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Post by GRWelsh on Sept 3, 2019 17:48:39 GMT -5
I started watching this miniseries on Netflix, which is the prequel to the movie DARK CRYSTAL (1982). I am two episodes in and it is very well done, still using the old school puppetry but this time around making use of CGI backgrounds and special effects which in my opinion is the perfect mix -- practical effects up front, CGI in support. It makes me reminisce about how much Jim Henson and the muppets were a part of my life and all throughout pop culture back then. In the 70's I watched Sesame Street with Kermit the Frog, and then watched the MUPPET SHOW variety show, and oddly enough right around the time I was really getting into fantasy Jim Henson came out with his fantasy project, DARK CRYSTAL. It was never one of my favorite movies, but I always admired the world-building, the artistry and effort. I forgot how brutal it was, and even though it was all muppet violence somehow it was unnerving -- and that is carried through to this new miniseries as well.
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Post by GRWelsh on Oct 31, 2019 17:29:00 GMT -5
I finally finished this, and the reason it took me so long was not due to a lack of interest but because of travel. I just wanted to make a note of how good it was. I had the distinct thought that "this is more Star Wars than Star Wars," meaning this stays authentic to its original and it is grounded in solid storytelling and archetypes in ways that the SW prequels, sequels and spin-offs -- except for the CLONE WARS and perhaps REBELS (which I haven't seen) -- no longer are. DARK CRYSTAL: AGE OF RESISTANCE has actual character development, friendship that felt organic, tragedy and new details added to the world without contradicting it. I forgot what a well done fantasy epic looked like! And even though it was a glorified puppet show, it got disturbing at times. In some scenes it was borderline horror genre. But that is good, because it raised the stakes by portraying the danger of losing to evil rather than just talking about it.
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Post by geneweigel on Nov 1, 2019 11:01:42 GMT -5
Well, maybe I'll put more effort into trying to watch. It seems like everytime I walk towards a TV somebody flips out. HE'S GOT THE REMOTE! STOP HIM! OR HE IS GOING TO WATCH GHOST VIDEOS ALL NIGHT AGAIN!
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Post by geneweigel on Dec 28, 2019 21:10:26 GMT -5
I watched 5 episodes and wow it is some impressive fantasy-making here. I'm believing it 99% as I'm watching it.
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Post by geneweigel on Apr 9, 2020 18:54:45 GMT -5
Finally caught up with all the episodes.
It was really interesting how it all came together into a palpable fantasy.
<<<SLIGHT SPOILER BELOW>>>
The last episode felt abrupt and inconclusive.
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Post by GRWelsh on Apr 10, 2020 7:35:50 GMT -5
I agree it felt inconclusive but I thought that was because we know the immediate future is not good for the Gelflings. Any victory is short-lived. The heroes in this series are all doomed. The ending of the DARK CRYSTAL movie is conclusive, and we know that's coming eventually, but Gelfling civilization gets destroyed in the meantime. So this is kind of like watching "Puppet Ragnarok."
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Post by geneweigel on Apr 10, 2020 8:42:08 GMT -5
I like the relationships of the characters which are complex and not candy ass. I like how the high wisdom character doesn't encourage the high intelligence things. I actually enjoyed the seemingly politically correct parts because it was subtle and classy.
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