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Genndy Tartakovsky to Direct Dark Crystal Sequel
An anonymous reader writes "The folks at Jim Henson productions announced almost without fanfare that a sequel to the impressive The Dark Crystal is in the works and will be directed by the award-winning Genndy Tartakovsky, who created the hit series Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Samurai Jack and Dexter's Laboratory, will direct 'Power of the Dark Crystal,' the sequel to the 1982 classic fantasy film."
Aughra: Where is Brian Froud?
Jen: He's dead.
Aughra: Could be anywhere, then.
http://www.livejournal.com/users/metricmusic
another world
another time
in the age of wonder
another world
another time
this land was green and good
until the crystal cracked
once more
they will replenish themselves
cheat death again
the power of their source
the crystal
can't you can't you trip like i do
can't you can't you trip like i do
From TFA (er, press release):
Legendary fantasy artist Brian Froud, designer of the original film, will return to design the new characters.The only person missing is Jim... and he could be anywhere.
I see that the voice talents seem to be the same people. This immediately looks good, but I have found that this is not always the case. Anyone else who has listened to the BBC "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" show probably knows what I mean. The first two series were done within a short time of each other. They also had Douglas Adams' input. The third (and others) were made about twenty-five years later. They are nothing like the first two; I never listen to the CD of the third series that I purchased. Most of the major voice talents are the same. Including Zaphod, who sounds like a roaring drunk in rehab, in the new series. And, possibly most of all, the performances do not have any of the charm and energy that the first two exhibit.
The choice of director is heartening and seems like a good choice, but I did not watch the clone wars series so I have not seen Tartakovsky do anything that did not have a strange sense of humor. That could work for Aughra, but Jen and Kira were pretty straight forward. The reason I am concerned is that Jean-Pierre Jeunet does good on movies like "Delicatessen" and "Amelie," but totally missed the mark with "Alien: Resurrection." There are other examples of directors who seem to have a certain type of movie pegged (and do great making those movies) and cannot adjust to something different.
Let us just hope that the script is good and everything comes together.
Andrew Borntreger
Champion of cinematic disasters
Genndy Tartakovasky, the master of style over substance. His presence, combined with a quote like the following from Lisa Henson, does not fill me with confidence:
"I am sure that his visualization of Brian Froud's designs will thrill fans of the original film as well as audiences who are meeting these beloved characters for the first time."
The quote is also disheartening for that "audiences who are meeting these beloved characters for the first time," bit. I can understand about slashdotters missing out on items like the movie being "set hundreds of years after the events of the first movie," but to neglect a fact like that while being quoted for a press release is rather disturbing.
This is my sig. It's prescription, I swear. I need it for reading things... on the other side of things
We're going to have to agree to differ on this one, as I thought the quandary and quintessential radio series to be superb. Remember that the books themselves are darker by now, and that the performances are coloured accordingly. Remember too that the characters are supposed to be older and more experienced.
As for having Douglas Adam's input, whilst I have the utmost respect for his work I thought the two recent series showed how much better things were when he had an editor or someone else to bounce off. I thought the last book was quite poor, and not just because of the ending. I also thought the fourth book was only so-so. But the radio series...both were superb, because they had editorial input from others. Douglas Adam's did not create HHGttG on his own first time round - that's why certain characters are missing from the books, because he didn't have the rights to them.
Cheers,
Ian
Comment removed based on user account deletion
The original movie wasn't unique for the time, but was still an excellent creation with a finite storyline. Creating a sequel to Dark Crystal is like creating a sequel to Highlander and Never Ending Story. The only points for doing so are: "Hey, I've got this cool (crappy) script and the connections to make it happen!", and "Hey, let's make some more money off this thing!" It won't have the same spirit which only comes from something that's new. This sequel won't have the spark of beginner's luck to it that made the first one so special. Leave it be, remaster the original, repackage it with two or more DVDs full of extra material, and I'll be more than happy to line your pockets --but please keep the innovative new (crappy half-baked) script in the dust bin where it belongs.
The above poster was joking. Brian Froud is on board "The Power of the Dark Crystal" as it's conceptual designer.
The Power of the Dark Crystal at IMDB
Brian Froud at IMDB
"Leo Fender was in a 'state of grace' when he designed the Stratocaster." -- Paul Reed Smith
It wasn't quite like shooting heroine into the tip of my penis, but the Clone Wars micro series he did was beyond just TV. I was making damn sure what ever I had to do there was time set aside to watch those live. I have the DVDs and still I'm blown away. That man single handedly rescued the Star Wars of my childhood after what Lucas did it. Before he came along, I'd even pared down the series to just Empire Strikes back.
The ephemeral sense of wonder, and childhood impression of daring is something he recaptures with startling regularity. To say nothing of the cultural pool he draw from and weaves into his stories for another generation. If someone is going to make a followup to Dark Crystal, I'm glad its him.
I've got a perfect solution for you... don't watch the sequel!
In addition to the live-action animatronics that in my opinion made the original such a masterpiece, this sequel will include CG animation elements as well. I just pray that they won't mess that part up, as it can ruin an entire movie for me - just as the CG in the Star Wars prequels (instead of sticking to the suits & animatronics used in the originals) ruined those films for me.
Sorry mate, got to disagree (mostly) with you on this one. Dexter was pretty damn good- an honestly funny show which is rare in children's animation these days. The voices were partcularly sharp and the art direction was very good. Samurai Jack was fantastic in almost every aspect- great plots, beautiful artwork and superb direction. The Star Wars stuff was ok- but his hands were tied by the Lucas people in many respects. The second series was better than the first, and had a lot more of his style reflected in them. I am pretty jazzed about him directing the Dark Crystal sequel, although I am a bit leery of the distance between films. My main worry is that they will replace the excellent puppets and costumes with some over animated and underwhelming CG crap.
To quote http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HeroineWikipedia: "Heroine", the feminine form of "hero", should not be confused with heroin, the drug.
It's important to keep the distinction straight: You shoot heroin into the tip of your penis; but shoot the tip of your penis into a heroine.
From the Home Office of Mojo Jojo
1 Volcano Observatory Place
Townsville, USA
To: The City of Townsville
Dear Citizens of the City of Townsville,
I, Mojo Jojo, have developed an evil plot to take a very mystical story and sling my monkey dropping all over it. And I, Mojo Jojo, feel not remorse if this movie stinks at the box office. I am willing to spend the money and the resources to make certain that this cinematic feature is a complete and udder catastrophe that neither you or the Powerpuff Girls can stop.
I have studied that there is no reason to steal from banks anymore. Thanks to my superior intellect, I, Mojo Jojo, have learned that I can steel more money by making people just give it to me through legal commerce by creating a mediocre feature that will haunt people for years on end. A few people may even start a fan club honoring my work allowing me to take more money from the people of Townville. I could be like that John Heder person. Could you believe that people wasted good money on seeing such a movie. While I, Mojo Jojo, have plans on creating a death ray that will oblterate all the actors of the terrible movie that I saw as well as the state of Idaho, I hav decided to delay obliterating everyone and everything that reminds me of Napoleon Dynamite. People will rejoyce and display there graditude by wearing "Vote for Mojo" shirt, not "Vote for Pedro". Mojo would make a better candidate than Pedro, who ever the hell he is.
I know that my plan will be successful, unlike all the other attempts that were thwarted by those annoying Powerpuff Girls!
Victory will be mine! MUHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!
Sincerely, Your Bestest Friend,
Mojo Jojo
PS: (|):|33) pwn3z joo!
The Rapture is NOT an exit strategy.
Lots of odd comments here about how "Genndy will screw it up 'cuz I hate his style of animation" or even "The original had crappy animation."
Quick and simple: the original was an entirely live-action, puppeteered film. It's the only movie like it ever made, actually: the only all-puppet feature film with no humans or live animals present at all. The sequel will be, as well, although they're using CG sets to cut costs.
As for the story, keep in mind that the first movie didn't have a story either. Jim Henson literally brought Brian Froud in, said "make me a world", and then wrote a story around the creatures and world he'd created. With Froud on board again, combined with the fanboy geeky brilliance that Genndy showed with Clone Wars, I have high hopes for this.