The Jim Henson Company has brought a swath of timeless stories to the big screen since being founded by Jim and Jane Henson back in 1958. Perhaps best known for their ground-breaking Muppets franchise, it was not until 1982’s The Dark Crystal that they started branching out into the fantastical realm. Both The Dark Crystal and 1986’s iconic Labyrinth are now viewed as nostalgic classics, carrying the power of a strong creative vision. Shout Factory brings both of these vital titles to 4K in splendid packaging with multiple options. They sent me the two steelbook copies to review—both are crisp and wonderfully-realized, with Dark Crystal in particular benefitting from its restoration. Try to channel the power of the babe far away on the distant planet of Thra, throwing it back to the 80s time capsule of peak Jim Henson Company excellence with The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth.
First up: The Dark Crystal. On faraway Thra, two rival races remain, both of which have only ten remaining souls. The Skeksis, with their hard and twisted bodies, have ruled for over 1,000 years. The Mystics, on the other hand, represent peace and wisdom. Both are considered dying races, with a potential key lying in the mysterious power of the Dark Crystal. According to an ancient prophecy, a Gelfling (Elf-like humanoid creatures) will heal the crystal at the time of the “Great Conjunction.” It all sounds very mysterious, but the Skeksis took this so seriously that they practically eradicated Gelflings off the map so they could continue lording over Thra without incident. Two Gelflings managed to survive the slaughter: Jen (Jim Henson) and Kira (Kathryn Mullen). This duo become the leads of our story as they race against time to stop the awful Skeksis from ruling forevermore.
While I had passively seen this incredibly unique fantasy film just once before decades ago, I was not altogether connected with it beyond some memorable visuals. Of the two films, revisiting this one was not particularly important to me. I have never been more thrilled to be proven wrong. The Dark Crystal is a strange masterpiece, a phenomenal fantasy film bursting with creativity and bold visual language. Its mythology helps to form a complete vision that only Jim Henson could have created. The puppetry and animatronics are impressive even by modern standards, and if anything prove just how important the effects angle was towards achieving realism. Many disparate elements somehow come together against all odds to form a timeless classic unlike any other.
Next: 1986’s Labyrinth, starring Jennifer Connelly and David Bowie. The plotline is far simpler than The Dark Crystal, instead opting for a unique brand of fairy tale aesthetic. Utilizing the magnetic star power of Bowie, this one becomes a de facto musical by design. Altogether, Bowie wrote and recorded five songs for Labyrinth—”Magic Dance” has to be its signature track. Here, we follow Sarah (Connelly) after she makes a terrible wish for her half-brother, Toby, to be taken away by the Goblin King, Jareth (Bowie). In order to get Toby back, Sarah will have to brave an otherworldly labyrinth of tricks and oddities in just thirteen hours. Otherwise, Toby can never return to the human world.
Notably, Labyrinth is more kid-friendly than The Dark Crystal, shifting to a humorous approach while still containing the same mesmerizing imagery. Henson embraces the fantastical, doubling down on Bowie and his flamboyancy. That soundtrack overflows with banger after banger. As in the previous movie, the technical wizardry impresses, with tons of action occurring onscreen, and pure 80s fantasy vibes. The strange collection of characters, from Hoggle to Sir Didymus the dog, color the world with contagious whimsy. It was quite fun trying to locate the hidden Jareth faces throughout, so be sure to keep a lookout. Falling under the film’s spell comes easy, especially given the super-cute puppet creatures that come to life before our very eyes.
The 4K transfers for both titles are stunning. At times (particularly in Labyrinth), the puppet strings are visible. To me, this only helped add to the handmade charm. As far as special features are concerned, both discs carry over content from previous releases, including audio commentaries, storyboards, deleted and alternate scenes, and many more. Each carries a notable addition in the form of fan event Q&A’s. Labyrinth also carries one additional new feature, which is a contact juggling tutorial. Whether in it for the sexual allure of David Bowie or a burst of creative animatronic fantasy, The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth are a perfect taste of classic Jim Henson magic.
Shout Factory provided review copies, but the thoughts and opinions expressed here are all my own. The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth are both available now in 4K steelbooks, overflowing with special features for the casual or the fanatic.
The Dark Crystal
Labyrinth
Love Labyrinth, but both are great!
Love Labyrinth! Both are great though.