Stardust [HD DVD]
by Matthew Vaughn
![Stardust [HD DVD]](/images/Stardust-HD-DVD-B000WTLDPU-L.jpg)
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Bimbo Hart, Charlie Cox, Claire Danes, Ian McKellen, Sienna MillerDirector: Matthew Vaughn
Writer: Matthew Vaughn
Producer: Chantal Feghali
Producer: David Womark
Producer: Kris Thykier
Producer: Lorenzo di Bonaventura
Writer: Jane Goldman
Writer: Neil Gaiman
DVD: Region Code 0
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Subtitled); French (Subtitled); Portuguese (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled); English (Original Language); French (Dubbed); Spanish (Dubbed)
Format: AC-3, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, Subtitled, Widescreen
Picture Format: 2.35:1
Running Time: 127 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2007-12-18
Audience Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Paramount
Movie Reviews of Stardust [HD DVD]
Movie Review: "No star can shine with a broken heart."
Summary: 5 Stars
SPOILERS, SPOILERS (and more SPOILERS)!
Crossover success is seldom when it comes to comic book writers aspiring to become novelists. Peter David comes to mind. And then there's Neil Gaiman. Gaiman's Neverwhere: A Novel, American Gods, Coraline, and Stardust are novels, of which mysterious and wondrous imaginative contents rival the works of Tim Powers. He'd even teamed up with Terry Pratchett to co-author Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch. And it still tickles me that Gaiman won the prestigious World Fantasy Award back in 1991 for a comic book issue (Sandman #19, "A Midsummer's Night Dream"), after which comic books were subsequently disallowed from competing. All of which is a long-winded way of saying that when a film adaptation of a Gaiman work is attempted, it has some ways to go to meet the expectations of his readers. Which brings us finally to STARDUST, one such successful adaptation.
This is what's going on: 150 years ago, just a bit past the picturesque English village simply called Wall (named for the innocuous-looking stone wall bordering this same village), a young man once crossed over into an enchanted realm and had a tryst with an enslaved girl. Nine months later, a baby named Tristan is delivered onto his doorstep. Eighteen years elapse, and shopboy Tristan Thorn (Charlie Cox) has fallen for Victoria, the conceited village beauty. During an evening outing, Tristan and Victoria espy a falling star. Fearing that a rival might very soon propose to her, Tristan vows, perhaps foolhardily, to fetch the falling star for Victoria as a token of his affections.
To do so, he must traverse the wall beyond the village, which is rumored to be the portal to a magical world. But, first, Tristan has to get by the 97-year-old Guard of the Wall, who's more spry than he really should be. But Tristan circumvents the Guard and finds himself promptly catapulted into a strange and wondrous adventure. The falling star, it seems, is not merely a falling star. In the magical kingdom of Stormhold, this heavenly body metamorphoses into a comely but very cranky woman whose name is Yvaine (Claire Danes). Tristan makes a pact with Yvaine. In exchange of returning with Tristan to Wall and presenting her to his beloved, Tristan will help Yvaine ascend to her celestial home. At this stage of the story, Tristan has actually gained the means to make this so.
But it's too early for happily ever after, and, as mentioned in the film, "No star is safe that is too low." Odd and frightening creatures are after the falling star, vying for the owning of it (or her). On Yvaine and Tristan's heels follows an evil and incredibly vain witch named Lamia (Michelle Pfeiffer, in a wonderful turn), who craves eternal youth. Too, the sinister remaining son of a recently deceased monarch seeks the ruby necklace worn by Yvaine, of which ownership would grant him the kingdom of Stormhold. This prince, Septimus, is unawares that he is accompanied by his six murdered brothers (most of whom he seems to have murdered himself). There are also buccaneers who sail the open skies and who bottle and sell lightning (although I don't remember them in the book). And there's also a goat. For a prospective hero as fumbling and naive as Tristan seems to be, it just might take someone in the mold of a Robert DeNiro to show him the ropes.
Director Matthew Vaughn, mostly known for crafting gritty crime thrillers, channels his inner Hans Christian Anderson for this one. Or, rather more accurately, his inner William Goldman. Because, STARDUST reminds me most of The Princess Bride (Special Edition) in its whimsy, charm, and rousing sense of adventure, while also recalling to mind The Adventures of Baron Munchausen and other slightly off the wall Terry Gilliam efforts.
STARDUST the film is, of course, based on Neil Gaiman's terrific book, which in turn was based on his graphic novel (with the remarkable Charles Vess doing the illustrating honors). Discerning fantasy lovers won't find much to pick at. This film captures the storytelling essence of the classic fairy tales while infusing enough wit and tongue in cheek humor to make the viewing experience accessible to one and all. Particularly fun was the snarky and spectral presence of the slain brothers, whose expressions, snide commentaries, and reactions provide good chuckles. But, no worries, the humor doesn't get in the way of the storytelling.
British actors rock. Young Charlie Cox is quite disarming as the initially wimpy, but suddenly dashing hero and somehow reminds me of Orlando Bloom. Mark Strong as Septimus makes for a good villain, grim, undetered, and scowling a lot. On the other hand, there's a decidedly wicked gleam lit in the ancient eyes of Peter O'Toole as he demonstrates, in his all too brief scene, a good example of gallows humor. Sienna Miller and a droll Ricky Gervais also have minor roles. But the Yanks give as good as they get, even if they're pretending to be Brits. Claire Danes and Michelle Pfeiffer's English accents may slip now and then, but, otherwise, are very fine. Particularly Pfeiffer, who has a nice turn as the witchy crone Lamia, who probably wishes Botox had been invented much sooner. There's a go-to comedic vein which she consistently mines as her character's continuing use of magic resorts to a progressive eroding of her stolen youth and beauty. Then, there's Bob DeNiro, who doesn't even pretend a Brit accent. I don't want to say anymore about him, other than, in this flick, he cheerfully upends his tough guy reputation.
To segue a bit: if you're gonna check out this film, prep yourself for a flood of Harry Potter wannabes. The trailers before the film screening offered up THE SEEKER: THE DARK IS RISING (which looks to be an uber-crap adaptation of Susan Cooper's very good fantasy work), THE GOLDEN COMPASS (looks promising), and THE SPIDERWICK CHRONICLES (also promising). I could practically smell the greed exuding from the Hollywood financial high rollers. STARDUST, naturally, is also out to make bank. But, thank goodness and best of all, the film itself is one of which content lacks in cynicism and overt, intrusive modern references. Even DeNiro's piratical transgressions are handled rather sweetly. In fact, STARDUST, for all its mild grisliness, is a sweet-natured film, espousing all the things we, as tykes, loved in a magical story. Nowadays, with all the disillusion going on, it's a damn treat to have a fairy tale actually end with the traditional "And they lived happily ever after."
But, what happened to the unicorn?
Summary of Stardust [HD DVD]
Escape into the enchanted world of chivalry and romance in Stardust, an epic tale starring Claire Danes with Michelle Pfeiffer and Robert De Niro. In hopes of wooing a beautiful girl (Sienna Miller), Tristan (Charlie Cox) promises to bring her a falling star. But he?s in for the adventure of his life when he discovers the star is actually a celestial beauty named Yvaine (Danes) When an old witch Lamia (Pfeiffer) attempts to steal Yvaine?s youth, Tristan must protect her at all costs, in this magical family adventure that will make you fall in love over and over again.Similar DVD Movies
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