Genndy Tartakovsky to Direct Dark Crystal Sequel 186
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."
It won't be the same (Score:5, Funny)
Jen: He's dead.
Aughra: Could be anywhere, then.
In case people don't know (Score:3, Informative)
The Power of the Dark Crystal at IMDB [imdb.com]
Brian Froud at IMDB [imdb.com]
Not so sure (Score:1)
Re:Not so sure (Score:1)
I fear that for us, this movie will be a mockery.
Re:Not so sure (Score:1)
I fear that for us, this movie will be a mockery.
How would a sequel affect your perception of the first movie? Thats something I cant grasp when everyone is bitching about the new Star Wars, Matrix sequels or what ever. I've seen the SW sequels which didnt live to the expectations, still the originals are the same kick-ass as ever. Nothing changed. Same with Matrix, first one
Re:Not so sure (Score:1)
I know there are a lot of people who like them for whatever god-awful reason, but these things take the Force from being a mystical energy that surrounds and guides life and reduces it to something horribly similar to an abysmal anime. "Well my midi-chlorian count is over... TWO million! I have the power to go... SUPER-Jedi!"
Having said my peac
Re:Not so sure (Score:2)
Considering you have a very high tech future society, you should understand that they would be advanced enough to the point where they c
Re:Not so sure (Score:2, Insightful)
Then dont watch the sequel? (Score:1, Funny)
Re:Not so sure (Score:2)
I think a sequel to Dark Crystal makes about as much sense as a sequel to Bambi: none. In both cases, it is the result of a movie studio unable to come up with original material.
Re:Not so sure (Score:2)
I have fond memories of both Dark Crystal and Bambi, but both are singular movies and complete in themselves. I don't see what another movie would bring to the world, other than a few bucks into producers' pockets.
On the other hand, after reading TFA, this movie seems to be a movie set in the same "universe" as Dark Crystal, but also distinct. It might actually have some merit.
Re:Not so sure (Score:2)
For the most part, I think sequels are stupid and pointless. Movies tend to stand alone very well unless they were written from the beginning to be part of a series (e.g. Star Wars). Sometimes, a sequel works well despite not being written to be a series (e.g. Toy Story 2, Lethal Weapon 2-4). However, the other 99% of the time, sequels are hack jobs that try to inject new content into a balanced movie, and rarely works out well.
If, as you say, this movie just exists in the same movie universe but isn't dir
The Crystal Method (Score:2, Informative)
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
Re:The Crystal Method (Score:2, Interesting)
Hope for Americans (was Re:The Crystal Method) (Score:2)
don't forget the shocking twist (Score:2)
my head asploded when i saw that film at a tiny age. i still remember that little creature those grizzled vulture dudes pinned down and fried with some sort of ray to extract some life extending goop. and how when one of the evil vulture dudes would die, their "good" counterpart would die as well
serious lsd trip-like stuff for a little kid, it left an impression
Re:don't forget the shocking twist (Score:1)
Re:don't forget the shocking twist (Score:2)
Re:don't forget the shocking twist (Score:1)
It has to be said (Score:1)
I don't really know what to say about this article. Whether or not this is a good or bad thing, this is left to be seen when something is available to be seen. However, if my memory serves me right, the Dark Crystal wasn't all that good. BUT!!!! I did like it. I enjoyed the fantasy of the story, but due to the fact I didn't get to see it until 4 years ago, thanks to modern unimaginative CG movies we have these days, I personally didn't get all to into the mo
Re:It has to be said (Score:2)
You merely need to be able to accept the film on it's merits, not it's technique.
If you go into it expecting hyper-realistic SFX, you're going to be disappointed.
If you go in with no preconceptions, that's a different story.
Genndy Tartakovsky? (Score:2)
I hope I'm wrong. Dark Crystal was awesome. It's just a big strike against the chances of the sequel being respectful of the originality and imagination of the original.
Re: Samurai Jack (Score:1)
Re:Genndy Tartakovsky? (Score:1, Insightful)
Not to offend, but you are wrong. The Clone Wars shorts were absolutely amazing, and in my opinion stand head and shoulders above the actual films (perhaps not so hard to do). Maybe you were expecting something from them that they weren't intended to provide, or maybe it was the unusual animation style, but I would strongly recommend watching them again.
I don't know if making a Dark Crystal sequel is a good idea, but since they're doing it I'm thrilled to know that Tartakovsky is in charg
Re:Genndy Tartakovsky? (Score:2)
Maybe he was given an awful story to work with, but after Dexter and Samurai Jack, I expected a lot more. A lot more.
Re:Genndy Tartakovsky? (Score:2)
As a fairly avid Star Wars fanboy, I appreciated and enjoyed Genndy's take on the Star Wars universe. The art direction was great. The dialog, true to the action roots planted by Samurai Jack, was sparse but effective. The battles had a good sense of excitement to them, much unlike the fights seen in the recent Eps 1-3.
I'm curious to hear why you thought Clone Wars sucked.
Re:Genndy Tartakovsky? (Score:2)
My boy and I really tried to enjoy them.
Funnily enough I didn't know until now they were by the same guy that brought us Mandark and Mojo Jojo.
Maybe I didn't have enough faith, it wouldn't be the first time one needs to watch a few, leave it and then watch them again to get over the culture shock.
Re:Genndy Tartakovsky? (Score:5, Insightful)
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.
Re:Genndy Tartakovsky? (Score:2)
Spelling Nazi time (Score:5, Informative)
To quote http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heroine [wikipedia.org]Wikipedia: "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.
Six one way, half-dozen the other. (Score:2)
Herion or heroine and the tip of one's penis. It's all the same.
Re:Genndy Tartakovsky? (Score:1)
Re:Genndy Tartakovsky? (Score:2)
Oddly enough, I've liked everything he's done except Samurai Jack.
Somehow, Professor Utonium in a bathrobe with a sword, acting all serious and silent just never did it for me.
But aside from that, I'll agree with what others have said - I don't know if screwing with a sequel to something Henson made seems like such a good idea, but I'll give it a shot just because they have Tartakovsky directing it.
Agree and disagree (Score:2)
The biggest problem arrises when you already have an idea what the style should be like. Dexter labs and the other originals stand on their own and so their very stylised art can be allowed to work.
Clone wars however clashed for me with my perception of what star wars should be like. Not that much since I grew up with far worse art massacres in the form of the early star wars comics but still it clashed.
But the Dark Crys
OT (Score:1)
and emacs [bell-labs.com] aint all that.
=)
Without muppetry ... (Score:2)
Without muppetry, I don't think the world would be the same. It is absoluetly amazing what the Henson Creature shop accomplishes.
I hope if they DO do the CGI that they figure out how to make their actors LOOK like the original muppet actors with the generally soft edges.
Re:RTFA (Score:2)
Re:Agree and disagree (Score:2)
But seriously, did you read any of the article? Genndy is directing, not doing art. Those are actually different jobs in filmmakingland!
Re:Genndy Tartakovsky? (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Genndy Tartakovsky? (Score:2)
Save Us From Speilberg's Flashlights (Score:2)
Clone Wars Vol. 2 completely blew me away. As a Star Wars fanboy who really disliked the prequels, I was shocked to see something so good set in the prequel universe. I have to assume Lucas stayed out of this project.
Which bodes well for a Dark Crystal II - this guy is really good at re-interpreting the author's original intent. If he can channel 1975 George Lucas (killed during pre-production of Jedi and repla
Re:Genndy Tartakovsky? (Score:2)
Re:Genndy Tartakovsky? (Score:2)
What are you blind man? How about the 10 minute elongated scene with Mace in the heat of battle? Or when Yoda uses his mind power to navigate an enemy shit directly into another ship right before landing? The catroon serious had an element beyond the movies that was awe-inspiring. Very different than the movies, duh, but they were incredible and fantastic in their own right!
Re:Genndy Tartakovsky? (Score:2)
Or when Yoda uses his mind power to navigate an enemy shit directly into another ship right before landing?
That must've been in the director's cut. I think I would have remembered that. :-)
Re:Genndy Tartakovsky? (Score:2)
Re:Genndy Tartakovsky? (Score:2)
Re:Genndy Tartakovsky? (Score:2)
Are you serious?
Clone Wars was the best Star Wars of the decade, tons better than any of the three prequels.
Of course, that's from watching them all at once on the DVD. I imagine if I'd seen them in 3-minute chunks (what idiot came up with that idea?) it would've been considerably less interesting.
Re:Genndy Tartakovsky? (Score:2)
Eerie parallel with the BBC "Hitchhiker's Guide" (Score:5, Informative)
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.
Re:Eerie parallel with the BBC "Hitchhiker's Guide (Score:4, Insightful)
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
Re:Eerie parallel with the BBC "Hitchhiker's Guide (Score:2)
even the best director in the universe can only do so much with a shit script.
Re:Eerie parallel with the BBC "Hitchhiker's Guide (Score:1)
Re:Eerie parallel with the BBC "Hitchhiker's Guide (Score:2)
Good point. Zaphod ought to sound like a roaring drunk who would never go to rehab. After all, he is the man who invented the Pan-Galactic Gargleblaster.
Forgot The Powerpuff Girls (Score:1, Interesting)
And I'm being quite truthfull. That's good "X" viewing.
Re:Forgot The Powerpuff Girls (Score:2)
If you go back and watch the old Space Ghost Coast to Coast ep/special where they rolled out three debuts on their What A Cartoon show, they do a mock-up of a pageant where the producers of each short vies for a regular spot in the Cartoon Network lineup.
They aired the original pilot with Fuzzy Lumpkin, his meat gravy, and his meat ray. Funny how that show was never aimed at young girls earl
Genndy Tartakovsky: FTW!!! (Score:1)
WATCH Samurai Jack.
WATCH the PowerPuff Girls.
I mean *really* *really* WATCH them. This man is the man for the job. If you really see his previous work you will KNOW its true.
Re: (Score:3, Funny)
Re: Genndy Tartakovsky: FTW!!! (Score:2)
It doesn't need a sequel (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:It doesn't need a sequel (Score:2)
Sorry to pick nits, but --
-- you mean that time when they made a movie of the second half of the book?
impressive? (Score:1)
Re:impressive? (Score:2)
Jar Jar Binks, anyone ? (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:Jar Jar Binks, anyone ? (Score:2)
CG done in moderation or with good direction is excellent. So many entire scenes in Star Wars were shot with full green screen. George simply wasn't up to the task of directing the actors properly, and they needed more direction since no props existed at all. I mean, Natalie Portman and Hayden Christiansen are good actors. Look at their other work.
The editing was good. The cast was good. The special effects were really good. But the scripts sucked, an
Oh goodie (Score:2)
But I am also reminded what happens time and time again when some non-movie director gets his paws on a famous property. Usually it is some guy who did some music videos who gets to do a full movie and screws up.
This time it is a cartoon director. I only seen dexters lab and powerpuff girls. Dexters lab was okay powerpuffs was a bit to much
Re:Oh goodie (Score:2)
Very good point. Mod parent up here. But...
either Henson studios is swimming in cash or it is going to suck so bad it will stagger believe.
Not every movie taken to a series has sucked. In fact, when I show people the Stargate movie, they can't believe how much better the series was.
I'm not going to say more about Stargate, because I don't know what the original budget of S
fetzkiek (Score:1)
although i could not understand a word of what they were saying
i watched the movie frequently and remember
i was scared to death when that monsterdog fetzkiek popped out of his mousehole and said graawwwlll.
Why sequels? (Score:2)
There have been very, very few sequels that were better than the original -- Army of Darkness, Empire Strikes Back, The Wrong Trowsers
I thought it was cool that Henson allowed Mirror Mask to be made -- I'd prefer seei
Re:Why sequels? (Score:2)
You poor, poor boy*.
Sequels are the ONLY way you can get real character depth with cinema. The guy that Tom Hanks plays for a scant two-hundred minutes might be gripping and moving, but he's also shallow. Even if the story is all about him (think "Castaway"), you still get only a fraction of a real character.
The situation is even worst with fantasy and sci-fi, because yo
Re:Why sequels? (Score:2)
Sequels are the ONLY way you can get real character depth with cinema.
WTF? Go and rent The Searchers right now. Hell, go and rent Forest Gump while you're there. When you return those, add Patton and Death and the Maiden and any other of the zillion movies that randomly are popping into my head. If a sequel is needed to give a character depth, chances are the original needed a better script.
Re:Why sequels? (Score:2)
Oh, sorry. I should have ammended that to "sequals, or movies that are extended diatribes about one character."
And even then, you don't really know the characters. There's an illusion of depth that goes back to Shakespherean plays -- it's not a BAD thing, mind you -- but it's not the kind of depth that, oh, characters on well-written soap operas have. (And, in kind, depth isn't always a GOOD thing, either.)
Mojo Jojo not impressed (Score:3, Funny)
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!
Spaceballs Sequel... (Score:2)
Re:Spaceballs Sequel... (Score:2)
If you like Henson/Dark Crystal (Score:2)
The Storyteller
Mirrormask (which just came out)
Finish Samurai Jack!!! (Score:2)
C'mon, send Jack home.
Btw, I wonder how this happens behind the scenes. Does cartoon network just pull it and it's done, or do they give the artist some warning, like it's done this year, you've got 10 eps to wrap it up.
Trevor Jones / Marcus Dodds (RIP) / LSO (Score:2)
It's a puppet film (Score:3, Interesting)
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.
Ecology (Score:2)
The defining thing about The Dark Crystal to me was the sense of ecology. It was fun watching a group of biologists start geeking out at a fantasy movie because of all the clever "creature" moments and panning shots of swamps teeming with life. The whole "You have wings?! I don't have wings!" / "Of course not ... you're a boy" line that had the entomologists and the feminists of the group both in tears of laughter for days. The Dark Crystal has become the yardstick against which I find I measure the det
Re:OMG! (Score:1)
Re:OMG! (Score:2)
(I also read the book at some point while growing up. Not sure if it was a screeplay-to-book or if it was more of the original story prior to being made into a screenplay.)
Re:OMG! (Score:2)
As the saying goes (Score:2)
But seriously, the guy just posted his opinion. Disagree if you want but you don't have to be so nasty about it.
Re:OMG WTF AOL LOL! (Score:1)
Re:OMG WTF AOL LOL! (Score:1)
Er, or maybe I am? Stupid double negatives!
Re:Wow! (Score:3, Insightful)
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.
Froud is in... but Tartakovsky is too. (Score:3, Insightful)
"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 o
Re:Froud is in... but Tartakovsky is too. (Score:1)
The original Dark Crystal was excellent but it was a kid's movie. We liked because we were kids when we saw it. When we look at the original through adult's eyes, it won't be anywhere near as impressive, because the new Dark Crystal will also be a kids movie.
Studios know where the best target market for these sorts of films is, and it isn't us.
E.g. compare the box office of Harry Potter movies with Serenity. First one was unashamedly aimed at kids, second one aimed at 30
Re:Froud is in... but Tartakovsky is too. (Score:2)
Speak for yourself. I find Dark Crystal an impressive work as an adult. I don't buy the claim that "kid's movies" or for that matter fiction written for "kids" should be automatically bad or less impressive in scope than works created for adults. Som
Re:Froud is in... but Tartakovsky is too. (Score:2)
Mirrormask: Bad in Box Office? (Score:2)
In all honesty, it's amazing that Mirrormask has done as well as it has, considering that it's had almost no advertising whatsoever. The DVDs are selling based almost entirely off of word of mouth.
Remember the end of the Dark Crystal ... (Score:2)
Remember when the Skeksies and the Mystics merge again and fly off into space. I think Jim would have liked to think of his leaving earth like that.
He's out there in the void now. He's everywhere and no where.
Re:Wow! (Score:2)
I had like the second post, and I'm redundant! Whatever.
And since I don't know who you are, I can't tell you why I marked you foe, nor do I really care at this point.
Re:Wow! (Score:2)
Re:I feel sorry for some of you -- I really do (Score:2)
Re:Not my favorite animation style (Score:2)
I appre
Re:Not my favorite animation style (Score:2)
There's the somewhat realistic: Perfect Blue, Boogiepop Phantom, Lain, Gasaraki, Samurai X: Trust & Betrayal.
Miyuzaki has his own style. He bends it a bit in different films.
Even the classic style is pretty elastic. Project A-Ko, Excel Saga, All Purpose Cultural Cat Girl Nuku Nuku, Tenchi Muyo, Dirty Pair are all what I would consider standard-fare where they experiment in
Re:Britney Spears' boobs (Score:2)
And what of ET? Granted, when I was 10 it was neat but I don't see what you think Hollywood should have done to this "classic" (cough cough) to meet up to your standards.
I will agree with you on Sta
Hollywood's got nothin' on Marvel and DC. (Score:2)
Screwed LotR? Check.
Big fan of Ralph Bakshi's work I take it?
Screwed Tomb Raider? Check.
Yeah, they did that before even producing a sequel. Oh, and Eidos beat them to screwing over Tomb Raider via sequels.
Screwed Xmen3? Check.
How do you screw over the X-men? No, seriously, how do you screw over any comic book more than Marvel and DC are capable of doing on their own? Which set of X-men do you use?
Re:A Sequel.... (Score:2)
IIRC there are plans to do just that, in the form or either a manga-style comic book or an anime-style cartoon series. I don't remember which.