Amazon has a terrific deal on The Dark Crystal Collector’s Edition. Released last year for $100, the limited-edition 4K box set of Jim Henson’s beloved dark fantasy film is on sale for only $50. Fans of The Muppets creator’s 1982 classic can also snag this deal at Walmart. The similar Collector’s Edition of Henson’s 1986 film Labyrinth isn’t on sale for quite as cheap, but you can get this one for around $77 at Walmart or Amazon. But before you buy either of these deals, you should know that last year’s sold-out Steelbook Editions of both films are being rereleased on October 7.[1][2][3][4][5]
Originally exclusive to Walmart, the reprints of The Dark Crystal 4K Steelbook[6] and Labyrinth 4K Steelbook[7] are available to preorder at Amazon for $29 and $33, respectively. Walmart[8] is also taking preorders on The Dark Crystal’s Steelbook, but Labyrinth[9] is sold out.
Labyrinth originally released on 4K Blu-ray in 2016 for its 30th anniversary[10], but that edition is $25, so it isn’t much cheaper than the Limited Edition Steelbook. The Dark Crystal’s original 4K Blu-ray release[11] was for its 35th anniversary in 2018, but it’s only four bucks cheaper than the Steelbook Edition at the moment.
$29 (was $36) | Releases October 7[12]
The Dark Crystal originally released in 1982 and was directed by Jim Henson and Frank Oz. Henson created the story concept, and Muppets writer David Odell penned the script.
The Dark Crystal featured incredible puppeteering, and the plot revolves around the characters Jen and Kira, two Gelflings on a quest to bring balance back to the world of Thra by restoring a powerful crystal that overthrowing the evil Skeksis who rule the land. This was essentially Final Fantasy before there even was a Final Fantasy.
This is a two-disc set. The 4K Blu-ray disc contains the film, audio commentary, and a new Q&A from a fan event with The Jim Henson Company CEO Lisa Henson (Jim’s daughter).
A second, standard Blu-ray disc has the film and a bunch. of other special features. Here’s everything you’ll find on the two discs.
The Dark Crystal Special Features
- 4K version of the film
- Standard Blu-ray version of the film
- Fan event Q&A with Lisa Henson
- Audio commentary with conceptual designer Brian Froud
- The myth, magic, and Henson legacy feature
- The world of The Dark Crystal documentary
- Reflections of The Dark Crystal: Light on the path of creation
- Reflections of The Dark Crystal: Shard of Illusion
- Picture-in-picture storyboard track
- Original Skeksis language scenes with introduction by screenwriter David Odell
- Deleted scenes
- Photo galleries
- Theatrical trailers
$50 (was $100)[13]
The Dark Crystal Collector’s Edition is available to ship now and will be tempting for big fans of the Jim Henson film thanks to the 50% discount. While it doesn’t come with the cool steelbook case, the Collector’s Edition has several other collectibles–including a replica of the infamous crystal–and a pretty awesome display box. Here’s what’s included:
- The Dark Crystal Display Box
- Glass Shard Replica (1:1)
- 28-page informational & art book
- 5 Art Cards
- Logo sticker
- 2 discs (4K + 1080p)
The Collector’s Edition comes with 4K Blu-ray and 1080p Blu-ray discs, and the on-disc special features are the same as you’d get with the Steelbook Edition.
$33 (was $37) | Releases October 7[14]
Henson’s final feature film as a director came in 1986 with Labyrinth, a movie that mixed live-action and puppetry. It featured stars like Jennifer Connelly as 16-year-old Sarah and David Bowie as Jareth, the Goblin King. It was sadly a box office bomb at the time, but in the decades after it was released it has received glowing reviews and a devoted fanbase. The film follows Sarah as she embarks on a quest to rescue her infant brother Toby from the center of an enormous maze after she wished him away to Jareth.
Like The Dark Crystal, Labyrinth is dark fantasy that strays very far away from your typical Muppets movie, and this 4K release also comes in a steelbook case, featuring an illustration of Toby surrounded by goblins. There’s also an impressive selection of bonus content to watch.
The special features are split across the two-disc set, with most of them appearing on the standard Blu-ray disc. The 4K disc has the film, audio commentary, a fan event Q&A, and a video that teaches you how to Contact Juggle like David Bowie.
Labyrinth Special Features
- 4K version of the film
- Standard Blu-ray version of the film
- Fan event Q&A with Brian Henson and Toby Froud
- Contact juggling tutorial
- Audio commentary with conceptual designer Brian Froud
- Reordering time: Looking back at Labyrinth
- The Henson Legacy
- Remembering the Goblin King
- Anniversary Q&A
- Inside the Labyrinth documentary
- Journey through the Labyrinth: Kingdom of Characters
- Journey through the Labyrinth: The quest for the Goblin City
- The Storytellers: Picture-in-picture track
- Deleted and alternate scenes, including audio commentary with Brian Henson
- Theatrical trailers
$77.44 (was $100)[15]
Labyrinth’s Collector’s Edition is very similar to the one for The Dark Crystal, except it fittingly trades the glass shard for a Glass Crystal Ball and a display stand made out of wood. Here’s the full list what’s included:
- Labyrinth Display Box
- Glass Crystal Ball with wood stand
- 28-page book
- 5 Art Cards
- Logo sticker
- 2 discs (4K + 1080p)
Once again, you will miss out on the steelbook case, but the on-disc content is the same.
The Dark Crystal & Labyrinth Books
Both of these films have been expanded on in books and comic books over the years, and if you’re looking to read them, Amazon has some nice deals up for grabs. The selection includes adaptations, prequels, and spin-offs[16], as well as a definitive guide to the world of Labyrinth[17] and Tarot card decks[18] themed around both movies.
Notably, the awesome novelization of Labyrinth[19] is getting its first official graphic novel adaptation on December 2. You can preorder Labyrinth: The Graphic Novel[20] in hardcover for $30 (was $40) at Amazon.
Jim Henson’s The Dark Crystal Books
Graphic Novels
More Books
Jim Henson’s Labyrinth Books
Graphic Novels
More Books
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References
- ^ The Dark Crystal Collector’s Edition (www.amazon.com)
- ^ Walmart (sovrn.co)
- ^ Walmart (sovrn.co)
- ^ Amazon (www.amazon.com)
- ^ Steelbook Editions of both films (www.amazon.com)
- ^ The Dark Crystal 4K Steelbook (www.amazon.com)
- ^ Labyrinth 4K Steelbook (www.amazon.com)
- ^ Walmart (sovrn.co)
- ^ Labyrinth (sovrn.co)
- ^ 4K Blu-ray in 2016 for its 30th anniversary (www.amazon.com)
- ^ The Dark Crystal’s original 4K Blu-ray release (www.amazon.com)
- ^ $29 (was $36) | Releases October 7 (www.amazon.com)
- ^ $50 (was $100) (www.amazon.com)
- ^ $33 (was $37) | Releases October 7 (www.amazon.com)
- ^ $77.44 (was $100) (www.amazon.com)
- ^ spin-offs (www.amazon.com)
- ^ definitive guide to the world of Labyrinth (www.amazon.com)
- ^ Tarot card decks (www.amazon.com)
- ^ novelization of Labyrinth (www.amazon.com)
- ^ preorder Labyrinth: The Graphic Novel (www.amazon.com)