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Stardust (2007)
Director: Matthew Vaughn
Synopsis
Based on the best-selling graphic novel by Neil Gaiman and Charles Vess, 'Stardust' begins in a village in England and ends up in places that exist in an imaginary world. A young man named Tristan (Charlie Cox) tries to win the heart of Victoria (Sienna Miller), the beautiful but cold object of his desire, by going on a quest to retrieve a fallen star. His journey takes him to a mysterious and forbidden land beyond the walls of his village. On his odyssey, Tristan finds the star, which has transformed into a striking girl named Yvaine (Claire Danes). However, Tristan is not the only one seeking the star. A king’s (Peter O’Toole) four living sons – not to mention the ghosts of their three dead brothers – all need the star as they vie for the throne. Tristan must also overcome the evil witch, Lamia (Michelle Pfeiffer), who needs the star to make her young again. As Tristan battles to survive these threats, encountering a pirate named Captain Shakespeare (Robert De Niro) and a shady trader named Ferdy the Fence (Ricky Gervais) along the way, his quest changes. He must now win the heart of the star for himself as he discovers the meaning of true love.
Movie review
From Time Out New York
The antic spirit of The Princess Bride looms large over Stardust, creatively adapted from Neil Gaiman’s much more sober 1998 graphic novel. That’s probably a good call. Gaiman, a leather-clad fantasist whose fan base is legion and occasionally Orc-like, could use a touch more humor. And the idea of presenting Tolkienesque spellscapes after Peter Jackson all but tapped the genre dry begs not a small degree of self-deprecation.
Still, something must be done about our sorry state of blandly handsome heroes. Young Charlie Cox, as Stardust’s impulsive quester who treks into the magical land of Stormhold to capture a fallen star for an imperious love object (Sienna Miller), clearly comes from the Orlando Bloom School of Strained Charm. In the glowing presence of the aforementioned star—personified by a very Gwyneth-like Claire Danes—he destarches, slightly. But the main leap of faith you’ll have to make doesn’t concern flying pirate ships, but believing our lead has a pulse.
As per usual with these overscored adventures, the real enjoyment lies on the periphery. We’ve seen Michelle Pfeiffer do malevolent before (as early as Batman Returns), so her rapidly desiccating witch seems tired. But here is Robert De Niro’s funniest cameo since Brazil, as a character called Captain Shakespeare. To go into the nature of his performance would be tantamount to ruining a key surprise; suffice it to say that after the day’s yo-ho-ho-ing, the good captain gets quite verbal underdeck. Looks like Jack Sparrow has cousins.
Author: Joshua Rothkopf
Time Out New York Issue 619: August 9–15, 2007
User reviews of this film
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- ell said...
- Posted on Nov 28 2008 13:24 i think this film is amazing and beautiful!
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- ell said...
- Posted on Nov 28 2008 13:22 its a brilliant film it is amzing how dare theyb rate it ahrshly it s so much better than half the movies out this year and wayyy betetr than dum ahrry potter.i mean coem on harry ptter is getting boring...
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- isaac said...
- Posted on Oct 16 2008 07:11 amzing and full of twists and turns
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- z said...
- Posted on Jun 17 2008 16:46 never seen it!
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- Ann said...
- Posted on Jun 05 2008 12:18 This is the first film I have really enjoyed in ages. Funny, charming, looked great. Good cast & story. More like this please!
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- Nour said...
- Posted on Apr 12 2008 02:54 this film was outstanding. i''ve never seen anything like. the cast was brilliant, the special effects were superb, the dialogue was well written and had lots of humer in it. what more can you ask from a film.
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- Emmi said...
- Posted on Dec 08 2007 10:37 AMAZING I LOVED IT!
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- andyfoz said...
- Posted on Nov 14 2007 08:22 brilliant its one of the best films i have seen de niro was funny best film of the year by far
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- Laura said...
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Posted on Nov 10 2007 19:21
This has to be one of the best films I've seen all year, if not more, with a stellar cast and an excellent script that manages to appeal to both adults and children
Brilliant, a must-see. - Report as inappropriate
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- Sophia said...
- Posted on Nov 01 2007 11:50 BEST FILM EVER!
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- PfeifferFan said...
- Posted on Oct 20 2007 06:12 OMG i saw this film yesterday!! it was actually amazing!! the best film ever made as well as hairspray! i love it so much!!! excellent work to everyone who was in it / worked on it! MICHELLE PFEIFFER IS MY IDOL!!
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- Dan Guy said...
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Posted on Aug 08 2007 18:45
"Gaiman, a leather-clad fantasist whose fan base is legion and occasionally Orc-like, could use a touch more humor."
Has Rothkopf ever actually read anything by Gaiman, or heard him speak, or has he merely glanced at the book jackets?!? Wearing lots of black and a leather jacket does not signify humourless. Neil is one of the funniest authors in print and hands down the wittiest, most amusing author I've ever heard speak. He works a room like Groucho Marx.
Lastly, I know a lot of Neil fans and I've never met one that was remotely Orc-like. - Report as inappropriate
Cast & crew
Director: Matthew Vaughn
Cast: Charlie Cox, Claire Danes, Michelle Pfeiffer, Robert De Niro, Sienna Miller, Peter O'Toole, Jason Flemyng, Rupert Everett, Ricky Gervais, Ian McKellen full cast
Genre(s): Action/Adventure, Fantasy, Romance
Rated: PG-13
Duration: 130 mins
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