A Scientist at the Movies Reviews by Greg Paris

The Evaluation System Reviews by Title Reviews by Date

Reviews from Video Reviews of the Classics Personal Background

Title: Stardust

Date Viewed: 8/10/07, 9/7/07

Details:

Charlie Cox (Tristran)

Mark Strong (Septimus)

Michelle Pfeiffer (Lamia)

Claire Danes (Yvaine)

Robert De Niro (Captain Shakespeare)

Ricky Gervais (Ferdy)

Ian McKellen (Narrator)

Peter O'Toole

Director: Matthew Vaughn

Score: +/++

The Review: Claire Danes is a shining star.

Let's see -- it has pirates, adventure, magic, true love and kissing: What does this sound like? Princess Bride? Not quite, but close -- it's not quite as witty, the dialog not quite as memorable (Neil Gaiman is good, but he's no William Goldman), and there are no screaming eels, rhyming giants or Billy Crystal. But if Babylon candles, magic chains, unicorns, fratricidal princes, persistent ghosts, bloodless rubies and piratical lightning harvesters sounds interesting, Stardust has 'em, and more.

This romantic fantasy begins where the best fun might be had, on the borderlands -- this time, between the stodgy English village of Wall and the fantastic magical kingdom of Stormhold. The village is aptly named, but no one seems to know (or for that matter, to care) what's on the other side. But when things get going, we have several antagonistic princes harrowing off in contest for the crown (vacated by a derisory Peter O'Toole), a cabal of witches (anchored by a spiteful Michelle Pfeiffer), and one very puzzled village boy (Cox) -- all in search of a fallen star, for three very different reasons.

But this is no ordinary star. Disentangling the natural history from the myth of stars is difficult, and Stardust does what it can to muddy the waters. This spirited, whimsical, and moderately original entertainment is peppered with big time actors & actresses having fun, against some of the more attractive (if stark) landscapes in the Northern Hemisphere. Great location shots in Iceland and Scotland (many scenes around Skye, the Quirang for one, as well as Lochs Morag or Arisaig).

One of my complaints about Sunshine was put to good use in Stardust; you'll know it when you see it. And you will never listen to Offenbach's Orpheus in the Underworld overture without smiling, for yet another reason.

(10-Aug-07)

Later note: My second viewing was in a drive-in theatre in rural Maine. Stardust bears up under repeated viewings -- hoorah! -- but take care to watch it under well-controlled lighting situations. The darker scenes early in the film are of sufficiently low contrast that a dark room would be preferred over a gradually darkening sky.

(10-Sep-07)

Back to the chronological list of reviews