(August 2, 2007, Abingdon Virginia Premier)
The Stardust movie, based on a book by Neil Gaiman and Charles Vess, has finally come to theaters. I've not read the book, so my opinion is not colored by having a favorite passage condensed or cut out entirely. The basic story is that a young man vows to bring back a fallen star to a pretty girl (Victoria, played by Sienna Miller) in exchange for her kiss.
Of course it doesn't turn out to be such a simple exchange. The fallen star (Claire Danes) he has promised Victoria is not what he thought it was, nor is he the only one after it. It's quite a valuable thing, a fallen star. Even Tristan wants the star for personal gain in the beginning.
The movie begins in the town of Wall, England. It's a slow start, as most British films are, but that serves the story well and it isn't a very long start. Stardust skips right from the conception of Tristan (Charlie Cox) to his young adulthood in the small and ordinary town of Wall. The only extraordinary thing about Wall is that it borders Faerie; even its name comes from the wall put aound the fae to protect respectable citizens from going there.
Tristan, as a character, is clumsy in that way that people are when unknowingly trying to squeeze themselves into a world too small for them. He thinks he is in love with the town beauty Victoria and courts her accordingly and of course looks like a fool. It's not until the story progresses that Tristan and the audience discover how much of him was hidden because there simply wasn't room for him in his old life.
Visually, Stardust is gorgeous, and the soundtrack well done. There are few places I would have edited more smoothly or camera moves I would have avoided, but it's a minor thing. I'm just picky.
Stardust is a family film, if your family likes dark humor. There's no gore or splatter, and delicate situations are only hinted at; I doubt anyone's child will be traumatized. There's enough subtle adult content to keep even attention deficit moviegoers like myself entertained. Kids will probably laugh themselves sick at a few of the scenes.
The movie is funny: dark humor, subtle humor, and embarrass-yourself-by-monkey-hooting humor. Robert Di Nero plays Captain Shakespeare with lighthearted humor, Michelle Pfieffer is wickedly funny, literally, and even Peter O'Toole as the dying king is sickly humorous. Ian McKellen narrates.
~~~o~~~
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Comments: 20
John, I much prefer Gaiman's work when he's collaborating with someone else or writing graphic novels. The succinctness forced by writing graphic novels adds a lot to his style. I also think that the artists he's worked with deserve more credit than most readers give them.
Kris, I have NEVER seen de Niro having so much fun! He's responsible for my embarrassing monkey hoot laugh.
Kris, at the Con in July, Neil and Jane Goldman said that they had actually expanded the whole Captain Shakespeare character with the thought of DeNiro in it because they thought it would basically be a lot of fun...
I can't wait to see it!
DeNiro could have hammed up his role a lot more than he did. It's a caricature so it would be easy to play it with the volume set at 11. He didn't and it was worth it.
Looks like all the actresses in Michelle Pfeiffer's age group who are still working are going for witch parts. She was darned good even allowing for the special effects.
My wife didn't enjoy it as much as I did. She doesn't care much for fantasy. Also the guy behind her kept kicking her seat when he crossed and uncrossed his legs. The last time was like an earthquake. He said "I couldn't help it." We moved. I realize the right answer was "Of course you could have helped it. Don't cross your legs." Discretion is the better part of valor.