From: utzoo!decvax!ittvax!neiman
Newsgroups: net.movies,net.sf-lovers
Title: Re: Praise for "The Dark Crystal"
Article-I.D.: ittvax.560
Posted: Wed Jan  5 13:01:10 1983
Received: Thu Jan  6 03:55:17 1983
References: omsvax.278

   In respect to the Dark Crystal, why does everyone think you can 
   succeed with a movie which spends 20,000,000 dollars on visuals 
   and $9.95 on plot?  


    The estimate for the amount spent on plot development was obtained
    by pricing the used paperback editions of Lord of the Rings, 
    Sword of Shanara, and other shopworn fantasies.


    The Dark Crystal is just another damn quest fantasy with no 
    worthwhile messages.  I don't require that my entertainment be
    meaningful but I'd appreciate originality.  How many times must we
    put up with "There is a prophecy that the $hero will appear when the
    $omen and overthrow the evil dark $adj lords!"


    Impressions:

    Plot:  mindless
    Villains:  unmotivated evil.  more disgusting than evil actually,
    Heroes: even more than usually simpleminded/ignorant/powerless.
    Dialogue: what dialogue?
    Invocation of Sense of Wonder:  Nice flora, not enough "Lord's fire",
    that is magic.  
    Special effects:  Everything looked like puppets.  The light effects
		      were nothing special and the dark crystal was about
		      the least impressive hunk of rock I've ever seen.

    Summary: Good for kids and very new to fantasy adults.
	     Wizards was better.



				     What do you want for $20 million?
				     A phantasmagoria?


						 Finagle