Stardust (Widescreen Edition) Reviews

• A new classic

  
  By A3GJGBF7FO8WDJ on 2007-10-19
  The story begins in the 19th-century village of Wall. But Wall isn't your average country village -- it guards a low, stony wall between mundane England and the fantasy kingdom of Stormhold. No one crosses the wall -- except for young Drustan Thorn, whose curiosity led him to an otherworldly market and a single night of passion with a captive gypsy -- or princess -- and nine months later he was given a son, Tristan, who was left for him by the wall.
  
  Flash forward 18 years, and Tristan (Charlie Cox) hopes to win the heart of his beautiful but shallow love, Victoria (Sienna Miller), by recovering a star that fell somewhere beyond that wall. So Tristan sets forth on his own journey in Stormhold. Meanwhile in that magical land, the dying king (Peter O'Toole) has set his four surviving sons on a quest for the crown. And the witch Lamia (Michelle Pfeiffer) is seeking the heart of the star for an entirely different purpose, one that probably will not turn out well for anyone else involved in the story.
  
  Despite initial trepidations over seeing a favorite Neil Gaiman story converted to film, "Stardust" is all I could hope for. The settings and scenery are lush and beautiful. The effects are seamless and spectacular. The score by Ilan Eshkeri is dramatic. Narration by Ian McKellen is compelling. And the casting is exceptional, from Robert De Niro as the delightful sky pirate Captain Shakespeare to Pfeiffer as the sumptuously evil witch.
  
  Claire Danes is absolutely radiant as Yvaine, who in one way or another holds the resolution of every quest. Poised, beautiful and sporting a great English country accent, Danes glows even without the benefit of special effects. And Tristan Thorn is a classic everyman hero, a simple young man who grows and flourishes on his journey; Cox captures the role perfectly. A relative newcomer to the screen, he's without question an actor to watch.
  
  Gaiman is a brilliant writer, a man with an imagination like no other. Fortunately, director Matthew Vaughn bucked the Hollywood trend by respecting the source material, creating a splendid film, one that will surely become a classic for generations to come.
  
  by Tom Knapp, Rambles.(NET) editor
  
  

• More than a whiff of stardust! MAGIC!

  
  By A328S9RN3U5M68 on 2007-12-20
  Films that depend heavily on special effects as created by computer generated graphics have never been too interesting for this viewer - and that, of late, covers a lot of territory from the Harry Potter series through the continuous glut of sci-fi films, vampire tales, and apocalyptic epics, etc. But there is something very different about STARDUST that brings it into a realm of solid storytelling simply enhanced by well-done special effects, and that difference is in the story itself, an unabashed fairy tale populated with wonderful characters played by some of our finest actors.
  
  And it all begins with a wall (according to the narrator, Ian McKellen) that separates the real world from an enchanted place and through that wall runs a young lad who starts the frolic. Flash forward and the child of the runaway lad, Tristan (a magnetically alive Charlie Cox), has groan to maturity and has fallen in love with the beautiful Victoria (Sienna Miller) who demands a star from Tristan to prove his love. The magic begins when that 'star' falls from the sky in the form of Yvaine (Claire Danes, radiant even without the halo that surrounds her). The foul witch Lamia (Michelle Pfeiffer) and her wicked sisters become aware and plan to cut out the heart of Yvaine in order to gain immortality. The little village is also under the stranglehold of the impending loss of their king (Peter O'Toole) and there is a struggle among the seven sons to ascend the throne: the seventh son Septimus (Mark Strong) defeats his now spirit brothers and sets off to gain the stone that Yvaine wears which will give him immortality. The on-the-run groups encounter a pirate, Captain Shakespeare (Robert DeNiro in a splendid role), who captures lightening in a marvelous flying ship manned by a swarthy crew. Of course Tristan and Yvaine become his 'captives', only to discover that the fey closet queen captain is on their side against the forces of evil. As the film progresses Tristan and Yvaine gradually fall in love, negating their past histories, and the ending is another act of pure magic: evil succumbs to good in the best of fairytale ways.
  
  The cast is uniformly excellent, from the true star turns by Pfeiffer, DeNiro, Danes, and Cox to the secondary roles equally well cast. The special effects are beautiful and very much in keeping with the story instead of simply breeding monsters to emerge from the bowels of the earth to destroy civilization. Everyone involved, from the director Matthew Vaughn to the writers Jane Goldman with Vaughn (and of course the creator of the novel Neil Gaiman) to the cast, seem to keep tongue in cheek and appear to be having as much fun as we the audience. It is a light, exceptionally beautiful fantasy that is pure joy! Grady Harp, December 07.
  
  
  

• Do you see what I see?

  
  By A37PV5GMP2ILJC on 2007-11-03
  You all know the Christmas carol, so maybe you'd like to sing along with me as you read this review about a remarkable fantasy film that should be on everybody's Santa list this year.
  
  Said the night wind to the little lamb
  Do you see what I see?
  Way up in the sky, little lamb
  Do you see what I see?
  
  A star, a star
  Dancing in the night
  With a tail as big as a kite
  With a tail as big as a kite
  
  Once upon a time, and a long time ago, there lived a king who had seven sons. Apparently not very imaginative in the naming department, he named them Primus, Secundus, Tertius and so on until he got to Septimus. As per family tradition, the last brother left standing would inherit the kingdom, and pretty soon it came down to the final four. The king changed a ruby into a diamond and cast it out into the heavens, decreeing that the brother who found it and changed it back into a ruby would rule them all. Of course, there can be only one, and soon it's every prince for himself.
  
  The story revolves around a star that tumbles to earth as a result of the aforementioned family feud, assuming human form in the likeness of Claire Danes, who certainly does have the right sort of luminosity to pull off the role. Soon it's open season on Yvaine, for that is the name of the star, with Tristan (Charlie Cox) seeking a gift for the girl he loves, Lamia the witch (Michelle Pfeiffer) out to gather some heart of star beauty treatments, and the last (but not least) prince seeking his kingdom.
  
  Packed with excitement, magic, comedy and romance, as well as morbid humor, lots of murder (without blood or gore) and Robert DeNiro as you've never seen him before, you won't even notice that you've been glued to your seat for over two hours.
  
  It may not be suitable for younger kids as there's a fair amount of violence and some really ugly witches (though none uglier than Angelica in The Witches), but fantasy lovers (people who love fantasy - not the famous personality you've been dreaming about) will find this movie absolutely amazing and enthralling. I certainly did.
  
  Amanda Richards, November 3, 2007
  
  
  

• Classic film--with a small kid warning

  
  By A3AVJCB1ZD6ZY5 on 2007-11-09
  Wall looks like just about every other English village, but it hides a secret. It's not jolly old England on the other side of the wall. Few mundane English travelers ever make it over the wall and back. Drustan (Nathaniel Parker-Ben Barnes) is one of the few--and nine months later, a son was delivered to him at his doorstep.
  
  The son Tristan (Charlie Cox) grows to 19 and falls in love with Victoria (Sienna Miller) a woman well above his means. He fears his ability to capture her heart is failing, til they see a star fall on the other side of the wall--and Victoria tells him if he will seek out the star, she will be his.
  
  Thus, begins Tristan's quest for true love. Instead of a star, he finds a maiden Yvaine (Clare Danes) who turns out to be the earth-bound embodiment of the star. Unfortunately, Victoria is not the only person who wants the star.
  
  From here, we encounter a multiplicity of plot complications including a King (Peter O'Toole) who sets his sons against each other in a fight for succession to the throne, a pirate (Robert DeNiro) with an interesting secret) and a triad of witches who seek the star to extend their lives and (ahem) beauty.
  
  I loved reading Neil Gaiman's story. STARDUST is one of his best, but the film is one of those rare instances where the book has been improved. The casting for STARDUST is some of the best I have seen.
  
  This is one of the rare films that I paid full price for in the theatre and will purchase the DVD for later viewing. STARDUST is going to be a fantasy classic and a great addition to any fantasy fan's library.
  
  WARNING: If you have very young children, please do not show this film without some advisory. We saw STARDUST in the theatre with a couple of young families close by and the littlest kids were crying at the rough parts and some families had to leave.
  
  

• A new classic for the ages

  
  By A3GJGBF7FO8WDJ on 2007-08-24
  The story begins in the 19th-century village of Wall. But Wall isn't your average country village -- it guards a low, stony wall between mundane England and the fantasy kingdom of Stormhold. No one crosses the wall -- except for young Drustan Thorn, whose curiosity led him to an otherworldly market and a single night of passion with a captive gypsy -- or princess -- and nine months later he was given a son, Tristan, who was left for him by the wall.
  
  Flash forward 18 years, and Tristan (Charlie Cox) hopes to win the heart of his beautiful but shallow love, Victoria (Sienna Miller), by recovering a star that fell somewhere beyond the wall. So Tristan sets forth on his own journey in Stormhold. Meanwhile in that magical land, the dying king (Peter O'Toole) has set his four surviving sons on a quest for the crown. And the witch Lamia (Michelle Pfeiffer) is seeking the heart of the star for an entirely different purpose, one that probably will not turn out well for anyone else involved in the story.
  
  Despite initial trepidations over seeing a favorite Neil Gaiman story converted to film, "Stardust" is all I could hope for. The settings and scenery are lush and beautiful. The effects are seamless and spectacular. The score by Ilan Eshkeri is dramatic. Narration by Ian McKellen is compelling. And the casting is exceptional, from Robert De Niro as the delightful sky pirate Captain Shakespeare to Pfeiffer as the sumptuously evil witch. Claire Danes is absolutely radiant as Yvaine, who in one way or another holds the resolution of every quest. Poised, beautiful and sporting a great English country accent, Danes glows even without the benefit of special effects. And Tristan Thorn is a classic everyman hero, a simple young man who grows and flourishes on his journey; Cox captures the role perfectly. A relative newcomer to the screen, he's without question an actor to watch.
  
  Gaiman is a brilliant writer, a man with an imagination like no other. Fortunately, director Matthew Vaughn bucked the Hollywood trend by respecting the source material, creating a splendid film, one that will surely become a classic for generations to come.
  
  by Tom Knapp, Rambles.N E T editor
  
  
• Stardust, a must on HD
  By A5H8VLE7L7SB on 2007-10-23
  The first time I saw this movie, I didn't have high expectations. The trailer looked silly and I had practically disregarded the movie. Lately, actors of the size of Robert De Niro (who now can do anything they want) have been doing some campy and really bad movies (like Meet the Parents), so not even the big names were enough to interest me.
  
  But then I started reading some reviews on imdb a couple of weeks after the movie got out. A lot of them agreed that the trailer didn't do justice to the film, and that although still not taking itself seriously, the movie somehow shined far beyond expectations. So I decided to give it try, and now I'm glad I watched this movie in the big screen.
  
  For those who haven't seen it yet, the trailer indeed falls short. Michelle Pfeiffer and Robert De Niro are great, along with everyone else in the cast. The music score is amazing, the special effects are great, and the most important thing of all, the story is funny and it really taps into the best of the best of the fantasy genre.
  
  This movie didn't have the success it deserved on the box office, so please, give it a try. It's not your typical fantasy film, it feels original, fresh, and it really entertains. Since the movie doesn't take itself too seriously, some people might consider it campy at first, but the best way to enjoy this great film is not to expect a deep drama (like the Lord of the Rings), but an entertaining fresh film.
  
  Paramount has gone HD DVD exclusive, and for that we now get Stardust released on both DVD and HD DVD. If you have an HD DVD player, Stardust is a must in High-Def. Anyone who saw this movie in the theaters should agree.
  
  Simply put, the movie is a visual feast without compromising the story and it really deserves a chance. Some may find it a little weird film, but Stardust is a sleeper hit that hopefully will get the success it deserves on DVD and HD DVD.
  
  
  
• CATCH A FALLING STAR...
  By AN3D3M8MJ07BQ on 2007-10-17
  I recently saw this small gem of a movie and was completely enchanted. It is a story that will entertain your children and grandchildren while keeping you completely captivated. Based on a graphic novel by Neil Gaiman it tells the story of a young man who crosses into the realm of a magical land (as had his father before him) to retreive a fallen star and bring it back to the woman of his dreams. Upon finding the star (Clare Danes) he attempts to return home with his prize. And so the adventure begins.......... as they are pursued by an evil witch (played with relish and devilish glee by Michelle Pfeiffer), and are befriended by a flamboyent lightening bolt chasing pirate (Robert DeNiro) who could easily fill in for one of the "Fab Five" on Queer Eye for the Straight Guy.
  
  In addition, this film is filled to the brim with wonderful cameo performances by Peter O'Toole (as the King), Rupert Everett (as one of the Kings evil sons), Sienna Miller (as the spoiled girlfriend), and Ricky Gervais (as Freddy the Fence). Although reminiscent in some ways of The Princess Bride, this movie possesses more humor and charm as well as visually stunning special effects and an impressive use of make-up and prosthetic devices.
  
  Stardust emerges as a welcome and refreshing change from the the plethora of sequels and animated films that have been clogging the big screen recently. For a pleasant two hour romp through a fun filled fantasy world, put Stardust on your list of must see movies.
  
  
  
• Tristan goes into the magical land of Stormhold in search of a fallen star
  By A2NJO6YE954DBH on 2007-08-15
  Once upon a time there was a young man named Dunstan Thorn who lived in the English town of Wall. The name came from the wall that separates the town from what to Dustan's young eyes appears to be a field, but what is revealed to be the magical land of Stormhold when the young man ventures through the guarded hole in the wall. There he meets a princess, held in slavery to a witch. Dustan returns home and nine months later a baby boy is delivered to his doorstep. Named Tristan (Charlie Cox), eighteen years later it is his turn to go through the hole in the wall to bring back a fallen star to win the heart of Victoria (Sienna Miller), the girl he loves. What Tristan does not know when he begins his quest is that the fallen star in a young woman named Yvaine (Claire Danes) and that the quest is complicated by Lamia (Michelle Pfeiffer), one of a trio of witches who want to cut out the heart of the fallen star as a source of power, and the remaining princes of the late king of Stormhold (Peter O'Toole), who seek the necklace Yvaine wears to secure their claim to the throne.
  
  "Stardust" is adapted from the illustrated novel by Neil Gaiman and Charles Vess, which is prefaced with John Donne's "A Song," the opening line of which is "Goe, and catche a falling starre." Gaiman amd Vess are best known for their work on the Sandman comic book. But this 2007 movie is of a different suit, and the book's subtitle, "Being a Romance Within the Realms of Faerie," really does aptly describe the nature of the tale. I have heard several comparisons of "Stardust" to "The Princess Bride," and while I understand the impulse the analog only hurts this film. Written by William Goldman, "The Princess Bride" is one of the most quoted movies of all time, up there on the highest plateau with "Casablanca," "The Godfather," and "The Wizard of Oz)." "Stardust" might have some strong parallels in terms of plot, but it is pretty much devoid of memorable one-liners. The villains might be a tad more interesting than the heroes,
  
  In the end I round up on "Stardust" for several reasons. First, there are the performances by Pfeiffer and Robert De Niro, both of whom evince some of the smoothest scene stealing you have seen in some time. Once you see this movie you will understand why people are raving but talking cryptically about De Niro in this film (and why people are thinking Oscar nomination for supporting actor). There is also much talk about how Pfeiffer is willing to look like a hag, but since she is playing a hag and it was clear years ago that Pfeiffer was a serious actress, it seems rather insulting to compliment her on doing the job right. Second, the story clearly sets up an inevitable duel between Tristan and his nemesis back in Wall, but after the obvious set up we get something quite unconventional when the big swordplay moment in the film arrives. Finally, I was happy that I anticipated what would achieve the requistie happy ending in the final big battle, which was not totally predictable but certainly well set up by what happens before hand.
  
  Actually there were lots of small things that I liked in this film, from Ian McKellan's narration and David Kelly's guard of the hole in the wall to the fact that not all of the slaughtered princes go down without a fight and that there were several moments that made me laugh out loud in a theater with only a couple dozen people in attendance. Add all of these things up and "Stardust" is not a great film, but it is certainly very good. This year will provide us with what might be the biggest onslaught of fantasy films to date in movie history, from "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" to "His Dark Materials: The Golden Compass," and when all is said and done "Stardust" might be one of the best of the bunch. Hopefully word of mouth will sustain this film and it can build on the relatively paltry $9.17 million it made its first week.
  
  
• This DVD Has Been Cut!
  By A3QTOVXJKYYNMP on 2007-12-29
  STARDUST is one of my favorite films of 2007. I give it five stars and hope Michelle Pfeiffer finally garners an Oscar off of it.
  
  This DVD, however, is a whole 'nother story. The print of the film here has inexplicably been edited down from the movie I saw in the theater in August. There are seconds missing here and there that constitute some of the funniest (and naughtiest) bits in the project. Where is the graphic transformation of Michelle Pfeiffer's body from old witch to young babe as she consumes the last of the old fallen star? What happened to Jake Curran's full reaction upon discovering he's been magically changed from a goat to a buxom young serving wench? And where is the rest of Mark "Arthur Weasley" Williams' brilliant turn as a goat turned into an innkeeper? A snip of it shows up in the Deleted Scenes, a snip that was not deleted from the theatrical print I saw. I believe there was more.
  
  There's no indication on the package that this DVD is different from the cut shown in theaters, but it definitely is. Apparently some self-appointed censor at Paramount thought the original STARDUST might be a bit too raunchy (even at PG-13) for the kiddies who were certain to be viewing it over the holiday season. They left all the violence in, of course. They always do.
  
  How about making this right, Paramount?
  
  
• Nothing but Stardust
  By A1D2C0WDCSHUWZ on 2007-11-11
  Fantasy is hard to find in the movies -- for every "Lord of the Rings," there's only a handful of bad sword'n'sorcery tales for kids ("Eragon," "The Seeker"). As for fairy tales, forget it.
  
  But one little fairy tale HAS made its way into theatres -- an enchanting little story loosely based on a Neil Gaiman novel. And "Stardust's" charm is its lack of pretension, and its willingness to be silly, romantic, fantastical, sparkling and most importantly, tongue-in-cheek. And it has pirates too.
  
  A wall separates our world from the world of magic -- and one night, Dunstan Thorn went over it, and had a brief tryst with a beautiful princess, who is imprisoned by a witch. Nine months later, baby Tristan is left on his doorstep.
  
  Nineteen years later, a dying king magically flings a ruby into the sky, and says that the prince who finds it will be the new king. The two remaining princes -- and the ghosts of their dead brothers -- et off to find it. But that ruby dislodged a star, and it plummets to the ground across the Wall -- attracting the attention of three ancient witches, who use the hearts of stars to restore their spent youth.
  
  Still with me?
  
  Tristan (Charlie Cox) also sees the star, and the snotty girl he adores (Sienna Miller) says that she will marry him if he gets her the star before her birthday. Tristan does manage to find and entrap the beautiful star, Yvaine (Claire Danes), and they start off on a magical adventure of air pirates, unicorns, evil witches, and true love.
  
  "Stardust" has pretty much all the requirements for a fantasy and/or fairy tale movie -- magic, love, an evil villain, and lots of odd characters to round out the cast, and flesh out the story. Not much is actually new. But like the original Gaiman tale, the movie winks affectionately at you as the story unfolds.
  
  In fact, the movie only really stumbles when it stops to ruminate on true love and how precious it is, etc. Cute, but boring -- especially since the romantic leanings of the leads are pretty clear. Director Matthew Vaughn really shines when he's focusing on airships, goat-men, and the occasional magical sword-fight with an dead man.
  
  Despite the scattered nature of the plot, Vaughn directs with a smooth, sure hand, and he sprinkles plenty of comic relief through it -- Captain Shakespeare dancing in drag, or the Greek chorus of murdered princes. And the dialogue avoids fantastical pomposity by being just as tongue-in-cheek ("Nothing says "romance" like a kidnapped injured woman!")
  
  Cox makes an excellent wide-eyed, slightly blinkered country boy, who turns from a bumbling suitor to a strong young hero. Danes isn't quite as ethereal as one would expect Yvain to be, but she gives a solid performance, and Miller is perfect as the snotty, shallow Victoria.
  
  But while the younger performers are solid, the veterans are absolutely brilliant. Pfeiffer is hilarious, chilling and pouty as the constantly frustrated witch, and De Niro steals the show as a cuddly, twinkly-eyed gay pirate who pretends to be brutal. And Peter O'Toole and David Kelly have brief but brilliant appearances.
  
  One thing to mention: this movie is almost certainly going to be a must-see on HD DVD. It's very colourful and vibrant, from the clothes to the swooping pirate ship to the bluish ghosts, and it promises to be even more visually impressive when the image is sharpened up.
  
  "Stardust" is exactly what the title suggests -- sparkling, funny, wry, and just deep enough to be entertaining. A solid, sweet little fantasy movie.
  
  
• Fantastic!
  By A1DQHS7MOVYYYA on 2007-08-11
  I don't even know where to begin. I thought the movie was fantastic. I love the book, and am usually sorely disappointed by film adaptions. I had a feeling this one might be different so I was very excited to go see it.
  
  For the book lovers, it does have some changes. Most of the time changes make me crazy, but oddly enough it didn't bother me too much. They kept the majority of the story intact.
  
  The score was awesome, the scenery was unbelievable. The movie was funny, endearing and thrilling. I thought all the acting was good, and though they changed Robert DeNiro's character and embellished it for the film, he was hysterical. Claire Danes is very believable as a fallen star, and though Charlie Cox is fairly new and not yet a recognizable actor, I think he brought an innocence and freshness to the lead role of Tristan. Michelle Pfeiffer is such a fun witch! Enchanting when she's 'young' and scary as she begins to age again.
  
  I would recommend this movie(and book!) to just about anyone.
  
  
• Good Movie but Frustrating Recording
  By A28NUEMPSRYRRK on 2007-12-20
  The short of it: Be prepared for frustration with image quality and audio issues if you do not have a new high end player and a surround sound system.
  
  I loved the movie; we saw it twice in the theater. I eagerly anticipated the release of the DVD and planned to give several copies as gifts. On 18 December I bought two copies. On 19 December I played the DVD. The enchantment evaporated. The recording's problems appeared on both purchased copies.
  
  First I had problems with the image. As scenes cut from one to the next the image became heavily pixilated. At times the screen went blank. At times control reverted to the DVD player as if the disc were absent. Thinking that I may have purchased a randomly bad disc I opened the second DVD (originally intended as a gift). It had EXACTLY the same problems.
  
  Being I had watched two discs of "Lord of the Rings" two days earlier the player itself did not seem to be the problem. Still, I connected another player and tried again. Exactly the same issues appeared. Finally, a third DVD player successfully played the discs.
  
  Conclusion 1: The video is very tetchy. Only my newest player worked satisfactorily. Being other recently acquired movie discs continue to work successfully in all three players I must conclude that the recording needs help (perhaps some copy protection scheme run amok?).
  
  So finally the movie was running. I quickly discovered that the audio is unsatisfactory. The decibel level was all over the map. On minute I was turning the volume up to hear a nearly inaudible conversation, and the next I was turning it down as the noises of music and effects blasted the room. Conversations were frequently unintelligible because of what should have been background sound (and no amount of volume up/volume down can compensate for that problem). I searched the menu for sound options, but I could not locate an appropriate solution.
  
  Conclusion 2: "Surround sound" is nice in a theater but at least for this recording it really does not work well coming from a single speaker on a TV set.
  
  Recommendation: If you don't have above an average video and audio system and are unwilling to invest in one just to watch this movie then don't bother buying this recording.
  
  Perhaps "They" will fix these shortcomings in the future. I hope so. Until then I'm looking for a gift that won't embarrass me when I give it to friends.
  
  
• You can not always achieve success from a novel.
  By A34FEX6IPQL95G on 2007-10-23
  Several critics from abroad are giving this movie more positive reviews than negative. After my colleague and I recently saw this film, we were disappointed. We were also somewhat confused; because Stardust is unlike an enchanted, fantasy comedy adventure such as The Princess Bride but similar to the dreadful fantasy genre Eragon; with bad writing, acting and especially the visual effects. This is why sometimes fantasy books--such as Stardust--should stay in bookstore. However, Hollywood had other ideas involving Gainmen's book.
  
  Along time ago, in a pastoral English village of Wall, there was a young man by the name of Tristran Thorn (Charlie Cox). He seeks the love of a young woman Victoria (Sienna Miller) and he finally receives the courage to ask her out on a date--something similar happened to his father before he was born. That evening while they are conversing with one another, Tristran shares his most intimate thoughts and affections that he has for her, but she tells him that she seeing someone. As they continue to talk a shooting star flies overhead, Victoria tells him that if his love is so great for her to fetch that star, and he then can have her hand in marriage. Christian fearlessly sets out to retrieve the fallen star knowing that he will have to cross the ancient wall that separates his village with the enchanted Kingdom of Stormhold.
  
  Within a short time, he arrives at his destination with the aid of his father's transporting Babylon candle, and he finds the crater that the star made when it fell, but to his surprise the star is a beautiful woman named Yvaine (Claire Danes). She is in grave danger because the son of Lord of Stormhold (Peter O'Toole) and three evil witches--one being Lamia (Michele Pfeiffer)--require her magical powers for their own diabolical reasons. They are soon lured into a trap by Lamia--by the Inn that she make from her magic--but they escape with the candle and they are transported into the clouds. They are soon captured by the ostentatious--in the closet, Captain Shakespeare and his pirates a board his flying ship. Will they survive from these ordeals that are pitted against them?
  
  We first saw this trailer in spring of 2007; we definitely had some uncertainties about this film even though the cast look very promising--Robert De Niro, Michelle Pfeiffer, and even Peter O'Toole. The direction (Matthew Vaughn) and the writing are a cheap imitation of William Goldman (American novelist, playwright and two-time Academy Award-winning screenwriter) who wrote the script for the film The Princess Bride.
  
  Paramount Pictures has been making movie bombs lately, and for the producers, why did they decide to attempt this attribute of film making and as well as obtaining the services of Jane Goldman (a Non-fiction writer of paranormal investigation)? This is a mystery to us and probably to the fans of Neil Gaiman, who wrote this novel. Yes, this movie is almost identical to the novel but probably without the sexual innuendos and Homosexual/transvestite references from our characters; the writing is very choppy and because of this, the acting is one-dimensional. The actors De Niro and Pfeiffer are just a mirror image of recent roles that we have grown accustomed from films reminiscent of: GoodFellas and Meet the Parents, Cat woman in Batman Returns and more currently HairSpray.
  
  The technical aspects like set designs/visual effects/CGI look very cheap: especially the Kingdom of Stormhold, the castle, the surrounding country--including the crater from the fallen star. The music composed by and when not being bombarded with this theme, the main track of the film changes to something very similar to the Heroic music of Eragon.
  
  Please enter at your own risk because of the unoriginal, sexual innuendos, the "no chemistry" romance (Christian and the star woman), the fantasy, and finally the poor comedy (the Dry British humor [a.k.a. The Princess Bride].) Bottom line; we are tired of poor writing, even though you have stars like Robert De Niro Peter O'Toole and Michele Pfeiffer you can not always achieve success from a novel; example Eragon.
  
  
• Missing a little something...
  By A1JGTRTY8Q536X on 2007-10-29
  Throughout Stardust, veiwers can't help but feel like the movie is missing something...well..a few things actually. Though the title says "A Thrill Ride for the Whole Family", this movie does not seem to me to be for children. There are some adult situations and more graphic fight scenes. While Stardust is at times thrilling, in general, I felt it was a disappointment. Firstly, I felt like it was missing an innocent charm that most of these whimsical fairy tail films do. Most of the dialog was, for my taste, dry and did nothing more then provide (barely enough) information to go to the next scene. There appeared some occasions to use humor, yet the writers let these moments sort of slip by as opposed to taking advantage of them.
  
  On the upside, there were quite a few creative elements, outstanding costuming/ stylization, and nice cimematics. The movie becomes more engaging during the last 30 minutes, however at that point the characters have done nothing to envoke sympathy or interest and I really could have cared less whether they lived or died. I was actually rooting for Michelle Pfiffer (who to me, was the only real "Star" in Stardust) to kill the incredibly dull and self-interested Yvaine and consistently mediocre Tristan and get the movie over with.
  
  In the end, the movie kept me mildly entertained for 2 hours and as aforementioned, had a few good points so will earn 3 stars. While I had high hopes for this movie, Stardust turned out to be flat, uninspiring and reminded me more of dust, then stardust.
  
  
• A Witty Fantasy and a Soaring Romantic Adventure Combine Seamlessly
  By A13E0ARAXI6KJW on 2007-08-13
  This 2007 Victorian-era fantasy took me by surprise and most pleasantly, as the ads make it sound like it would be a CGI-saturated conglomeration of The Brothers Grimm and The Princess Bride with a little Time Bandits thrown in for good measure. What it turns out to be is an adult fairy tale that doesn't make the mistake of taking itself too seriously. Even though much of the credit belongs to the source, the highly acclaimed 1997 graphic novel by Neil Gaiman and Charles Vess, director and co-screenwriter Matthew Vaughan (along with co-writer Jane Goldman) does an impressive job balancing the comically ribald and pitch-black elements into a compelling albeit rather convoluted plot gift-wrapped in a romantic adventure.
  
  The fanciful tale centers on Tristan, a gawky shop boy who is completely smitten with the beauteous Victoria, who is naturally to be engaged to the more dashing Humphrey within the week. Tristan and Victoria strike a deal whereby she will marry him only if he can deliver a falling star to her before Humphrey proposes. In order to do so, Tristan must pass through the sacred wall into the magical kingdom of Stronghold, his birthplace and where his mother may still be held captive. There in a newly formed crater, he finds Yvaine, a star that has fallen out of the firmament against her will. Now vulnerably earthbound, Yvaine also elicits the attention of two unsavory characters - Prince Septimus, Stronghold's remaining heir, who wants a jewel necklace she wears in order to ensure his ascendancy to the throne, and Lamia, a 400-year old witch looking to reclaim her youth and beauty by taking out Yvaine's heart...literally. Their paths criss-cross throughout the film in ways both dazzling and scarifying.
  
  To Vaughan's credit, the movie never feels overwhelmed by the special effects necessary to sustain the fantasy, including airborne galleons, mystical creatures, and all the magical shape transformations due to witchcraft. Moreover, it's the sharp wit of his and Goldman's script and the quicksilver pacing that really keeps the story aloft in an unexpected manner. The casting is close to ideal. As Tristan, the reluctant hero, Charlie Cox elevates a potentially callow role into one with genuine romance and indiscriminate vigor. At first, with her contemporary sensibilities, Claire Danes' ironic take on Yvaine feels a bit off, but she transitions nicely into the heartfelt aspects of her ethereal role. Making her venal Velma Von Tussle in Hairspray look like a suburban amateur by comparison, Michelle Pfeiffer has a grand time playing Lamia switching back and forth from her stunning beauty to decaying harridan, all the while plotting and conniving her way to her end goal. She has obviously entered a phase of her career where she feels comfortable acting malicious without remorse and sending up her incredible looks.
  
  In brief roles, Sienna Miller perfectly captures Victoria's capricious and superficial nature, Rupert Everett epitomizes gallows wit as the splattered Secundus, and Ricky Gervais goes for the funny bone as the opportunistic Ferdy the Fence. Even Peter O'Toole shows up as a dying king (perhaps coincidentally, he played an actor playing a similar part in last year's Venus), and Ian McKellan provides the stentorian narration. However, the real scene stealer is Robert DeNiro, doing little to hide his Bronx accent, as Captain Shakespeare, who maintains a surprising dual identity to keep up appearances for his crew. It's hardly his finest hour, but he is far more amusing here than in Meet The Fockers. The technical aspects of this sprawling, imaginative world are first-rate, in particular, Gavin Bocquet's meticulous production design (he was responsible for the design of the latest Star Wars trilogy) and Ben Davis's stellar cinematography. This is superb entertainment for fans of this genre.
  
  
• wonderful new fantasy
  By A31SPJNDLJ0QTZ on 2008-04-04
  Stardust is wonderful, and deserves the HD treatment. Sadly Blu-ray seems to have prevailed, soI will have to buy it in B when it comes out.
  
  
• Great special effects, bad movie
  By A12LBLKK6YXFSQ on 2007-10-04
  My opinion: this movie was lots of dull stretches in between special-effects showing off. The special effects were impressive but am I supposed to care for a loud, brash, annoying woman (supposed to be a "star", more like an obnoxious British schoolmarm) or the idiotic man who's kidnapping her to win the heart of a woman who clearly doesn't want him? Do female characters come in any other mold these days than brash and obnoxious? This woman's voice was like hearing nails across a blackboard.
  
  Then add the convoluted part wedged in for De Niro so this film could be sold to American audiences. By the way that wasn't in the book and it cheapened the whole story.
  
  The filler between special effects scenes is sometimes of the eye-rolling, groan-inducing variety, like the "star" babbling for almost 5 minutes about how she may in fact after all love Tristan. If it were possible to give a damn about the characters maybe I could've cared about this or given a heartwarming cheer at the end when they're made king & queen. (Spoiler warning.) If this were a book you'd say it needed a good editor.
  
  Film audiences are easy to please these days. Overrated crapola. The book was good.
  
  
  
  
• Stardust-A Film Truly Captured in the Stars
  By A1FJ1U5LKD87RA on 2007-10-14
  When I first heard about this film, I had no knowledge of its source, Neil Gaiman's critically acclaimed, same titled work. What drew me to it was its near perfect cast, headlined by the lovely Michelle Pfieffer and Claire Danes, with the ever present Robert DeNiro, who portrays a character new for him considering past performances. Nonetheless, I thought that the film would be campy, pretentious, and overly glorified for its genre. I have rarely been happy to be proven wrong.
  
  The film was a great delight, capturing everything one expects to see in a fantasy film: magic, both light and dark; with witches, pirates, princes, and of course, the damsel in distress. It even includes a fair maidan pursued by a number of suitors, though she really only has her sight set on one suitor in particular. Although the film does bring in all the elements that make fantasy what it is, it does however perform a task that is rare indeed. The roles that some of the characters usually play have been reversed, where the princes are not dashing, but instead, they are self-serving, ambitious and power hungry. The man that will save the damsel is not some popular royal figure with his sights set on being honorable and truly noble, but a young man who like everyone else in the world, seeks to discover whom he is and bring purpose to his life. Granted, he does not set out on this journey in the right way, but ultimately, he does discover that even one who deems himself to be little important can find that very importance simply through the actions and decisions one makes in an single moment. The fair maiden turns out not to be so fair, at least underneath in terms of inner beauty. The damsel is not so distressed to where she even has a few devices in her arsenal as well. A pirate proves that the ferocity, vulgarity, and dim-witted charm that make them appealing is not always found in every pirate. Lastly, we finally have a villain that is in essence truly evil, exhibiting a chilling, frightening charm towards anyone who encounters her, hidden behind her striking beauty.
  
  What makes the film work is not the special effects or the set design, costumes, or any other thing a standard movie critic is usually obsessed with, but the simple fact that "Stardust" is a film that does not take itself too seriously. It is meant to purely entertain, which I feel it truly does. The cast is in true comedic form. Charlie Cox is convincing as Tristan, the often clueless and bumbling hero. Claire Danes shines as Yvaine, the fallen star who is captivated by the human and magical world. But it is Michelle Pfieffer and Robert DeNiro who steal the show as Lamia and Captain Shakespeare, respectively. Pfieffer's Lamia spends the film in pursuit of her goal, tirelessly and cunningly scheming against Tristan and Yvaine, and demonstrates in several encounters with other characters, especially with the poor farmerboy and Ditchwater Sal, why she is one witch who should never be underestimated. DeNiro's Capt. Shakespeare is appealing through his secret that defines in more ways than one the true meaning of paradox and irony. All in all, the cast, especially Pfieffer and DeNiro, portray very memorable and charming characters.
  
  Do not miss out on this rare gem of a comedy. Even if you do not like it in its entirety, the film possesses many things that strike you as entertaining and memorable. Do not deny yourself this gem. I'm looking forward to it in High Definition.
  
  
• Three thumbs up!
  By A1DMTMYNUU6MB0 on 2007-11-24
  What makes this fantasy movie remarkable is that soo much of the movie is Different and unique. Here you will find several somethings new. This makes the movie something special.
  
  
• Enchantment for the 21st Century
  By A1U360OMVQRPUB on 2007-12-17
  STARDUST is the brainchild of Neil Gaiman. His novella of the same name was first brought to illustrated life by Charles Vess. The novella and the graphic novel enjoyed a lot of commercial success before being brought to life again as a high-concept movie with Robert De Niro, Peter O'Toole, Sir Ian McKellan, and Michelle Pfeiffer in pivotal roles.
  
  Comparisons to another cult favorite, THE PRINCESS BRIDE are unavoidable, and I'm going to make them as well. Both of these movies sing of fantasy and enchantment, and true love and evil. (Ever notice how those two seem to always go hand-in-hand?)
  
  The HD DVD version is spectacular and really brings brilliance of the visual aspect of the movie to home entertainment systems. The images look like windows to other worlds that you can just reach into. And it shows how seamless the special effects are. The colors, especially the magical way they're used in the film, are revealed in stunning array. The lightning ship looks both absolutely amazing and real at the same time. This is the way home movies should look.
  
  With the uncompressed sound format available on HD DVD, it's no surprise that the audio portion of the movie is outstanding as well. If you've got even a semi-decent surround sound system at home, you're going to feel as though you're back in the theater watching the movie again (if you watched it there the first time). All that's missing is the scent of popcorn (unless you're popped some up), and people talking on their cell phones in the background.
  
  The story is wonderful and gentle and, at times, scary. I have to admit that the screenplay done by Matthew Vaughn and Jane Goldman in some ways outshines the source material. Gaiman maintained an even-handed fairy tale approach to the story, but Vaughn and Goldman gave the scenes and dialogue to the characters that really allowed the actors and actresses to play them bigger and more meaningful than the prose version.
  
  I read the novel in a single sitting, which speaks strongly of it, but I had my breath taken away at times by the movie. The story of Dunstan Thorne's first foray into forbidden territory and his one night of love with a mysterious woman quickly turned into the delivery of a child nine months later on his doorstep. With something like that taking place, you know something important is about to take place.
  
  But Tristan Thorne had an inelegant life. No one really liked him and most people made fun of him. Worst of all, he fell in love with a shallow young girl. The only thing she did for him was cause him to make a promise that forever changed his life. When he saw a falling star plunge earthward, he promised her that if she asked, he would go and fetch that star.
  
  The viewers knew, though, that the star - even if it had been a comet or asteroid - would have been difficult to find. Given the fact that the star was actually an immortal being made it even more so.
  
  There are a lot of things going on in the movie. Tristan's promise, the Star's need to find her way back into the heavens, the search of the princes for the ruby that would allow one of them to become King of Stronghold, and the three witches looking for the heart of a star to regain their beauty and youth could all have been spun out into their own stories. But Gaiman, and the film crew that followed, mixed them all into one exotic blend that provides plenty of adventure and entertainment for the whole family.
  
  In addition to the film, there are several special features. "Good Omens" (actually a name of a novel written by Gaiman and Terry Pratchett) describes the making of the movie. Then there are deleted scenes and a blooper reel that is absolutely a laugh riot.
  
  If you have the choice between a DVD and an HD DVD, the HD DVD is definitely the way to go. This movie deserves it, and so do you.
  
  
  
• Robert Deniro Destroys This Movie
  By AHTEDRC5XLKK0 on 2007-12-28
  Stardust is a fantasy movie directed by Matthew Vaughn in 2007. Basically it's big time Hollywood's response to The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.
  
  It stars a couple of old warhorses, Michelle Pfiefer and Robert Deniro in supporting roles. Michelle Pfiefer was so-so as the evil witch Lamia, at least the role was something she had life experience with.
  
  Robert Deniro role, on the other hand, as the in-and-out-of-the-closet Captain Shakespeare was the biggest, lamest ego trip I've seen a major Hollywood actor make since Ishtar. I cannot possibly convey to you how bad, annoying, and downright irritating Deniro was in this movie. I am Robert Deniro fan, I think he is one of the finest actors of our time. But this movie made me hate him in ways I would have never imagined, and every other movie he has made in his life will be forever tainted in my mind by this abyssmal performance.
  
  The Hindenburg was a disaster, Hurricane Katrina was a disaster, the tsunami in Indonesia was a disaster, World War II was a disaster, but they all pale in comparison to Deniro's performance in this movie.
  
  It's really too bad. Neil Gaiman wrote a clever and entertaining story. Claire Danes was very good as the star Yvaine. Charlie Cox, was a little too smirking in his role as Tristan. But Ian McKellan's narration was top notch, and the special effects were superb.
  
  There are parts of this movie that I truly enjoyed and would love to watch again, but I honestly can't watch Deniro's performance without losing my lunch.
  
  Thanks Bob.
  
  
• You Gotta Be Kidding!
  By A3SGBLYWBCXJRW on 2007-12-29
  Geez, this movie stank on ice. And that's really saying something, considering I'm a huge fan of fantasy. I love "Lord of the Rings", I love unicorns and dragons and magical amulets, I love adventure and romance and humor -- but "Stardust" failed to meet my expectations, in any of those categories.
  
  This movie was so stupid, so downright lame, it nearly made me gag. I was barely fifteen minutes into the movie before I suddenly felt the urge to get up and do something else. Even the unicorn hardly made up for the rest of the movie. (The unicorn was there for, like, three minutes; and then it was gone, just like that.)
  
  No offense to the actors -- I like Robert DeNiro, and I like Michelle Pfeiffer, and all those other guys, but I liked them much better in other movies.
  
  
• Starstruck
  By A3PPXVR5J6U2JD on 2008-02-17
  ONCE UPON A TIME, there was a movie called Stardust based on Master Gaiman's popular work. And so it was that the film came to pass, and it attempted to stay true to its roots, and in doing so was actually three tales combined.
  
  THE FIRST TALE was about a randy young man named Dunstan Thorn (Nathaniel Parker) who escaped the town of Wall, which also happened to have a wall, and was thus the reason for its namesake. On the other side of the wall (or Wall, if you prefer) was a kingdom known as Stormhold. The very first person that Dunstan met there was a princess, who was captured by a witch. Having discovered that she was held captive, good Dunstan promptly did what any good adventurer would do; that is, to sully her virtue and not call her for nine months. Thus it was that a bundle of joy named Tristan (Charlie Cox) arrived at his doorstep.
  
  But Tristan was as unwise in choosing love as his father was lax in returning for his lady friend, which, by all accounts, means the adventuresome Dunstan left the princess to languish for something in the order of twenty plus years. Anyway, Tristan promised to win the beautiful but decidedly unpleasant Victoria's (Sienna Miller) hand in marriage by retrieving a fallen star. Except said star turned out to be quite the hottie herself (Yvaine played by Claire Danes) rather than a glowing piece of plasma, which complicated matters as you can probably imagine.
  
  THE SECOND TALE was about a ruthless king (Peter O'Toole) and his backstabbing seven sons. These seven were all as ruthless as their father, and when the king fell ill they merrily offed each other in devious ways, until only one was left. But alas, the princes all were cursed to roam the earth as ghosts, and really had nothing else to do but comment on the events happening in the movie, as if the audience needed to be told when there were funny bits. The inclusion of these princes was largely superfluous, as those who have read fairy tales, and those who have had fairy tales read to them, most certainly knew who would end up with the crown in the end.
  
  It just so happened that any prince-who-would-be-king required an amulet, which was tied to a star. And that the king, on his deathbed, sent the amulet into space, which turned the star into a woman, and then brought her back down to earth, which led to quite a few jokes about being a star. All that glowing and such.
  
  THE THIRD TALE was about witches and pirates, an unbeatable combination when the primary witch, Lamia, was played by Michelle Pfeiffer and the primary pirate, Captain Shakespeare, was played by Robert DeNiro. And yet it was odd in that Lamia, who became uglier and weaker with every spell she cast, cast an awful lot of them, often with wild abandon. And it was also odd that Captain Shakespeare, a flaming fey pirate if there ever was one, was also an awful combatant, as evidenced by his sound trouncing by one of the many princes in pursuit of the star. And it was most certainly odd that a talented actor like DeNiro would play a gay pirate so outlandishly foppish, complete with a lisp, that it should devolve into offensive parody instead of humor. But that's pirates for you.
  
  And so it came to pass that Stardust, which ran far too long, was the rare film with more budget than it knew what to do with. And thus the special effects were amazing, the acting pretty good, the plot not so much, and the conclusion, while thrilling, a little trite. So the adventurous critic, only somewhat amused by Stardust, watched Princess Bride instead, which while not having nearly as much of a special effects budget, had twice the charm.
  
  And he lived happily ever after.
  
  
• A Charming Film
  By AUEHG0DB54B7K on 2007-08-15
  My wife and I saw Stardust after reading a review; otherwise we would not have paid any attention to this delightful film. Stardust has been described as an adult version of Shrek but the comparison does not do this film justice. The story of the film has been told by other reviewers but, in short (and not to give away too much): the story is about a village named Wall that abuts on a magical kingdom called Stormhold. The two places are separatred by an actual wall but a portion of the wall has crumbled and is guarded day and night to be sure the two worlds do not mix. But, of course, a young man from Wall is bold enough to make it past the guard and have a tryst in Stormhold which results in his being presented with a baby boy nine months later. That baby, named Tristan, eventually follows in his father's footsteps going through the wall to find a fallen star (named Yvaine, who is played by Clair Danes) to give to his love interest, and so his adventures begin. The star is sought after by others including a witch (played by Michelle Pfeiffer) who needs the heart of the star because it given eternal life (for as long as it lasts anyway) and Septimus (played by Mark Strong) who needs the jewel the star possesses in order to become king.
  
  The film has a number of cameo appearances: Peter O'Toole plays the dying king of Stormhold, Robert DeNiro plays a soft-hearted pirate who captures lightening bolts as his booty, Rupert Everett as Secundus and Ian McKellen provides the narration. Charlie Cox is very good as Tristan, portraying him as a love-struck boy wanting to win the hand of Victoria (Sienna Miller) who is more impressed by what Tristan can buy her to prove his love. Tristan grows up during the film and Mr. Cox does the transition in character nicely. Michelle Pfeiffer, however, steals the movie as the witch Lamia who is desperate to capture the star and is continually barely thwarted by Tristan.
  
  
  After so many rough-and-tumble action pictures during the summer is was a treat to see a fantasy like Stardust. The production is excellent - the village of Wall has the look and feel of a 19th century English village - and the film is well-paced and has a nice sense of humor, particularly from Septimus' ghostly murdered brothers who pass comment on the action. In short, a film that is highly entertaining and fun to watch. I will be looking for Stardust when it appears on DVD.
  
  
  
• A beguiling fantasy-romance!
  By A1POFVVXUZR3IQ on 2007-11-01
  When I look back at the crop of movies we've had this past year, Stardust stands out for its ability to transport us to another realm - one where fantasy, folklore, magic, adventure and romance commingle in an enchanting blend that makes for a memorable movie-watching experience.
  
  Stardust the movie is based on Neil Gaiman's novel & graphic novel of the same name and though this movie is unable to capture the full magic of the written/illustrated works, it is nevertheless a commendable effort that is pure magic and a feast for the eyes and senses.
  
  The story centers around the sleepy English hollow of Wall which is separated from the magical realm of Stormhold by a wall. One night, the dying king of Stormhold [Peter O'Toole], undecided as to which of his three remaining sons should succeed him, releases a ruby necklace into the night sky which promptly knocks down a star which takes the form of Yvaine [the luminous Claire Danes]. Thus begins an epic adventure - the king's sons vie with each other [using murderous means] to obtain the jewel, a band of three aging witches led by Lamia [the deliciously evil Michele Pfeiffer] lust after the star for its' heart would return their beauty and youth to them, and a besotted young man from the village of Wall, Tristan [newcomer Charlie Cox] seeks out the star for he has promised to bring it back to win the hand of a shallow village lass Victoria [Sienna Miller].
  
  Not to give too much of the plot away, the movie moves along at a steady pace, but it is after the two leads fall into the hands of a band of pirates in an airborne ship, led by Robert de Niro [in a hilarious turn] that the movie truly picks up pace with a blend of humor,adventure and magic that makes it a cinematic treat to watch.
  
  The casting in this movie was generally well-done - newcomer Charlie Cox brings a certain level of innocence, misguided ambition, and courage to his role as the young Tristan, and Michelle Pfeiffer is amazing as the evil witch Lamia. Robert de Niro is surprising and hilarious in his turn as Captain Shakespeare, and Claire Danes, is beautiful enough[ and this is definitely a role that requires a glowing kind of beauty], though she does seem stilted at times in her role as the fallen star.
  
  
  I loved this movie - having seen enough violence-themed movies this past year, action flicks with brainless dialogue, corny comedies, not to mention gross gore movies, Stardust was in a word, refreshing. Pure magic and romance with witty dialogue, and gorgeous sets and scenery. Highly recommended!
  
  
  
  
• A quite enjoyable fairy tale adventure
  By AUHG8KSHI529U on 2008-01-09
  If you love "The Princess Bride" and are looking for another movie in that vein, this could be a candidate, but lacks that great movies wit and knowing humor. While this is a fantasy and its special effects are far superior to "The Princess Bride", its story has less to it. This is a straight love story much like the fairy tales of a beautiful princess and a handsome prince finding each other despite all the world's obstacles and his apparent lowly birth. So, if you like fairy tale love stories and elaborate special effects, with some decent (but not great) humor along the way, this movie is one you will likely enjoy.
  
  The story involves a town in England that has a stone wall dividing it from some strange world no one must ever enter. There is an old man guarding a breach in the wall, but young Dunstan Thorn (eventually, Nathaniel Parker) gets past and meets a beautiful girl (Kate MacGowan) being held as a slave to a witch. Nine months later a baby boy is brought to him and he raises Tristan (Charlie Cox) with love and care. Eventually, the young man falls for Victoria (Sienna Miller), but his affection is not just unrequited, but rejected. Somehow, Tristan's good heart and genuine affection wring out a commitment from Victoria. If he can retrieve the falling star they saw crash into the strange world and get back in a week, she will marry him. Tristan sets off on his journey and the strange adventures being.
  
  Why the star fell and all those pursuing it for their own various purposes is what drives the story of the film. Robert De Niro's Captain Shakespeare is the one plot point that has nothing to do with the falling star, but is key to what eventually becomes of Tristan and the Star. His character also has a lot to do with a comic diversion to lessen some of the frenetic pace of the movie.
  
  Not great, but quite enjoyable. A good family film, to be sure. Not exactly a chick flick, however it is a love story. In any case, I enjoyed it. I didn't mention the roles that Peter O'Toole, Michelle Pfeiffer, and a bunch of other fine actors do in the film because I want you to enjoy the story for yourself.
  
  Reviewed by Craig Matteson, Ann Arbor, MI
  
  
  
• among the stars
  By A3NLJZI5NEOT0K on 2008-08-15
  Let me start by stating that if you watch Stardust the movie hoping that it achieves the aura of Stardust the book, you will be disappointed. That, however, is the fate of most book into movie productions. Stardust the book was magical because it is made of words. Stardust the movie is made of images and it is unrealistic to hope that it could capture the essence of the written version.
  
  That said, Stardust the movie has its moments. Clare Danes makes a luminous star, Charlie Cox a credulous young hero, and deNiro has a great time camping it up in his role as secretly gay pirate captain. Michelle Pfeiffer is less successful as the witch; either of her two crone sisters could have done better. There are more than a few problems with the story line, which, especially at the start, jumps about in a confusing manner.
  
  It is in its individual scenes that this movie shines. Seeing a dying prince bleed blue blood. Watching the 6 dead brothers in their ghostly throng, bearing their slashed throats and axes in the head. The Capt. Hook - style sequences with the air ship. The fairy tale backgrounds and the gypsy wagon. The special effects, which, while not spectacular, do their job. The developing love story. It isn't perfect, but Stardust is good entertainment, fun to lose oneself in on a rainy evening. If you enjoy the movie, you owe it to yourself to read the book. It's even better.
  
  
• Magical Fantasy Film Courtesy Of Matthew Vaughan & Neil Gaiman
  By AKT8TGIT6VVZ5 on 2007-08-26
  I fell in love with the original version of Neil Gaiman's terse, quite riveting, fantasy tale, "Stardust" a few years ago and Matthew Vaughan's fine cinematic rendition doesn't disappoint. Quite simply "Stardust" is the best fantasy film I have seen in some time, and one which deserves both better box office and critical praise than it's earned so far. The cast is brilliant, with superb acting from the young, relatively unknown, Charlie Cox as Tristan Thorn, and Claire Danes as the "fallen" star Yvaine, along with veterans Michelle Pfeiffer, (Lamia), and especially, Robert DeNiro (Captain Shakespeare). Much to his credit, Vaughan has done an admirable job remaining true to both Gaiman's vision and the plot and characters of the original story, adding only an extended sequence with Captain Shakespeare, Tristan and Yvaine which does much to establish the blossoming romance between the two young lovers.
  
  Sometime in the middle 19th Century, a young man, Dunstan Thorn, crosses the forbidden wall between the English town of Wall and the magical realm of Stormhold for a brief dalliance. Exactly eighteen years later, his son Christian crosses the wall, hoping to catch a falling star to win the heart of his love, the spoiled Victoria (Sienna Miller), who is being wooed by another, more affluent young suitor. Once he arrives in Stormhold, young Tristan stumbles upon the star, who has taken human form as a young girl, Yvaine (Claire Danes, in the finest screen performance of her career, replete with an admirable British accent). Unbeknownst to him, both the surviving princes of the recently deceased king of Stomhold (Peter O'Toole) and an evil witch, Lamia (Michelle Pfeiffer), are also in search of Yvaine, for devious dark reasons of their own. Eventually the two young travelers find some unexpected peace and sanctuary aboard Captain Shakespeare's (Robert DeNiro) aerial ship during a hazardous journey back to distant Wall. A journey which ends with a remarkable destiny awaiting both; one that's almost foretold by the dying King of Stormhold. A journey which fans of Neil Gaiman's work, other fantasy, and great cinematic entertainment for the entire family, ought to undertake too.
  
  
• Short of the Mark
  By A3UQ44J23PZ39T on 2007-12-21
  While writer Gaiman aspired to write an adult fairy tale, "Stardust" falls short on both accounts. Another reviewer correctly identified it as a new "Princess Bride," an adult spoof of children's fairy tales. And, as a spoof, it might have worked, except for the graphic violence, exploding heads and several impalings. Bing Crosby once asked, "Would you like to swing on a star, carry moonbeams home in a jar . . . or would you rather be a jerk?" "Stardust" chooses to be jerky. When will filmmakers realize that the successes of Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings are not about the gee-whiz special effects and sweeping vistas but about the integrity of the writing. "Stardust" insults the genre of fantasy rather than complementing it. Want to read an adult fairy tale? Try Stephen Donaldson's Thomas Covenant series. Want to see an adult fairy tale? Try John Boorman's "Excalibur."
  
  
• A decent idea that just is lacking a spark
  By A3KCG8WIOPP631 on 2007-12-24
  Witches: check. Cool flying ship: check. Great actors: check. Great FX: check. Great script: .....uh, guys?
  What could have been a great film just seems to be lacking something, a certain spark of creativity and at times it seems plot elements are thrown into the film SOLELY for the point of being different or strange. Why did the captain wear dresses? Sure he was really a softy, but then he parades around in drag? Just seemed like it was tossed in there for the point of seeing De Niro in drag, no other reason.
  When our hero finally has to take a stand and face the evil witch to save his love, he looks about as sure of himself as a rat being dropped in a vat of boiling ooze. I was not convinced he was the hero he was supposed to be.
  Just seemed lost, without a tight story, and a wandering pace that just needed a spark of creative genius to make this so-so film into a great film. Also most attempts at humor seemed to fall flat for me, I think I laughed once in the entire film.
  
  

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