Netflix's 'The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance' review: The magic of Thra comes alive through enthralling storytelling
Spoiler-free review of Netflix's 'The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance'
The first impressions of 'The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance' are simply awe-inspiring. From the very get-go, the fantasy world of Thra invites you in, sings to you the stories of its land and its people and it is magical, to say the least. Set in the magical world of Thra, 'The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance' is a prequel to the 1982 Jim Henson film 'The Dark Crystal'. Through ten episodes [we got to watch only the first five episodes from Netflix], the series tells the story of three brave Gelflings - Taron Egerton's Rian, Anya Taylor-Joy's Brea and Nathalie Emmanuel's Deet - as they undertake the journey to spark the fires of rebellion against the evil Skeksis overlords, who, in their quest for eternal life and power, wish to consume anything in their way.
Written by Jeff Addiss, Will Matthews and Javier Grillo Marxuach and directed by Louis Leterrier, 'The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance' is a mesmerizing fusion of fantasy and adventure. The puppets from The Jim Henson Company are masterpieces - a work of craftsmanship that speaks of patience and demands respect. They bring to life the lore of the rebellion brewing in the belly of Thra. The resilience of the Gelflings against the evil Skeksis encourages one to stand up against the atrocities they face - it tells you that no one deserves to live an oppressed life.
Needless to say, if you have loved the 1982 classic 'The Dark Crystal', the Netflix produced prequel is a must-watch. It delves deeper into the downfall of Thra and how the evil overlords took control of, and corrupted, every form of life on the planet. A powerful saga narrated earnestly, you must watch 'The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance' for its magnificent visual treat, compelling storytelling, and meticulous production value.
Sure there are times where you'd think that the prequel far surpasses the 1982 original film and assume that it strips Jim Henson's original product of its value, but that's a given considering the times and the technology. If anything, even as the Netflix production only seems to have taken inspiration from the cult classic, it grows from there and sets a new bar in the world of puppetry - one that isn't looking to compete with the charm of the original. So even if you haven't watched 'The Dark Crystal', you can immerse yourself in the beauty of Netflix's biggest and first-ever tryst with puppetry as a standalone item.
The series boasts of a massive star cast featuring Jason Isaacs, Mark Hamill, Keegan-Micahel Key, Simon Pegg, Helena Bonham Carter, Lena Headey, Natalie Dormer, Donna Kimball, Andy Samberg, Awkwafina, and Caitriona Balfe to only name a few. The voice acting is also one of the highlights of the series - especially considering that most of the voices of The Dark Crystal universe are tough on the throat. Furthermore, when it comes to puppets, the actors have to lend their voice in a way that fits the puppetry as opposed to animation, where animators work around the voice acting.
Simply put, watch 'The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance' for its sheer beauty, enthralling storytelling and brilliant puppetry. 'The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance' is currently streaming on Netflix.