Comments on: The Dark Crystal

By: Kelvin Kao

Kelvin Kao — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 04:13:57 +0000

I have the same sentiment with Power Rangers. I like it when it’s guys in rubber suits as monsters and robots fighting each other. But when they started using 3D animations for the robots, eh, it just wasn’t the same.

I like what you said about the dying part. It’s very true.

By: Mary Robinette Kowal

Mary Robinette Kowal — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 00:37:35 +0000

I have no idea why you can’t reset your avatar. If you tell me which one you want, I’ll try overriding the default.

By: John Charny

John Charny — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 18:47:06 +0000

It’s a great movie. I probably saw it 20 times, but I haven’t seen it in a decade.
John

By: Karen Wester Newton

Karen Wester Newton — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 16:11:37 +0000

Argh!

By: Karen Wester Newton

Karen Wester Newton — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 16:10:58 +0000

Back when Jim Henson used to appear (with Kermit) on talk shows, I noticed that the hosts would talk to Kermit, even though Jim Henson’s hands were in plain sight, manipulating Kermit’s body. “Willing suspension of disbelief” says it all. If the puppet is well crafted and its character is compelling, people want him/her to be real.

p.s. I had another crack at changing my avatar, but it I still get the guy who looks like Peewee Herman’s father, this is it!

By: Delia

Delia — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 16:00:20 +0000

Wow. I haven’t seen it since 1982, and now I know I need to see it again. Even tiny like that, and without subtitles, it gave me chills. That was one subtle piece of theatre, playing on our expectations of how such scenes work (that the Skeksis will fight each other, that the loser will be torn apart) to ratchet up the tension and somehow make the loser’s defeat so much more humiliating.

You’re totally right about how CGI feels less emotionally real than puppets do. There’s something air-brushed and plastic (in the 60’s sense) about CGI critters–they’re just too smooth, even when craggy. To me, the frank artificiality of puppets is a great part of their charm.

By: Alex Wilson

Alex Wilson — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 15:04:27 +0000

Oh cool. I didn’t know that about the original language.

But I’m looking at the back of my DVD and… serves me right for not watching all the extras this time.

Alex.

By: Jeremy Tolbert

Jeremy Tolbert — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 05:04:03 +0000

Wow! I had never heard that about the movie. I really want a director’s cut now too.

I can’t explain enough how much this movie impacted my idea of what fantasy should be like when I was a child. The character/puppet designs here are embedded deep in my subconcious. Any time I try to write or picture some truly fantastic world, they look like the creatures of the Dark Crystal. I hesitate to call it my favorite movie, but it is absolutely one of my biggest influences.

I’m still not sure, so many years later, how I feel about the CG Yoda. I was such a big CG fan at the time those movies came out. I honestly thought Jar Jar was going to be awesome (until he spoke). But if anything, those films gave me a much deeper appreciation for puppetry.

What happened to making films like Dark Crystal, Labyrinth? Why aren’t more all-puppet or nearly all-puppet shows created? Is CG actually cheaper?

Thanks for another great post about puppets, Mary. The insight you provide into the art is always a great read.

I am going to have to go watch this movie again tomorrow while I work.