Jim Henson’s classic films The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth are both now available on 4K from Shout Studios, and his daughter Lisa Henson, the current CEO of the Jim Henson Company, boasts that the ultra-high resolution aspect of the films makes them even better.
While some of these high-resolution 4K releases from the 80s suffer from the remaster and the mistakes and lack of quality stick out like a sore thumb, the remasters for The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth have the opposite effect because the quality of craftsmanship was incredible and according to Henson, this kind of work can’t be duplicated in CG. She said:
“It’s possible that you might be able to see a little more of how things are done, you might be able to see a thread here or there, but what you will see, that you couldn’t see when the definition wasn’t as good are the textures. There’s no way a CG texture can beat a real texture. So when you see how these puppets are made, and how beautiful the costumes are, and the level of detail, that’s the richness that’s impossible to duplicate with CG.”
I grew up with these two films and I’ve watched them several times over the years on VHS and DVD. I still have yet to watch them in 4K, but after reading what Henson said about them, I can’t wait to see what they look like!
The Dark Crystal is a fantasy film directed by Jim Henson and Frank Oz, released in 1982. Set in a richly imagined world, the movie follows the journey of a young Gelfling named Jen, the last of his kind, as he embarks on a quest to heal the Dark Crystal, a powerful and corrupted gemstone that has brought darkness and tyranny to his world. Along the way, Jen encounters a variety of mystical creatures, including the malevolent Skeksis and the wise Mystics, who hold the key to restoring balance to their world. The film is renowned for its groundbreaking puppetry and practical effects, creating a visually stunning and immersive world filled with unique characters and a timeless tale of good versus evil.
Labyrinth was released in 1986, was directed by Henson, and stars David Bowie and Jennifer Connelly. The movie follows the story of Sarah, a teenage girl who, frustrated with her baby stepbrother Toby, inadvertently wishes him away to the Goblin King’s labyrinth. To rescue Toby, Sarah must navigate a treacherous maze filled with bizarre creatures and whimsical challenges, all controlled by the enigmatic Goblin King, played by Bowie. Along her journey, Sarah befriends a collection of peculiar characters, including Hoggle, Ludo, and Sir Didymus, who aid her in her quest. As time ticks away, Sarah must outsmart the cunning Goblin King and confront her own fears and insecurities.
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