A Sequel to the Dark Crystal?

In his later years, visionary puppetteer Jim Henson wanted to do more realistic and fantasy-oriented films. Perhaps best known for making children laugh and smile (adults, too!), Henson had loaned his expertise to George Lucas, creating the memorable Yoda and acquiring a taste for the fantastic. Henson gave us the The Dark Crystal late in 1982 and showed us what he could accomplish in that genre.

The film was a financial success, earning $40 million after spending about $18 million. Critics almost universally panned the film, and parents were apprehensive due to the film's apparent dark tone, but it made no difference. Dark Crystal became a highly successful endeavor. Even today, its influence continues. South Park featured a Skeksis (one of the film's many creatures) in a Nanny 911-esque setting.

In 2006, rumors of a sequel had surfaced online. These rumors were later confirmed, the project officially named Power of the Dark Crystal.

As an avid fan of the original film, I hit the ceiling. I have dreamt of a continuation to Crystal for a long time, even drafting a few stories of my own. I cannot describe the excitement that took me. Things finally calmed down. I spoke with my parents that weekend, relayed the news, the excitement returned. Well, a neighbor had to come over and dislodge me from the ceiling.

Nevertheless, two questions came to my mind. The first is probably one most asked in a situation like this. After twenty-six years, can it possibly good? I confess I had many doubts. Let's face it. Franchises that return to the screen after a long absence do not always turn out well. Indiana Jones met with sharp fan criticism when he returned this year (though I believe this is mostly ridiculous). Can Dark Crystal 2 succeed?

I'll probably make enemies here, but I think it will. It may not break box office expectations, but I believe it will be a good move. Power is different, because its plot is exactly what we expect. It takes place years after the events of the first film, but still features Jen and Kira ruling over the world, right where we left them. It's both a direct sequel AND a follow-up. By that I mean the film features characters from the first film in the same situation (a direct sequel), but compensates for the gap between films by taking place years later, with now much older characters (a follow-up). It's a sequel that is self-aware of the time-gap between films. That's a formula that can work.

The plot will feature a visitor to Jen and Kira's castle, a creature who lives in the molten core of the planet. The world below is dying, and only one thing can save it: a shard of the Crystal. Well, they can't hand over a shard. Fracturing the Crystal is what caused the events of the first film. Obviously, Jen and Kira aren't going to let this happen. So the visitor will just take it, and that starts the adventure. These details are just sketches of what has been released, but so far, I'm still excited about it.

Jim Henson has been dead for more than a decade now. His son, Brian, will help with production, as he has with many Muppets projects since his father's passing. The film will feature a heavy use of state-of-the-art animatronics. Of course, state-of-the-art in today's terms is a bit better than it was in 1982. The creatures of this film may look and move a lot more realistically than they did in the first film. It was good then, perhaps better now. CG will be used. I know that's made a lot of fans unhappy, but I don't think it'll make that much difference, myself. A film that makes more use of puppets and props already has a very artificial look. How much MORE fake can it be? Plus, CGI will be used mainly for backgrounds and lighting effects. Well, it works for Sanctuary.

I am just psyched. The film is scheduled for release in 2009, no exact date just yet. The more I learn about it, the more thrilled I become. My fears have been allayed. My first question, can it possibly be good, I feel has been answered, with a resounding "yes!" So what was the other question that came to me while reading this news?

What about Labyrinth?