The Dark Crystal

I haven’t seen this film since my girls were kids. I remember it being ahead of it’s time for effects and not having human actors. But, since being redone in 4K the whole film just pops in color and detail. Sound is excellent thanks to Dolby Atmos. If you were a fan then you’ll marvel over how this film stands up to time over 40+ years. Highly recommend for old and new viewers. Jim Henson was a true master of puppetry and muppetry.

Jim Henson's magnum opus is glorious in this fully-restored, high-def Blu-Ray Anniversary Edition. Packaged as a beautiful behind-the-scenes artbook and accompanied by hours of in-depth, fascinating, retrospective Special Features, "The Dark Crystal" is a must-buy for virtually every household. Even after all these years, this imaginative and provocative picture still holds up as one of the genre's greatest works. Intelligent, dark, thought-provoking, delightful, and deeply satisfying (and a brilliant companion to the stellar Netflix series), don't miss out on getting Henson's best work in it's best form. Cannot Recommend Highly Enough, Get It Now.

The Dark Crystal marks a pivotal moment in cinematic history as the first directorial collaboration between Jim Henson and Frank Oz. It is also one of the earliest films to showcase the complex use of puppetry and sophisticated electronic animatronics, establishing a visual legacy that would influence generations of fantasy storytelling. Set in the mystical world of Thra, the story follows Jen and Kira—two Gelflings chosen to restore balance by reuniting the fragments of a shattered crystal and defeating the dark forces that threaten their realm. The quest weaves themes of destiny, courage, and harmony into a richly crafted tale that resonates across age groups. 🔍 Personal Impression: Visually, this film is a triumph of practical effects. The 4K restoration, especially, reveals stunning detail—close-up shots capture individual strands of hair and nuanced facial textures with remarkable realism. The color grading in this version is particularly impressive, offering smooth tonal transitions and vibrant hues that weren’t as prominent in earlier releases. For collectors and fans of animatronic artistry, this edition is a gem—preserving the handcrafted elegance that CG simply can’t replicate. 🧙‍♀️ A must-own for those who admire the intersection of analog craftsmanship and timeless storytelling. The Dark Crystal is not merely watched—it’s experienced.

I grew up with the Dark Crystal, it has been, and is likely to remain, my favorite childhood movie/memory! A fully puppeted movie, no sign of strings or puppeteers, a story that is deep and inspiring, a tale of growing up and moving forward, at times, the movie is both breathtaking in it's beauty, and disturbing in the darkness! There has never been a movie quite like It, and a lot of the effects in it were created during it's making! In a time before computer generated things, the Dark Crystal set a standard!

But it is the movie nonetheless. Great transfer, great fidelity. A true kids classic.

The 4K UHD Blu-Ray disc contains Czech dubbing, which is great. I am satisfied with the film and the picture.

I had this on VHS at one time then I bought it on DVD years ago. I upgrade it to the blu-ray to have better picture and sound. This is my childhood favorite film. I love the characters specially gelflings, skeksis, the mystics, Aughra, Gartham, and many creatures. The storyline is between Skeksis and the Mystics. Jen's master told him to heal the dark crystal but you haven't seen it yet I won't tell you. I like Chamberlain he's very interesting. I recommend this film if you'll like Jim Henson's work.

Bought as a gift for a huge fan