The Dark Crystal

Jim Henson was and is to fantasy what George Lucas is to Science fiction.

If you have never seen the amazing film The Dark Crystal, you've certainly missed out. It's some 19 years old now, but it has lost none of its magic.

I have tried unsuccessfully to identify where my love of fantasy comes from. Until I rented out The Dark Crystal on video that is. I saw this film for the first time when I was just 6 years old. I'd all but forgotten about it; then, there on the shelves in a battered cover it stood. I picked it up and took it home to view something that was from my childhood.

It is from this film that I developed a keen interest in all things fantasy. All traditional elements of fantasy are introduced - creatures we are familiar with, the journey, magic and a battle between good and evil. It's a masterfully told tale, and Jim Henson's puppets are magnificent.

The plot takes place in a world where 1000 years before a race broke the dark crystal - leaving it bereft of a shard. The result of this was that the race split in two, becoming the evil Skeksis and the wise Mystics. Th shattered crystal was used by the Skeksis to use the power of the three suns to dominate the world, and slaughter the many peoples.

A prophecy existed. At the time of the conjunction of the three moons a Gelfling would find the missing shard and heal the crystal. Balance would be restore, and the Skeksis would no longer rule the world unhindered.

Gem is that Gelfing. While the Skeksis believed they had destroyed all traces of the Gelflings, they underestimated the power of prophecy. Gem was born, and raised by the tender hands of the Mystics. The dying words of his master see Gem plunged into the midst of adventure, the search for the shard, and the the pilgrimage to return it to its rightful place.

We travel with Gem through some of the most beautiful landscapes I can remember seeing in a film. The characters are diverse and quirky, threatening and friendly - all are memorable. The creatures of the forest demonstrate how wonderfully skilled Jim Henson was at creating the creatures of our imaginations, and truly bringing them to life.

The Skeksis are truly evil, there is a chilling scene in which a battle for the leadership takes place. It's a brutal battle between the two parties, which sees the loser brutally humiliated and cast into exile. Humour, and playful scenes offset tragedy in the film. The wise and fiercely independent Augra is one such character. Her language and demeanor provide some more comical elements.

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