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The Dark Crystal (Superbit Collection)
Writer:
David Odell
Based
On A Story By: Jim Henson
Directors:
Jim Henson and Frank Oz
Feature
length: 93 minutes
Languages:
English DTS Digital 5.1 Theatrical Surround Sound and Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround
Sound
Subtitles:
English Captions and Closed Captions and Spanish Language Subtitles
Packaging:
Keep Case Within A Sleeve
Chapter
Stops: 28
Sound:
DTS Digital 5.1 Theatrical Surround Sound and Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound
Year
of Theatrical Release: 1982/DVD Release: 2003
Theatrical
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Home
Video Distributor: Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment
MPAA
Rating: PG
Reviewer:
Mark A. Rivera
On
a far off planet the evil Skeksis have utilized the source of their power within
the dark crystal to extend their lives and enslave other races. Having wiped out
nearly all of the Gelfling race because of fear of a prophecy that states that a
Gelfling will put an end to their rule by returning the broken shard to the dark
crystal at the time of the great galactic conjunction, which occurs once every
thousand years, the Skeksis mount a ceaseless reign of terror to ensure there
own immortality. Two lone Gelflings undertake a quest to find the shard and
restore purity to the dark crystal or else the Skeksis rule forever.
Even
after twenty years, “The Dark Crystal” is still a visual landmark in fantasy
filmmaking with a cast of characters made up entirely of puppets created by Jim
Henson’s creature workshop based on designs by acclaimed illustrator Brian
Froud (Fairies), who would collaborate with Henson again on “Labyrinth.”
Ironically it is the more human like characters such as the Gelflings and
Podlings that look a little too Muppet like for what is an otherwise well
realized alien world.
The
Superbit edition of “The Dark Crystal” is a wonder to watch because the rich
textures and details within the creature and production design can be
appreciated on home video like never before. Some scenes still have some
bleeding of color that makes the Gelfling characters appears somewhat orange at
times, but overall this is a better picture presentation than the 1999
“Special Edition” DVD release. The English DTS Digital 5.1 Surround
Soundtrack is somewhat fuller than the English Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround
Soundtrack, but both are very close in quality with the rear channels not
utilized quite as much as one might expect from a 5.1 channel mix. English
Captions and Closed Captions as well as Spanish Language Subtitles are encoded
on to the dual layered DVD as options too.
As
with all Superbit discs, a special high bit rate digital transfer process to
encode movies at double the normal DVD bit rate is utilized, converting the full
physical space to deliver the best video and audio quality available on the
market today. Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment’s “The Dark Crystal:
Superbit” does achieve this goal and makes for a great double feature of
fantasy film watching if you purchase the “Labyrinth: Superbit” DVD, which
will street day and date with “The Dark Crystal: Superbit” sold separately
on Tuesday, March 4, 2003 from Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment.
©
Copyright 2003 By Mark A. Rivera
All Rights Reserved.
Buy This DVD Now By Clicking On The Text Link Below!
The Dark Crystal (Superbit Collection)