Stardust - The Movie

**Apoc** · 01-13-2008, 13:26

I just saw this movie about a week ago, and I’ve re-seen it a couple of times since then, something I very rarely do with movies (unless we’re talking LotR). It was unfortunately a bit of a failure at the US box office, and while it did much better internationally, it has been sadly overlooked. Which is a damn shame.

The movie is based on the novel “Stardust” by Neil Gaiman, and he was very pleased with how it turned out (as well he should as he was apparently heavily involved in the making of it). The story centres on a star (Claire Danes) which plummets to Earth after having been struck by a necklace thrown by a dying king (Peter O’Toole) in the magical kingdom of Stormhold. Separating the realm of Faerie from our own world is a wall, and on the other side of it is the village of Wall, where the hero of the story, Tristan (Charlie Cox), is busy wooing the vain Victoria (Sienna Miller). They see the star overhead, and Tristan promises to go get it in exchange for Victoria’s hand in marriage, but since the star crashes in Faerie, it does not become a lump of rock, but a woman, Yvaine. Out to get her are also three witches (Michelle Pfeiffer plays the one who goes hunting), who want to eat the heart of the star to replenish their youths and magical powers, and the princes of Stormhold (Mark Strong, Jason Flemyng, Rupert Everett among others) are, initially, after the necklace thrown by their father, which will grant the one who holds it the throne. We also meet Captain Shakespeare (Robert De Niro) and his crew of sky pirates out collecting lightning, Ferdy the Fence (Ricky Gervais) who’s in the lightning-purchasing business, a Greek Chorus of dead princes, the best zombie-fencing scene in movie history, and an absolutely hilarious goat (!) (played by Mark Williams of HP fame).

I absolutely loved Stardust. It’s not perfect (what is?), but it is enchanting, witty, whimsical, tongue-in-cheek, romantic, adventurous, exciting, moving, and will absolutely melt your cold, cynical heart (unless it’s of rock). It’s got tons of charm, and is in my opinion heads and shoulders above any fantasy I’ve seen since the LotR trilogy. I can’t remember the last time I felt so awesomely up-beat after watching a movie. Oh, and I'm in love with Claire Danes now...

And a word of warning: keep away from the trailer they released, as it makes the movie look like Eragon's uglier cousin. Stardust's marketing was incredibly mismanaged.

**Geoffrey S** · 01-13-2008, 13:35

Seconded. Rarely have I encountered a film quite this charming. It's fun, well-paced, and in a change from most fantasy movies has a refreshing emphasis on character. If I must criticize anything, it's that I believe the original ending from the book better suited the material than that of the movie, but if my family's opinions are to be taken as the norm this is a minority opinion.

Do watch it. A very likeable film, in many ways reminiscent of the better sides of The Princess Bride.

**Beefy187** · 01-13-2008, 14:37

Just one thing I didnt like... The chick the guy started out with was better

**Dutch_guy** · 01-13-2008, 19:47

In agreement with the above, except with Beefy, but that's another discussion altogether.

I found it an enjoyable movie, more so than I expected it to be. Not that I read the book or anything, but I was sort off put of by the whole fantasy element of the movie - thinking it'd be for the < 6 age group. As it turned out it wasn't, or if it was, then I'm a really young 18 year old.

**Craterus** · 01-13-2008, 20:01

Same. I thought it was pretty good and I couldn't agree more with OP's comments on the trailer. I saw that and thought it would be awful, but it's not. Nice film. Passed by the cinemas now though, I'd have thought?

**Apoc** · 01-13-2008, 22:04

Passed by the cinemas now though, I'd have thought?

Yeah, it's been out on dvd in the US since December 18th, and will soon be out in Europe.

**Mouzafphaerre** · 01-14-2008, 10:04

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Saw it a few months ago. One of the most enjoyable movies indeed.

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**Beefy187** · 01-14-2008, 13:48

Originally Posted by Dutch_guy

In agreement with the above, except with Beefy, but that's another discussion altogether.

Aww cmon that stardust girl was mean and.... too shiny

**Mouzafphaerre** · 01-14-2008, 15:37

Originally Posted by Beefy187

Just one thing I didnt like... The chick the guy started out with was better

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Sienna Miller in Alfie.

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**Beefy187** · 01-16-2008, 01:02

Cool

**Martok** · 01-16-2008, 07:44

By a strange coincidence, I happened to have a friend of mine at work lend me the DVD so I could watch it last night. (It's a coincidence in that I hadn't read this thread at all until two days ago, and on the very next day my friend brought Stardust to work -- without my having even mentioned the movie to him -- to lend it to me.) He'd wanted me to watch because he felt I would really enjoy it.

Well it turns out he was right.

It's a charming little film, with some great characters. De Niro as Captain Shakespeare was awesome, and I was also pleasantly surprised by Danes' portrayal of Yvaine (I know she can do good work, but it'd been a while since I'd last seen a solid performance from her).

All in all, it was a nice blend of action/adventure, romance, humor, and even some character development. I wouldn't nominate it for any awards, but it's certainly worth watching.