make themselves young. I guess unlike the Pod-people, gelflings don't survive as soulless slaves, they just die. Unless the Skeksis learned to refine it so it just took most of the essence, but left just enough to make them easy to control.

[Egon1982]

Well what i mean is the Skeksis acted all nice after they split apart with the Urru and became lords of the crystal and acted all "benevolent" like the Urru when the Urru are the REAL benevolent ones compared to the Skeksis where the Skeksis show their true nature outside the gelflings.

That's what i mean with the Demolition Man comparisions is Skeksis acted like benevolent saviors to the Skeksis what Cocteau was to San Angelis and Rian is like Edgar Friendly who can see through the ******** the Skeksis are.

[IndigoErth]

Watched the first three episodes last night and so far it's pretty good!

Poor Mira, cool character gone too soon.

[newfan]

Watched the first three episodes last night and so far it's pretty good!

Poor Mira, cool character gone too soon.

I caught the first 3 yesterday also, continuing this eve. I did kinda look away at one scene even if it is PG with Puppets :)

when the creature ate the scientists eyeball, even though it wasn't too graphic

[MsMarvelDuckie]

Well what i mean is the Skeksis acted all nice after they split apart with the Urru and became lords of the crystal and acted all "benevolent" like the Urru when the Urru are the REAL benevolent ones compared to the Skeksis where the Skeksis show their true nature outside the gelflings.

That's what i mean with the Demolition Man comparisions is Skeksis acted like benevolent saviors to the Skeksis what Cocteau was to San Angelis and Rian is like Edgar Friendly who can see through the ******** the Skeksis are.


Hmm, the book tie-in didn't really even make them seem "benevolent" at all, just not as fully corrupt as in the movie. They were just beginning to use the life essence, so it ssems it was a fairly new idea for them, and still trying to perfect it- by using their own gelfling castle guards! I'm guessing it was not long after the Crystal cracked, because there is mention of the last Conjunction. The story seems to revolve around one gelfing seeing his friend in the guards taken away, he follows, and witnesses her essence drained. He is found out, and is on the run, while his sister (a twin!) feels something wrong and goes to find him. Essentially, his memories, and those of a gelfling who helped him escape, are the only proof of what is going on (through dreamfasting).

[Utrommaniac]

Binged watched it all.


It contained all the Nopes of the original, and shoved in so, so many more.

Episode 7 was pretty awesome, though.
With its puppet show inside a puppet show.

[MsMarvelDuckie]

Big Nopes? Explain.

(I should mention I just rewatched the original film yesterday, so I'm hoping to come into this discussion with a bit of fresh memory/perspective about everything.)

[Egon1982]

My favorite show of the year!

anyone who grew up with the 1982 Jim Henson fantasy classic who is either an 80s kid or a 90s kid (ones who saw it on video or on Disney Channel in the 90s) or even those who are 80s/90s kids hybrids like me (born 37 years ago and adored the movie for for 33 years since i was 4 when my parents bought me the movie on VHS at 4 then 25 years ago i rebought the movie on Disney's VHS when i was 13 in 94 then in 2000 i replaced the tape with DVD then in 2009 with blu-ray and last year i bought the ultraHD 4K BD which is my first UltraHD 4K BD purchase).

I love the world building, different gelfling tribes, the origin of how Skektek got his eyes removed and all that. Maybe in season 2 we'll get a flashback of how the Urseks came and split into the two different races. And i hear there will be more mystics in season 2 and maybe in season 2 they can get Ron Perlman, Kevin Conroy, Jim Cummings, Frank Welker, Keith David, Brad Douriff, and Rob Paulsen. Charlie Adler can be Skekung the Garthim master.

This is using practical effects, animatronics, people in suits, puppets, cgi, models and all balanced together and is a passion project made by people who have an actual love of the original and honoring Henson's legacy and respecting the material just like Blade Runner 2049 was to Blade Runner as that was an excellent sequel. It's succeeds like that movie where other attempts at bringing a retro film property back like Ghostbusters, Elm Street etc. failed.

This looks like it's doing Jim proud! and nice cast too even Mark Hamil as the scientist. I'm glad the show is a blockbuster on netflix and the Jim Henson company is gonna do season 2. Quality storytelling and good writing and characterization makes this a solid series.

It's Star Wars, Frank Herbert's Dune, Heavy Metal, Game of Thrones, Avatar (both Airbender series and James Cameron), Demolition Man, Robert E Howard, Harry Potter and Tolkein rolled into one unique series.

I also loved the Labyrinth, Neverending Story and Princess Bride references some episodes had.

A winner.

[IndigoErth]

Episode 7 was pretty awesome, though.
With its puppet show inside a puppet show.
Just watched that one last night, and agree it was pretty cool!

I also like how...
...they've included a seemingly good, outcast Skeksis, along with his Mystic other half, and both wanting to make it right and become one being again.


Enjoying it pretty well. Will probably catch the last two eps tonight. I hope they make more. Though I'm questioning where they can even take this since they presumably can't actually defeat the Skeksis in a series, because movie.

Starting to hope that at least one of these Gelflings is the parent of either Kira or Jen. :)

[Utrommaniac]

I'm pretty convinced that Deet and Rian are Kira's parents. Or at the very least, Deet is Kira's mother.

They look a lot alike and Kira has the healing powers that Deet gains. But most most importantly...the Podlings.
Now it's just not looking like a coincidence that the Podlings found a Gelfling baby plopped down in the woods. I'd go so far to say that because of Deet's friendship with Hup, she knew the Podlings would be able to protect her child, and knew exactly where to hide the baby so they could find her.

[Andrew NDB]

I don't think I've ever actually seen the original movie. Should I watch that first, or watch these episodes first since they're prequels anyway?

[newfan]

I don't think I've ever actually seen the original movie. Should I watch that first, or watch these episodes first since they're prequels anyway?

I hadnt seen it either, caught it last night after watching the series first, didnt realise the series was a prequel till then. Whichever you want to go with, I didn't feel that I should have watched the movie first.

[Roseangelo]

I don't think I've ever actually seen the original movie. Should I watch that first, or watch these episodes first since they're prequels anyway?

I rewatched the movie before starting the series and was glad to have. But it’s not incredibly necessary. The movie is also conveniently on Netflix.

[Utrommaniac]

Absolutely watch the original first, I think. Just to get an idea of why the prequel series was made, at least from a production and tone standpoint.

[IndigoErth]

This series is surprisingly filled with death and rather intense, esp the final episode, compared to the film. The movie I'd show to a young kid like my nephew in a heartbeat, but not this series; at least not some portions of it. Which is cool though that it's defiantly intended for an older audience.

Really liking Aughra in this and her amount of involvement, and the voice is perfect! Appreciate the prominence of the female cast and the interactions. Poor Deet. And sad about the loss of Tavra, she was a cool character. Maudra Fara too. Seladon is lucky she did not get what she deserved and end up being the sister who'd die.

The Hunter is pretty awesome, if quite vicious, as an interesting standout like the Heretic. But a little curious about the Hunter and the Arch dying while the Archer was still falling...? Along with those characters and their other halves, I really like how they emphasized the two halves concept in this that is a lot more subtle in the film.

But where did the Heretic and his Mystic half disappear to?

I'm glad they're clearly going to be continuing this.

The landstriders still creep me out though, since back in the day. lol

I'm pretty convinced that Deet and Rian are Kira's parents. Or at the very least, Deet is Kira's mother.

They look a lot alike and Kira has the healing powers that Deet gains. But most most importantly...the Podlings.
Now it's just not looking like a coincidence that the Podlings found a Gelfling baby plopped down in the woods. I'd go so far to say that because of Deet's friendship with Hup, she knew the Podlings would be able to protect her child, and knew exactly where to hide the baby so they could find her.
I was thinking the same about Deet, esp considering how light skinned Kira is. If Rian isn't her father -- gosh, he moves on fast -- he does however look a lot like Jen.

Good point on the Podlings. Perhaps they're even descendants or other relatives of Hup.

[Utrommaniac]

For sure, Jen is a Stonewood Gelfling :P . Kira isn't quite as green as Deet, so I'm going to guess that Rian's genes may just have done some color balancing.

[Roseangelo]

I definitely agree that Rian and Deet are Kira's parents. I had Rian pegged for her father based on the similarity to Mira's name, and it's clear that he and Deet have a connection going. Brea also has a crush on Rian, but I think that's more one sided.

[Egon1982]

This series is surprisingly filled with death and rather intense, esp the final episode, compared to the film. The movie I'd show to a young kid like my nephew in a heartbeat, but not this series; at least not some portions of it. Which is cool though that it's defiantly intended for an older audience.

Really liking Aughra in this and her amount of involvement, and the voice is perfect! Appreciate the prominence of the female cast and the interactions. Poor Deet. And sad about the loss of Tavra, she was a cool character. Maudra Fara too. Seladon is lucky she did not get what she deserved and end up being the sister who'd die.

The Hunter is pretty awesome, if quite vicious, as an interesting standout like the Heretic. But a little curious about the Hunter and the Arch dying while the Archer was still falling...? Along with those characters and their other halves, I really like how they emphasized the two halves concept in this that is a lot more subtle in the film.

But where did the Heretic and his Mystic half disappear to?

I'm glad they're clearly going to be continuing this.

The landstriders still creep me out though, since back in the day. lol


I was thinking the same about Deet, esp considering how light skinned Kira is. If Rian isn't her father -- gosh, he moves on fast -- he does however look a lot like Jen.

Good point on the Podlings. Perhaps they're even descendants or other relatives of Hup.

Yup, the hunter reminds me of Predator in aspects and i love those 2 guys the heretic and wanderer as they are like Cheech and Chong and Timon and Pumbaa.

Anyone likes my casting for the mystics and Skekung?

[Egon1982]

I don't think I've ever actually seen the original movie. Should I watch that first, or watch these episodes first since they're prequels anyway?

Have you seen the other more well known Henson film Labyrinth?

[Andrew NDB]

Have you seen the other more well known Henson film Labyrinth?

Yeah, I saw it a couple of times as a kid, never since. I don't think I was as enamored by it as others, for some reason.

[Utrommaniac]

Yeah, Dark Crystal is definitely better than Labyrinth in a lot of ways, I think.

[Andrew NDB]

https://i.ibb.co/K9NntDN/liJ6ejY.jpg

[IndigoErth]

Stop it. That likeness in the photo overall is too creepy, as if it was staged. :teek: (Seriously, the mouths in particular...) How dare you ruin Kira and Jen. lol

[Leo656]

That picture of the Olsen Twins should have a gigantic tag line in big bold letters that just says "HEROIN. Not Even Once."

[Egon1982]

Who else loves episode 7? my favorite one and love the meta puppet show in joke it had in it.

Heretic and Wanderer are like Cheech and Chong and the Heavy Metal stoner aliens in one.

And did the Collector and new General (before Skekung) remind anyone of Dinosaurs (the Henson show) characters?

[Egon1982]

Who thinks this show and Blade Runner 2049 are the only 80s movie revivals that worked where some halfassed lazy attempts like Ghostbusters etc. failed miserably?

Both this series and Blade Runner 2049 were made by fine people who are skilled and has passion for the original source materials and projects they were working on, and that's why they succeeded in capturing the spirit of the originals while at the same time be their own animal as BR 2049 is a sequel and AOR is a prequel series. This show and BR 2049 are examples Hollywood should see of how to properly revive stuff from films from the past and i'm glad AOR is Netflix's number one show now as a hit and season 2 coming.

Both are definitely not cashgrabs done for the sake of a quick buck only to mess up things but have actual passion care and respect for the worlds and source.

Stuff like the Ghostbusters reboot for example aka Ballbusters 2016 (it's a term used by Youtube reviewer Ocpcommunications in his rant/review of Ghostbusters 2016 because it doesn't deserve to be called Ghostbusters because it shoots the logo of the franchise in the crotch within the movie and it's no joke there is actually a scene where the logo of the franchise is shot in the crotch) was a soulless corporation cash in with a gimmick and Paul Feig was never a fan of Ghostbusters or the franchise and he only did it for a paycheck and i can tell he was outside his comfort zone doing a PG-13 tentpole film than a smaller R rated film which he's better at than PG-13 and not to mention a horrible unfunny script with no sarcasm/intelligent humor that lacks the brilliance of the original's script or lacks the fun of the second movie, no chemistry between characters, unlikable characters, lousy CGI, sexism towards males even making all male characters assholes or idiots as the movie was a manbashing parade and all that.

Robocop 2014 remake was another one made for a paycheck by someone who was a gun for fire and made by inexperienced writers who had to turn Robocop into Robocrap and into another PG-13 watered down Robocop when they should had learned from the mistakes of Robocop 3 which that filmed killed the franchise and now they killed Robocop again by taking away his balls and his edge of the first 2 movies. Robocop is never meant to be a family friendly franchise as since 3 they keep watering him down with the tv show, miniseries and now remake which turning him into a joke and no respect for the character. Plus misses the point of the character. 3 was a another horrible attempt to pander Robocop to the family market when Robocop was established by he first 2 as an R rated character/franchise then neutered him with 3 as the TV show even watered him down. 3, the miniseries and remake also lacked the excellent satire of the first 2 and Robocop was not a badass like the first 2 movies. Attempts at emotion in the remake failed as the actors can't act their way out of a paper bag and flat direction where in the original Robocop i felt bad for Robocop for losing his family and Weller actually had emotion. Even Weller's replacement in 3 sucked as Robocop as well as the other actors who tried to fill in Weller's shoes over the years. Richard Eden was closet but still nowhere near Weller.

Alien hasn't had a great movie since Aliens, i felt Alien 3 was a joyless cold sequel that killed the franchise for me since i saw it in theaters at age 10 as i enjoyed the first 2 but saw they had no passion for the first 2 films when the original Alien 3 script was much better and it turned Ripley into a hollow drained out by essence shell of her former self and all that as every Alien sequel/spinoff keeps being hugged up by Fox and i'm tired of it, to me Aliens was when the franchise rose into the sun with the ending and i will ignore all hollow alien films like 3, Resurrection, AVP 1 and 2, Prometehus and Alien Covenenant's existence.

The Predaturd 2018 was a horrible horrible sequel that was done for a paycheck and turned the character into a complete joke, while Predators was disappointing but it tired but The Predator was a godawful insult to the franchise. Predator 2 was the last worthwhile film. Critters a New Binge was purely garbage that turned the franchise into a joke, just when i thought Critters 4 was bad and Critters Attack was mediocre Binge was crappy as hell and Critters 2 was the last good Critters movie.

Elm Street remake was a piece of crap made by inexperienced writers and an inexperienced director who showed he was never a fan of the original film or franchise and it proved with a horrid script, unlikable characters, poor direction, lousy attempts to be scary and all. While Jackie is a good actor, his Freddy sucked as soulless, vacuous imitation, devoid of all charisma. robert englund IS freddy krueger, accept no substitutes.


Last Jedi is the worst Star Wars movie to date and has a lousy script, poor characterization and was very disrepectful to Luke Skywalker, as i will never forgive them for turning a beloved character who was a likable farmboy turned hero into a sad sack emo hermit who resents himself and the Jedi and died like a fart in the wind. Plus a director who was only a a fan of Star Wars and not of Empire and Return of Jedi but only did it for a paycheck and had no experience doing a tentpole film when he did smaller films.

All hollow soulless failed bastardnization garbage attempts made by people who don't care or understand about the movies or franchises they were hired for, having a clue or inexperienced writers or poor writers or executives who greenlighted crap scripts only to get money and not care about properties.


Blade Runner 2049 and AOR are examples how you properly revive an older manner. Take Denise Villanue who is an excellent director and he made some quality films and is a passionate fan of Blade Runner since the beginning and influenced him to make movies, so he made the film because he was passionate about the project even hired some good writers being one of them one of the writers for the original and expand upon the classic film. Louis is a servicable director despite he's no Luc Besson but still servicable as he did well on the first 2 Transporter films, Unleashed and Incredible Hulk 2008 and he has been a fan of Dark Crystal since he saw it in 1983 in his country as a kid at the movies and one of the films that influenced him to become a filmmaker. Plus he heard about a prequel series project he was in and even the writers and some of the stars are fans of the original film even the guy who played Elton John in Rocketman grew up with Henson's works and so was Simon Pegg who saw it at the movies growing up when he was 12.


The key ingredient is fine directors who are fans of originals even writers who are fans of the properties and actual passion, love and care for both the movies and projects they are doing even giving a damn. And i'm happy AOR is the number one Netflix series now and a blockbuster and soon will get season 2.



This show's success plus Child's Play 2019, Shape of Water, Blade Runner 2049, Interstellar, Mission Impossible 6 and more should usher a new age of practical effects making a comeback in the mainstream.



Who else thought the eye sequence in episode 2 was terrifying but not as shocking as the broken wood scene in Lucio Fulci's Zombi 2 aka Zombie aka Zombie Flesh-Eaters?

[Egon1982]

Actually, they are called Urs. The original race was called Ur-Skeks. Hence Skeksis and Urs. And yes, they were each half of one whole, which was why healing the Crystal was so important. It healed THEM, too! I spent a bit of time last week thumbing through a novel tie-in, and it seems it has to do with how the Skeksis began using gelflings life-essence to prolong their own lives, and a group of gelflings learns of it and tries to warn their people. And it has a lot of dream-fasting, and there are different gelfling clans, including one that can breath water, apparently. I'm intrigued by the entire concept, of how the gelflings became "extinct", because the Skeksis basically were committing genocide to make themselves young. I guess unlike the Pod-people, gelflings don't survive as soulless slaves, they just die. Unless the Skeksis learned to refine it so it just took most of the essence, but left just enough to make them easy to control.
Urru you mean

[IMJ]

Yeah, I saw it a couple of times as a kid, never since. I don't think I was as enamored by it as others, for some reason.

Puppet movies are morbid, lifeless strangeness on screen. I envision a layer of hell where creatures that look like Jim Henson's puppets (good guys and bad guys) are running around doing hell-like puppet things. :lol:

But honestly, truthfully, I don't begrudge anyone who likes puppet-stuff. It's a widely used medium, and I respect the work that goes into it. But most puppet stuff in the traditional sense is just not for me. It's not until we go past a fairly high threshold of puppet work that I can begin to suspend-disbelief.

[Egon1982]

Puppet movies are morbid, lifeless strangeness on screen. I envision a layer of hell where creatures that look like Jim Henson's puppets (good guys and bad guys) are running around doing hell-like puppet things. :lol:

But honestly, truthfully, I don't begrudge anyone who likes puppet-stuff. It's a widely used medium, and I respect the work that goes into it. But most puppet stuff in the traditional sense is just not for me. It's not until we go past a fairly high threshold of puppet work that I can begin to suspend-disbelief.

What makes CGI Mocap characters like the Na'Vi in Avatar better than Henson's puppets?

[IndigoErth]

To be fair, while mocap has less artistry to it (at least in the same sense), it does at least capture realistic movement and facial expressions which makes it less creepy (unnnnless there is an uncanny valley issue that bugs people). I assume that puppets risk having a bit of a "dead-eyed possessed doll come to life nightmare fuel" thing about them for some people who can't look past it.

Personally, I enjoy both and appreciate the artistry and effort put into the Jim Henson Studio's work as well as the ability for CGI and mocap to create enough realism to make fictional characters believable.



I keep looking for Netflix to note that a new season will be happening for this... Surely it will continue.

[Egon1982]

To be fair, while mocap has less artistry to it (at least in the same sense), it does at least capture realistic movement and facial expressions which makes it less creepy (unnnnless there is an uncanny valley issue that bugs people). I assume that puppets risk having a bit of a "dead-eyed possessed doll come to life nightmare fuel" thing about them for some people who can't look past it.

Personally, I enjoy both and appreciate the artistry and effort put into the Jim Henson Studio's work as well as the ability for CGI and mocap to create enough realism to make fictional characters believable.



I keep looking for Netflix to note that a new season will be happening for this... Surely it will continue.

I think it will be called "Attack of the Garthim"

[newfan]

This show has been cancelled.
https://twitter.com/getFANDOM/status/1308138866717515776

[TheBlueTurtle1]

Real shame, cancelled one of the best shows going today.

[Andrew NDB]

Me, this "Dark Crystal is cancelled!" news is surprising to me. Not because I didn't see it coming or it blindsided me or anything... but because I never even assumed for a second that it was anything other than basically a one and done mini-series. I never thought a "Season 2" was ever even on the books.

I mean, if it was and THAT'S what they were trying to do (start a whole multi-season thing) then that makes me sad. This got a lot of publicity and puppet stuff isn't exactly prevalent anymore. I just never thought it was intended as that for a second.

[MsMarvelDuckie]

Well, there WAS quite a bit more to the story in the novel version of this, so there's that. But yeah, finally got a chance to watch it, and OMG AMAZING!! I was a bit surprised at how dark and intense it was, and some of the graphic scenes were worse than the movie. The best parts to me were Deet's friendship with Hup, and Brea. Brea, Deet, a d Hup were my three favorites, though I was happy to see Aughra, the Chamberlain and Scientist having such big roles. Loved Rian and Tavra, too, and so much of this was just incredibly well done! A shame it was canceled, especially the very day it won an Emmy.