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- Dark Crystal: Dreamfast, The
Dark Crystal: Dreamfast, The
Featured
Updated
Faneditor Name:
Original Movie Title:
Fanedit Type:
Original Release Date:
1982
Original Running Time:
93
Fanedit Release Date:
Fanedit Running Time:
92
Time Cut:
1
Subtitles Available?
Available in HD?
Additional Links:
Brief Synopsis:
A partial reconstruction of an earlier version of The Dark Crystal which most notably excises the voiceovers, replaces most of the Skeksis English dialogue with an alien language (as found in the Bluray extras), rearranges and trims only a few scenes.
Intention:
The Dark Crystal apparently received some major changes, mostly audio-related, after test screening caused worries of it being too confusing or dark for children. This edit attempts to create something similar to that workprint making the Skeksis more menacing and less silly and letting the visuals tell more of the story.
Release Information:
Digital
Special Features
An alternate version of this edit, Workprint Enhanced, follows the workprint version even more closely by incorporating workprint audio and the deleted scenes found in the Bluray extras. As these additional sources are notably lower quality, I'm including this version as a bonus feature rather then a separate release.
Cuts and Additions:
D=Dreamfast
E=Workprint Enhanced
ED-removed intro narration (D-uses truncated version)
ED-reused exterior castle shots to transition to Jen playing flute [used "Jen Plays His Pipes"]
ED-moved scene of the urRu chant to later
E-moved fading of UrSa to end of convo with Jen & before Emperor death [used "Death of the Emperor, Death of the Mystic Master"]
ED-used Skeksis language audio for Emperor death scene [used "Death of the Emperor, Death of the Mystic Master" again]
E-added deleted funeral scene after death of emperor [used "The Funeral and Jen's Journey"]
ED-removed Jen voiceover leaving valley [used "The Funeral and Jen's Journey"]
ED-Used Skeksis language audio for debate and duel [used "Skeksis Debate Leadership, Skeksis Duel (Film Version)", "Chamberlain Is Attacked", "Opening Titles and Main Theme, Mystics' Sandpainting"]
ED-Used workprint audio for the crystal calling the Skeksis (only one line replaced in Dreamfast) [used "Skeksis Summoned By Alarm"]
E-cut reaction shot to Jen in crystal and second shot of Jen in crystal
E-cut shot of SkekUng after summoning Garthim and few frames of Garthim at either end to match workprint timing
ED-removed background Skeksis english dialogue over final Jen in crystal shot before transition
ED-removed Jen voiceover on mountain before meeting Aughra [used "Garthim Are Dispatched, Jen On Aughra's Mountain"]
E-used extras audio and add a few extended shots for Aughra's Orrery scene
ED-inserted earlier urRu introduction scene at Aughra's Orrery timeskip [used "Opening Titles and Main Theme, Mystics' Sandpainting"]
ED-removed Jen voiceover, Aughra background dialogue during choosing the shard (E - used workprint audio through garthim attack)
ED-removed Jen voiceover looking back at Aughra's burning home
ED-removed urRu voiceover during departure from valley
ED-removed Jen voiceover while contemplating shard, hearing noise
ED-removed dreamfast voiceover [used "Gefliings Meet, Dreamfast"]
E-removed or replaced with workprint audio Skeksis english dialogue during feast [used "Skeksis Feast (Part I)", "Skeksis Feast (Part II)"]
ED-used Skeksis language audio for confrontation with Aughra (fewer lines replaced in Dreamfast)
ED-replaced Jen & Kira discussing shard dialogue at Podling party with alternate dialogue from extras
E-added extra shot and line during podling party
ED-removed Jen voiceover while sleeping with Kira [used "Jen and Kira Love Theme"]
ED-used Skeksis language audio for draining Podling, SkekUng drinks essence (only one line replaced in Dreamfast) [E-used "Jen and Kira Set Off On Landstriders, Pod Person Drained", "The Battle, Mystics Travelling"]
ED-used Skeksis language audio for Kira brought before Skeksis, trim brief shot of SkekUng speaking with missing dialogue (fewer lines replaced in Dreamfast) [used "Kira Brought Before the Skeksis"]
ED-removed SkekTek dialogue during Kira draining scene (D-replace Augra dialogue with workprint)
ED-removed Jen voiceover discovering the crystal chamber (D-use workprint audio for Aughra convo) [used "Jen Discovers Crystal Chamber","Gelfling Frightens Skeksis, The Crystal Made Whole"]
ED-removed or replaced with workprint audio Skeksis dialogue during conjunction scene, trim brief shot of SkekOk speaking (no workprint audio in Dreamfast) [E-used "Gelfling Frightens the Skeksis, The Crystal Made Whole"]
ED-removed Aughra dialogue while saving Fizzgig
D-used workprint audio for Aughra reciting prophecy in crystal chamber
E=Workprint Enhanced
ED-removed intro narration (D-uses truncated version)
ED-reused exterior castle shots to transition to Jen playing flute [used "Jen Plays His Pipes"]
ED-moved scene of the urRu chant to later
E-moved fading of UrSa to end of convo with Jen & before Emperor death [used "Death of the Emperor, Death of the Mystic Master"]
ED-used Skeksis language audio for Emperor death scene [used "Death of the Emperor, Death of the Mystic Master" again]
E-added deleted funeral scene after death of emperor [used "The Funeral and Jen's Journey"]
ED-removed Jen voiceover leaving valley [used "The Funeral and Jen's Journey"]
ED-Used Skeksis language audio for debate and duel [used "Skeksis Debate Leadership, Skeksis Duel (Film Version)", "Chamberlain Is Attacked", "Opening Titles and Main Theme, Mystics' Sandpainting"]
ED-Used workprint audio for the crystal calling the Skeksis (only one line replaced in Dreamfast) [used "Skeksis Summoned By Alarm"]
E-cut reaction shot to Jen in crystal and second shot of Jen in crystal
E-cut shot of SkekUng after summoning Garthim and few frames of Garthim at either end to match workprint timing
ED-removed background Skeksis english dialogue over final Jen in crystal shot before transition
ED-removed Jen voiceover on mountain before meeting Aughra [used "Garthim Are Dispatched, Jen On Aughra's Mountain"]
E-used extras audio and add a few extended shots for Aughra's Orrery scene
ED-inserted earlier urRu introduction scene at Aughra's Orrery timeskip [used "Opening Titles and Main Theme, Mystics' Sandpainting"]
ED-removed Jen voiceover, Aughra background dialogue during choosing the shard (E - used workprint audio through garthim attack)
ED-removed Jen voiceover looking back at Aughra's burning home
ED-removed urRu voiceover during departure from valley
ED-removed Jen voiceover while contemplating shard, hearing noise
ED-removed dreamfast voiceover [used "Gefliings Meet, Dreamfast"]
E-removed or replaced with workprint audio Skeksis english dialogue during feast [used "Skeksis Feast (Part I)", "Skeksis Feast (Part II)"]
ED-used Skeksis language audio for confrontation with Aughra (fewer lines replaced in Dreamfast)
ED-replaced Jen & Kira discussing shard dialogue at Podling party with alternate dialogue from extras
E-added extra shot and line during podling party
ED-removed Jen voiceover while sleeping with Kira [used "Jen and Kira Love Theme"]
ED-used Skeksis language audio for draining Podling, SkekUng drinks essence (only one line replaced in Dreamfast) [E-used "Jen and Kira Set Off On Landstriders, Pod Person Drained", "The Battle, Mystics Travelling"]
ED-used Skeksis language audio for Kira brought before Skeksis, trim brief shot of SkekUng speaking with missing dialogue (fewer lines replaced in Dreamfast) [used "Kira Brought Before the Skeksis"]
ED-removed SkekTek dialogue during Kira draining scene (D-replace Augra dialogue with workprint)
ED-removed Jen voiceover discovering the crystal chamber (D-use workprint audio for Aughra convo) [used "Jen Discovers Crystal Chamber","Gelfling Frightens Skeksis, The Crystal Made Whole"]
ED-removed or replaced with workprint audio Skeksis dialogue during conjunction scene, trim brief shot of SkekOk speaking (no workprint audio in Dreamfast) [E-used "Gelfling Frightens the Skeksis, The Crystal Made Whole"]
ED-removed Aughra dialogue while saving Fizzgig
D-used workprint audio for Aughra reciting prophecy in crystal chamber
User reviews
2 reviews
Overall rating
9.4
Audio/Video Quality
9.5(2)
Audio Editing
9.0(2)
Visual Editing
9.5(2)
Narrative
9.5(2)
Enjoyment
9.5(2)
(Updated: November 14, 2023)
Overall rating
9.0
Audio/Video Quality
9.0
Audio Editing
8.0
Visual Editing
9.0
Narrative
10.0
Enjoyment
9.0
This is something I hoped someone would do eventually. Catferoze provides two versions, I watched the main edit, as opposed to the workprint. Visual quality is great. Audio quality sometimes dips due to what sources are available. I do think more work could be done to help this though, such as using more elements from the theatrical cut when dialogue isn't being spoken, or more audio rebuilding with only the actual skeksis dialogue poking out. Whereas here most of the audio from the lower quality version of the scene is retained. That being said, it's clear that work has been done to make this work in a surround sound context and rescoring work helps to make some of the lower quality elements sit better. The effort is there and it comes across well, I just think there's room for more to be done.
Really appreciate the inclusion of subtitles for skeksis dialogue, although it comes across like a copy and paste job. There are moments where the subtitles are showing piles of dialogue when there isn't any being spoken. So while I imagine it's an accurate representation of the English audio dialogue, it doesn't work very well for watching with Skeksis dialogue.
I've always found Dark Crystal frustrating. Wonderful music and visual worldbuilding. Really great atmosphere. Terrible story, lame protagonist, unnecessary narration. This edit is great for those that want tweaks here and there to bring things closer to Henson's vision, and I would definitely take it over the theatrical cut. I would also like to see a version that is one day more brutal, allowing for a more atmospheric experience and minimal dialogue. That's another ball game though. This is a good option for purists.
Really appreciate the inclusion of subtitles for skeksis dialogue, although it comes across like a copy and paste job. There are moments where the subtitles are showing piles of dialogue when there isn't any being spoken. So while I imagine it's an accurate representation of the English audio dialogue, it doesn't work very well for watching with Skeksis dialogue.
I've always found Dark Crystal frustrating. Wonderful music and visual worldbuilding. Really great atmosphere. Terrible story, lame protagonist, unnecessary narration. This edit is great for those that want tweaks here and there to bring things closer to Henson's vision, and I would definitely take it over the theatrical cut. I would also like to see a version that is one day more brutal, allowing for a more atmospheric experience and minimal dialogue. That's another ball game though. This is a good option for purists.
User Review
Do you recommend this edit?
Yes
Format Watched?
Digital
T
Overall rating
9.8
Audio/Video Quality
10.0
Audio Editing
10.0
Visual Editing
10.0
Narrative
9.0
Enjoyment
10.0
Awesome Edit My Nephew and I love the Dark Crystal.!! please keep up the great edits!!!!!!
User Review
Format Watched?
Digital
T