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thescientist-1
Reviews
The Dark Crystal (1982)
If you are not frightened by this, then you must be dead.
I have to begin this review with a warning to anyone planning to watch this film: 'The Dark Crystal' is one of the scariest films you will ever see. It is only equalled by 'The Ring' and possibly 'The Grudge'. The entire film has a dark, unsettling atmosphere about it; there's not one character that you won't be terrified of. The benign beings that have raised our Gelfling hero, the mystics, are frightening enough, but once you get to see the evil skeksis, you won't be able to sleep for a week. These hideous creatures are the most accurate portrayal of humanity's vision of evil ever brought to life on the screen. Their twisted and creepily humanoid bodies are reminiscent of vultures, their eyes cruel and black. Their dwelling is a castle that appears to be as dark and rotten as the skeksis themselves. Any scenes involving these terrible beasts strike a deep primal fear into the viewer, those featuring their carnivorous and possibly cannibalistic eating habits more than any.
I would like to comment more on the plot, but I was too busy waiting in terror for the next horrific creature to take much notice. From what I could gather, it was a fairly typical fantasy story of good and evil. What makes the film stand out from the norm is the fact that both the skeksis and the mystics were once as one, all powerful beings of great wisdom and benevolence. This is an obvious yet stunningly powerful metaphor for the eternal battle between good and evil in the human conscience. The immense evil of the skeksis is so brilliantly portrayed that it affects the viewer in an unforgettable way.
The film deserves a high score just for the fear it strikes into the heart of its audience. It is one of the most effectively scary films ever made, and the shadows of those horrific skeksis will haunt you for many dark nights to follow. I give 'The Dark Crystal' a 9.
Earthsea (2004)
There is no Ged.
Ursula Le Guin's Earthsea quartet (yes, I know that there are five books) is one of the best fantasy series written since 'The Lord of the Rings'. When I sat down to watch the television adaptation, I was expecting to see an intelligent and thoughtful film relaying the exciting events portrayed in the novels.
Instead, I was treated to three hours of self-important and pathetic - dare I say 'bottle of the barrel' - American actors working their way through a series of inappropriate one liners relating in no way to the plot. For the best part of the film, I was struggling to comprehend what was happening and why two stories separated by a number of years were being given a complete and unnecessary make over and being badly stitched together so as to pad out the running time.
So, in comparison to the book, this is a disappointing and unworthy translation from page to screen.
But as a picture in its own right, and completely ignoring the novel, a far superior work of undeniable genius, 'Legends of Earthsea' is a surprisingly satisfactory action 'B flick'. Despite the mostly terrible acting, courtesy of the majority of the cast, this film does feature some entirely acceptable performances on occasion: the Arch Mage (or Arch Magus as he is infuriatingly referred to in the film) is played with dignity and strength, as is Ogion (and that's a 'G' Mr. Scriptwriter, not a 'J'). The basis of the story of the first book is evident in this adaptation, any viewers not familiar with the novel will find this most enjoyable. The CGI is convincing and this helps to enhance the film further: the gebbeth is often chilling.
So, for those who have read the book: avoid it. But if you haven't, 'Legends of Earthsea' is a fairly enjoyable and fast paced adventure film, perhaps not in the league of 'The Lord of the Rings' or even 'Harry Potter', but comparisons could be made with other fantasy films, such as 'Dragonheart' and 'Excalibur'. Or you could just read the book.