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Muppets, Puppets, Dark Crystals & Franchises

post #1 of 38
12/22/05 at 7:33pm
Thread Starter 
It is no secret that the Henson company is in its initial pre-production stages for the sequel to the Dark Crystal, entitled, The Power of the Dark Crystal.

My question to all is, if rigorously followed and planned to mirror the original film in many of its artistic respects, would there be a viable audience for a film like this?
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post #2 of 38
12/22/05 at 8:38pm
The first Dark Crystal was such a personal project for Jim Henson, I don't see how it could be replicated.

Plus, gelflings are creepy.
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post #3 of 38
12/23/05 at 5:37am
I love the original one dearly, but I fail to see any reason to re-visit the world Henson crafted. The story was pretty self-contained.
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post #4 of 38
12/23/05 at 10:30am
I agree about the story being self contained, and I think part of my appreciation of it is because I grew up watching it. I would see a sequel, but I'm not looking forward to it, and I wouldn't be upset if it never got made.

Also, the scene where all the Skeksis stripped the Chamberlain freaked me out when I was a kid.
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post #5 of 38
12/23/05 at 11:13am
I think there would be an audience of people who grew up with the movie (which is a classic) and are curious about a revisit as well as a new crop of kids who've never seen the magic Hensen excelled at. Of course, it wouldn't be him making the magic but from what I've seen, the franchize has not been corrupted or ruined by later generations of creators.

I'd go see it.
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post #6 of 38
12/23/05 at 4:43pm
Thread Starter 
I am honestly VERY excited about this film, especially knowing that Brian Froud (Good Faeries : Bad Faeries) is on the film as the conceptual artist (revisiting his original role on the first film). As excited as I am at this moment, of course, the margin of error for this film is more then great.

They could get everything right, the puppets, the world, and the limited use of CGI but the film could flop because, well, puppets, at the end of the day may be seen as plain cheesy. Here's hoping!
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post #7 of 38
12/23/05 at 5:00pm
Brian Froud is connected? Now that makes me just that much more interested. His work on Labyrinth was genious (as well as the work on Dark Crystal).
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post #8 of 38
12/23/05 at 6:16pm
Thread Starter 
Yes, he is involved, and his official site (worldoffround.com) just posted that he has finished his initial set of conceptual renderings for the film. Brian Henson is rumored to be directing, although he is officially producing the film. No word yet about Frank Oz's involvment or not. If Oz was to be involved, that would put me at ease. He is a master of his craft.
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post #9 of 38
12/23/05 at 11:59pm
I'd much rather see a prequel detailing how the Crystal cracked and how the Skeksis and Mystics were separated. There's more of a story there than following what happens after the first film.
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post #10 of 38
12/24/05 at 12:30am
Quote:
Originally Posted by g-dude
I love the original one dearly, but I fail to see any reason to re-visit the world Henson crafted. The story was pretty self-contained.
If I'm not mistaken The Dark Crystal was taken from a trilogy of books written by RA Salvatore (sp). So there was definitely more story to tell.
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post #11 of 38
12/24/05 at 12:34am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Gigolo Joe
If I'm not mistaken The Dark Crystal was taken from a trilogy of books written by RA Salvatore (sp). So there was definitely more story to tell.
Um, no. Salvatore's Icewind Dale trilogy starts off with a book called The Crystal Shard, but it has nothing to do with The Dark Crystal, since it was published in 1988, a full six years after The Dark Crystal was released.
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post #12 of 38
12/24/05 at 12:54am
It's been a few years. I must have mixed the two in my mind. You have my most sincere apologies for an honest mistake.
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post #13 of 38
12/24/05 at 2:16pm
Sweet, my dad showed me the Dark Crystal when it hit video, and I'd never seen anything like it, I'm all for Brian Henson revisiting this universe. And Labyrinth, awesome as well, both thesr flicks get lots of play at my house. My niece and nephews love Labyrinth...which is good.
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post #14 of 38
12/27/05 at 8:13pm
This is news to me...good news, of course.

I watched Dark Crystal recently, for the first time in a long, long while (maybe even since I saw it in the theater), and was impressed by the level of detail and artistry in the production. Yeah, some of the puppet effects worked better than others, but it I had forgotten how sick 'n' twisted a lot of the film's imagery really is. All those nasty, unpleasant creatures with bad table manners.

One gets the sense that Jim Henson and crew were trying to distance themselves from Sesame Street and The Muppet Show...maybe shock and scare their audience a bit.

Anyway, a sequel could be interesting. Though maybe tough to pull off, considering the closed loop that ended the original film.
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post #15 of 38
12/28/05 at 12:45pm
Nice. This film used to freak me out as a kid (all blame goes to Fizgig's big mouth), now it enchants me like never before.

Off-topic: I am still very confused about Mirrormask's quality. Some posters are in favor of the flick, but Devin and other film critics hated it with a passion. What's the consensus?

BTW, I think they will go all out CGI on this sequel.
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post #16 of 38
12/28/05 at 6:57pm
[QUOTE
BTW, I think they will go all out CGI on this sequel.[/QUOTE]

God I hope not.I think another all puppet movie, especially in this CGI heavy age, would be a nice change of pace.
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post #17 of 38
12/29/05 at 9:37am
Mirrormask is a good movie only if you catch it late at night and are fairly stoned. It's fairly wooden and uninspired as a story. I would hesitate to put it in the same echelon as The Dark Crystal but it's of equal aesthetical appeal.
The script really is so pedestrian it fails to really engage on the level you would want it to, but if it's Hard Drive sired eye candy you are after its worth a look.
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post #18 of 38
12/29/05 at 12:15pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by bigbrother
God I hope not.I think another all puppet movie, especially in this CGI heavy age, would be a nice change of pace.
I agree. A little cgi isn't a bad thing, but when the entire movie is just a vehicle for someone's computer playground...it gets to be annoying and distracts from the tale trying to be told.

Besides, the level of detail and thought that goes into each one of those puppets is an art I'm afraid we may lose soon, let's support it while it's still around.
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post #19 of 38
1/4/06 at 1:19am
I, for one, am excited by the idea of Brian Henson doing directing duty on this film. His work on Muppet Treasure Island is really quite good, and his attention to background design, sets, and small details would bode well for a story like the Dark Crystal.

I haven't seen the original in a lonnnnnnnnng time. Does it hold up in adulthood? Or is it more of a well-crafted kids movie, rather than an all-ages fantasy flick?
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post #20 of 38
1/5/06 at 11:03pm
Well, speaking as someone who rediscovered the film in his college days, I can say there's certain elements I enjoyed more than others - the music and the design above others. The world Froud and Jim Henson created works perfectly, especially with Trevor Jones' terrific score.

From watching the DVD's terrific vintage doc, it's obvious they were shooting for something of an all-ages fantasy flick, even if the script lets them down near the end. That's the way I tend to look at it, and the news that both Froud and Brian Henson are involved is very exciting for sequel possibilities.

Let's just hope they get something of a budget...
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post #21 of 38
2/1/06 at 10:34am
Well this just got a little more interesting:
Quote:
The Jim Henson Co. has set Genndy Tartakovsky to direct "Power of the Dark Crystal," sequel to 1982 fantasy film "The Dark Crystal."
Tartakovsky, who created the animated series hits "Samurai Jack," "Dexter's Laboratory" and "Star Wars: The Clone Wars," will involve his Orphanage Animation Studios to take the lead on the CG animation elements for the puppet-driven film.

Film becomes a co-production of Henson and the Orphanage. Lisa HensonLisa Henson, co-CEO of the Jim Henson Co., will produce with Orphanage chairman Scott Stewart. Brian Froud has returned to design the new characters.
Clone Wars showed that Tartakovsky can grasp the essence of someone else's characters and run with it, so my interest in this just kicked up a few notches.
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post #22 of 38
2/1/06 at 10:41am
I'm still not sold on the idea of a sequel, but Tartakovsky as director really helps pique my interest. And while it's been said since the film was announced, I'm glad they're not doing some weird CGI/puppet blend, like MirrorMask.
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post #23 of 38
2/1/06 at 11:32am
Quote:
Originally Posted by g-dude
I'm glad they're not doing some weird CGI/puppet blend, like MirrorMask.
Sorry to burst your bubble, if you read the linked article, the creators said they're going to use CGI backgrounds and effects ala Sin City. The puppets are going to remain physical.
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post #24 of 38
2/1/06 at 12:16pm
Oh, well, damn. Maybe they'll be able to not make it look like it was made on the consumer edition of Maya--hopefully.
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post #25 of 38
2/1/06 at 3:28pm
Thread Starter 

I dunno

My hope is that they use as many sets as possible. Just because Sin City worked so well does not mean The Dark Crystal sequel will.

The original film is so precious to me, so close to my heart and I am so worried that the lack of 3 dimensional sets will take away the magic.

I understand that there are limited funds, but this is filmmaking for crying out loud, build REAL sets. I am oh so tired of how dependent directors have become on CGI [thanks George Lucas].

I am just a bit worried!
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post #26 of 38
2/1/06 at 6:22pm
You know what'll suck the worst? The DVD. On the original, you can see the filmmakers building an actual world...and it's fascinating to watch them do it physically. It's such a complicated, hands-on, intensive process.

The new one will have a 10 minute doc on how they rendered the backgrounds, with some shots of talking heads and computers.

I hate CGI.
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post #27 of 38
2/15/06 at 7:34pm
Thread Starter 
Empress Kira takes the throne...
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post #28 of 38
11/30/06 at 9:29pm
Thread Starter 

More

This is a bit of old news, but if anyone is interested, the presentation reel of The Power of the Dark Crystal is available here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CsQZJ...elated&search=

I'm hearing the film will release Christmas of 2007. I hope it's true, I'm probably the biggest fan of the original.

Enjoy
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post #29 of 38
12/2/06 at 12:56am
The orignial is such an underrated gem. I think many want to dismiss it as a just a "muppet movie", but it's more than that. Hard to believe it was virtually ignored upon release. I think it scored big business in Europe.

Would love to see this in HD.
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post #30 of 38
12/5/06 at 12:42pm
DC was my 1st dvd purchase (before owning a player even). It's a movie that works for you or doesn't. For me, it's true artistry. A whole world fabricated and totally engrossing. A simple sweet story populated with layers of creatures I've never seen before. I love the atmosphere and immersion of this film.

Can't wait to see what Froud, the Henson Co., Genndy, and Trevor Jones (I hope) bring to the screen.

Years ago, I worked in a video store and I popped this fave of mine in to pass the time. As I was putting tapes away, I spotted a kid (6-7 maybe) standing amidst the shelves, staring up at the screens. His eyes were bulging out of his head and his mouth hung open. Such a look of awe and amazement on his face as he was discovering this movie probably for the first time.

That's what I want these creators to do for me all over again. The Henson Co. has inspired me tremendously over the years and I'm glad they're keeping Jim's legacy alive.
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post #31 of 38
12/5/06 at 1:41pm

Henson Love & Future Generations

Quote:
Originally Posted by DARKMITE8
DC was my 1st dvd purchase (before owning a player even). It's a movie that works for you or doesn't. For me, it's true artistry. A whole world fabricated and totally engrossing. A simple sweet story populated with layers of creatures I've never seen before. I love the atmosphere and immersion of this film.

Can't wait to see what Froud, the Henson Co., Genndy, and Trevor Jones (I hope) bring to the screen.

Years ago, I worked in a video store and I popped this fave of mine in to pass the time. As I was putting tapes away, I spotted a kid (6-7 maybe) standing amidst the shelves, staring up at the screens. His eyes were bulging out of his head and his mouth hung open. Such a look of awe and amazement on his face as he was discovering this movie probably for the first time.

That's what I want these creators to do for me all over again. The Henson Co. has inspired me tremendously over the years and I'm glad they're keeping Jim's legacy alive.
__________________________________________________ _______________

I agree with all of the above and do not forget the Hot Topic crowd that buys the merch. From my time served on the home video front I can also atest to the love of the Henson Fantasy films and I was always more then glad to take the VHS out of the store's player and give it to a customer (usually a teen girl). I did not hand out Bowie CDs although The Bride also rented well when the others were out.

On a related note "The Storyteller" rules.
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post #32 of 38
12/5/06 at 1:52pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by DARKMITE8
DC was my 1st dvd purchase (before owning a player even). It's a movie that works for you or doesn't. For me, it's true artistry. A whole world fabricated and totally engrossing. A simple sweet story populated with layers of creatures I've never seen before. I love the atmosphere and immersion of this film.

Can't wait to see what Froud, the Henson Co., Genndy, and Trevor Jones (I hope) bring to the screen.

Years ago, I worked in a video store and I popped this fave of mine in to pass the time. As I was putting tapes away, I spotted a kid (6-7 maybe) standing amidst the shelves, staring up at the screens. His eyes were bulging out of his head and his mouth hung open. Such a look of awe and amazement on his face as he was discovering this movie probably for the first time.

That's what I want these creators to do for me all over again. The Henson Co. has inspired me tremendously over the years and I'm glad they're keeping Jim's legacy alive.
I truly appreciate the sentiment presented here, but, man, this post is the closest I have ever seen anyone on these boards get to the writing of Harry Knowles. Well played.
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post #33 of 38
12/5/06 at 2:25pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mattioli
I truly appreciate the sentiment presented here, but, man, this post is the closest I have ever seen anyone on these boards get to the writing of Harry Knowles. Well played.
I'm just speaking from the heart. Sometimes I just gotta let it all out. Hold me? *sniff*



I'm ok now...
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post #34 of 38
2/8/07 at 2:15am
WTF: Canceled???
http://www.chud.com/index.php?type=news&id=8786

Press release on the new stuff, but no word on the DC postponement: http://www.henson.com/company/20070205.html

More: http://www.muppetcentral.com/news/2000/013100.shtml

What the hell happened? Well atleast there's a manga/graphic novel coming out this year, so that's something...
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post #35 of 38
2/8/07 at 9:37am
Quote:
Originally Posted by DARKMITE8
WTF: Canceled???
http://www.chud.com/index.php?type=news&id=8786

Press release on the new stuff, but no word on the DC postponement: http://www.henson.com/company/20070205.html

More: http://www.muppetcentral.com/news/2000/013100.shtml

What the hell happened? Well atleast there's a manga/graphic novel coming out this year, so that's something...

That muppetcentral.com link is dated Jan. 31 2000 and is in regard to a prequel to Dark Crystal and not the Tartakovsky sequel.

Here's some more info...
http://chud.com/forums/showthread.php?t=98261

All of the reports of the project being on hiatus or completely canceled can be traced back to a post on a movie blog called film ick. It's totally unsubstantiated gossip.
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post #36 of 38
2/8/07 at 11:58am
Yeah, I was wondering why CHUD posted an article saying "So Dark Crystal was canceled last week" and then looking back at last week's reports found nary a mention of said events.
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post #37 of 38
2/8/07 at 12:35pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Amphibatron
That muppetcentral.com link is dated Jan. 31 2000 and is in regard to a prequel to Dark Crystal and not the Tartakovsky sequel.

Here's some more info...
http://chud.com/forums/showthread.php?t=98261

All of the reports of the project being on hiatus or completely canceled can be traced back to a post on a movie blog called film ick. It's totally unsubstantiated gossip.
OOPS and WTF...
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post #38 of 38
2/11/07 at 2:30am
Thread Starter 
yet again, just an example of the internet so-called-reporters taking a rumor and flying with it before actual fact checking, and, perhaps, checking with the studio making the picture. Gotta love professionalism.
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