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Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review
Stardust settles over the viewer like a twinkly cloak. The film, which captures the magic and vision of author Neil Gaiman's fantasy graphic fable, is a transportive journey into a world of true enchantment, which fans of the Harry Potter books will enjoy as well as will adults looking for the perfect date movie. The tale is a not-so-simple love story and adventure, set in 19th century England, and an alternate universe of witches, spells and stars that turn human--and hold the key to eternal life. Young Tristan (played with wide-eyed vigour by Charlie Cox) vows to retrieve a fallen star for the most beautiful girl in the village, the shallow Victoria (Sienna Miller), and in his quest finds his true love--in a true "meet-cute" moment (by Babylon-candle-speeding into the just-crashed human incarnation of the star, Claire Danes). Much of the film involves the duo's journey back home--though home for Tristan is his village, and home for the celestial Yvaine is, of course, in the heavens. There are villains, notably Michelle Pfeiffer as the vain witch who seeks the fountain of youth a fallen star can give, and the seven venal sons of the dying king of the mythical realm, backstabbing, grasping, and hilarious--even in death as a ghostly Greek chorus. While the sparks of love between Tristan and Yvaine are resonant and touching, Stardust truly succeeds as a brilliant fantasy yarn--and as a comedy with more than its share of belly laughs. Much of the humour belongs to Robert De Niro, who plays a notoriously wicked air pirate who is secretly a bit light in his swashbucklers. Ricky Gervais has a small but memorable role essentially channeling his character from Extras, including his catchphrase, "Are you having a laugh?!" The special effects are all that any fan of Gaiman would wish for. Catch a bit of Stardust and you'll feel enchanted for a good long while. --A.T. Hurley
Michelle Pfeiffer will put a spell on you.
Review date: 2008-08-24 Rating: 8 out of 10
A young man looking for adventure and what ever comes his way breaches The Wall to find a magical kingdom. He is seduced by a beautiful woman who claims to be a captive princess. Later he finds a little gift at his doorstep. Yep the little tyke looks like its father.
Well Young Dunstan Thorn is unaware of his heritage and has a soft spot in his heart for a local girl, Victoria (Sienna Miller). He would do anything for her, even bring back a fallen star; this quest will take him to the other side of The Wall and we will go with him on the quest.
This quest reminds you of "The Walrus and The Carpenter" by Lewis Carroll, as we dive into adventure with the fallen star Yvaine (Claire Danes), a witchy woman (Michelle Pfeiffer), a flying pirate (Robert De Niro), and several loving "yeah right" brothers, who are prince's and would love to get their hands on their father's (Peter O'Toole) throne.
Unlike many stories of this type we dive in so fast that we have no time to acquaint ourselves with the shock of the other world. They may have been in a tad too much of a hurry to tell the story. However it had its moments. It had style. It was the best show in town.
One double plus part of the film was the narration by Ian McKellen which takes up about tow thirds of the story. Ian is excellent; however being a fairy tail it might have sounded better with the late Edward Everett Horton Fractured Fairy Tales narrator (12 episodes, 1959-1960)