The Jim Henson Co. announced that it will produce a feature-film sequel to its 1982 fantasy film The Dark Crystal, with the working title, The Power of the Dark Crystal.
That's just NOT right. Here's my problems with this:
- Problem one: damn near 25 years since Dark Crystal. The attitude towards film-making is vastly different.
- Problem two: the light'n'skinny plot idea they've given is ALREADY cheesy/shitty. The Crystal is once again split and they have to fight to save the kingdom? Hmm, the Crystal split once in a thousand years, I have a hard time buying that it just HAPPENS to split again, especially since the first time, it was due to an act of arrogance on the part of the ruling race, and since Jen and Kira knew this, I don't see them doing it again. It's just so formulaic, it burns.
- Problem three: this is Hollywood. They do not make good movies, they make money. They do not care about the film they are sequelizing, they care how much cash they make in the end.
- Problem four: Jim is dead. Pretty much everything the Henson crowd has made since he died has been substandard, at best. It lacks the spark that Jim gave it.
Now, I'm just saying I'm not looking forward to this one. I know plenty of people will disagree with me. But, here's my annoyance with it: Dark Crystal was a beautifully done bit of cinematic art, well-created and long-loved, and it has not survived because it was good-LOOKING, but because it was a good MOVIE. It had depth and breadth and was a good story, well-thought out and constructed. That kind of film is in the minority, now...and a sequel to something like this has very little precedence for being any good. Maybe I'll be surprised, and I'll be happy to say I was wrong if do...that would be a wonderful thing to admit being wrong about...but that's a tall order to fill.
As has been pointed out to me before, I just expect more from things, and I rarely get it. It's a blessing and a curse, and that's just the way it is. But, I STILL say that there is more and better to be had, and you CAN demand better and GET IT, but you have to stop patronizing the shit first...otherwise, the shit makes money, and that becomes the standard level of things. Accept less, and you are given less.