Nov

Stardust

Posted by: Fence in Moving Pictures

Dir: Matthew Vaughn
Writ: Jane Goldman & Matthew Vaughn based on book by Neil Gaiman

Charlie Cox … Tristan

Ian McKellen … Narrator (voice)

David Kelly … Guard

Kate Magowan … Slave Girl / Una

Sienna Miller … Victoria

Peter O’Toole … King

Mark Strong … Septimus

Jason Flemyng … Primus

Rupert Everett … Secundus

David Walliams … Sextus

Michelle Pfeiffer … Lamia

Claire Danes … Yvaine

Robert De Niro … Captain Shakespeare

I read this book a while ago and really enjoyed it, so I wasn’t too sure if I’d enjoy the film. You know the way they always change stuff. But I try to pretend that it is a brand new story and not based on any book, course that doesn’t always work, but I do try.

Anyway, I’m happy to report that Stardust is just a lovely film. It is the story of a young man who goes on a quest into the faerie world to bring back a star in order to prove his love. Only across “the wall” he finds that the star is actually a woman, and that there are others looking to find her, and for slightly more nefarious reasons.

But to be honest the plot isn’t hugely important. What is more important is the style of the film. It looks lovely and has just the right blend of humour, fantasy, and danger. I was a bit worried about Cox when I say the trailer, he looked like an imitation of Orlando Bloom and seeing as I’m not the world’s biggest Bloom fan, that isn’t a good thing. But he was really great. Likewise I was doubtful about the de Niro factor, but he proved me wrong and I really enjoyed his scenes. Okay, I enjoyed the other pirates reacting to him. Excellent job by all concerned.

Of course the biggest issue was probably always going to be the role of Yvaine, the star, and I have to say that Danes was absolutely perfect here. And he accent was spot on too. I loved her little mannerisms and her humour. Two thumbs up.

And all of the princes were great. Dead or alive I loved them all.

So, what amn’t I happy with, well the character of Victoria was a bit sketchy, she seemed reduced to being “the shallow pretty one” which she wasn’t in the book. And I didn’t like the ending as much as the book’s. But still, all in all, highly enjoyable and really really worth watching.

Stainless Steel Droppings ; A Medium of Images

Tags: 8 Stars, awww, based on book, Charlies Cox, charming, Claire Danes, david Kelly, David Williams, enchanting, faerie, ghosts, Ian McKellen, Jane Goldman, Kate magowan, Mark Strong, Matthew Vaughn, Michelle Pfeiffer, Neil Gaiman, Peter O'Toole, pirates, Ricky Gervais, Robert de Niro, romance, Rupert Everett, sff, Sienna Miller, star, Stardust

This entry was posted on Tuesday, November 6th, 2007 at 11:36 am and is filed under Moving Pictures. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

7 comments so far

jean pierre (Check me out!)

ah, that is good to know. having read it, like you, i was also a little worried. although, only a teensy bit, ’cause gaiman himself was so positive about it.

thanks for the cool review!

Rate this:

2.5

November 6th, 2007 at 11:49 am

Fence (Check me out!)

It is well worth watching JP. Although most of the fellas I know that have seen it haven’t been all that impressed, it does seem to be more female friendly.

But that might just be some of them covering up and pretending to be all macho and whatnot

Rate this:

2.5

November 6th, 2007 at 4:10 pm

The girl who's afraid of foxes (Check me out!)

God every time I see Claire Danes, I can’t help thinking of the classis that was My so-called Life (shudder Dawson’s Creek, shudder the OC). Totally random but I see you’re playing the new Peej album - always good