The World of Jim Henson
The late Jim Henson’s most beloved creations, the Muppets, will be back on the big screen from 10 February. What better time to revisit two of his vintage works that have a more complicated legacy?
Directed by Henson and Frank Oz (a.k.a. the voice of Yoda and Miss Piggy), THE DARK CRYS TAL was billed as the first live-action film without any human beings on screen. All the characters were puppets and the animatronics were considered cutting-edge for their day. THE DARK CRYSTAL was far darker than E.T., another film of the fantastic from that year, and its $40 million box office takings left it looking like an anaemic rival. But the stature of the film has grown over the years.
The same can be said of LABYRINTH, which focuses on a young girl’s attempt to travel though a maze in order to rescue her younger brother. The film combined live action and puppet work and was the last film Henson directed before his untimely death in 1990. It may have been Henson’s sunny success with the Muppets that set both films up for unfair or misguided expectations. Now, though, the pair of fantasy films form part of Henson’s singular perch in entertainment history. Jim Henson was an absolute genius whose work will continue to amaze for generations to come.
Sunday 12 February, 3.15
THE DARK CRYSTAL (PG)
Sunday 12 February, 5.30
LABYRINTH (U)
Four of our favourites from the legendary director more...
