[view trailer] FALLING STARS, FLYING ships, the promise of treasure—Stardust is the quintessential adventure. You're in for one of those great movie-going experiences! The lights go down, luscious graphics and visuals fill the screen. The marvelously resonant, somewhat breathy voice of Ian McKellen speaks, in storybook fashion, of ordinary people, a small town called Wall, a magical kingdom, and yes, you know you have bought the ideal two-hour movie treat. How brilliant can one be?
This summer's premium fantasy movie is a superbly rendered visual confection, which is the backdrop to a story where the 'stuff of stars' can be organic, living beings. Stardust is a fairy-tale with all the trimmings. Neil Gaiman & Matthew Vaughn, et al, created this enchanting yarn, first in graphical novel form, and then breathed cinematic dimension into it with their filmic version. Stardust is an upgraded Princess Bride, which was Rob Reiner's brilliant 1987 fairy-tale classic. Reiner's version of fairy-tale-turned-fantasy-movie had luscious characters with great story tension—and even two decades later, humorously quotable lines.
A couple of decades later, comes this newest 'true love' fairy-tale, shimmering up on the silver screen. Stardust will, I predict, similarly stand the test of time. Gaiman has immensely compelling characters, a Jules Verne-style sailing ship, complete with wings, that chases lightning and all the requisite castles and storms. Included for the adults are delightful naming games and tongue-in-cheek surprises.
ROBERT DE NIRO is captivating as Captain Shakespeare, a swashbuckling, yet courteous, lightning-miner. His pirates are suspiciously odd, in that can't-put-your-finger-on-it way. MICHELLE PFEIFFER's Lamia vacillates between scintillating and hideous, always focused on the prize, recovering youthfulness (borrowed from Greek mythology are meaningful names like Lamia and Empusa).
The dying king of Stormhold (a woefully short cameo by PETER O'TOOLE) has seven bad prince-sons. Only one can inherit the crown if, 'he be the sole surviving heir'—oh—and that likely murderer must possess the beautiful red gemstone around Daddy's neck. Primus, the oldest is soberly played by JASON FLEMYNG, but as the cold-blooded Secondus (second son, of course; ah, Shakespearean fans, be mirthful), RUPERT EVERETT's polished performance carries the other sons lesser parts. The homage to Shakespeare continues on with the King's son's names all the way to Septimus. They have a sister, Empusa (SARAH ALEXANDER), but she has 'disappeared.' The boys could care.
The witch and the boys are all looking for 'The Star.' From opposite ends of the Kingdom, they set out to find it, each for their own desperate ends.
On our everyday, lackluster side of The Wall is young Tristan Thorne (CHARLIE COX), who wants Victoria (SIENNA MILLER), and would go to the ends of the earth for her. In fact, he immediately rushes off after a falling star they watched drop out of the night sky. Should he bring it back to her in one week's time, he shall have her hand. Tristan Sr., played bewitchingly by NATHANIEL PARKER, aids Tristan with unlikely knowledge he gained when a young man, before his son was born.
Tristan, with Victoria's smiling encouragement, crosses through The Wall beyond which the star's blazing trail descended. He meets all manner of people who are not who they seem: Ditchwater Sal (MELANIE HILL) and Ferdy the Fence (RICKY GERVAIS) and Yvain (no, not Isolde) luminously played by CLAIRE DANES, who is a 'natural beauty' in this role. Without makeup, she often resembled Gwyneth Paltrow, to me. Her Ivain was the perfectly aloof, plucky and quick-witted object of everyone's 'affection.'
The fairy-tale, the myth, the great fireside story evolved with the storytellers—and we can't wait for each new stretch-of-their-imagination, another extraordinary adventure. For the armchair adventurer, it is best this way—who amongst us actually wants to go out and fight a fire-breathing anything? Such stories supplement the wonder of catching sight of a falling star in our own extraordinary skies.
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Reviews are © Carol Lane Patterson and reprinted with permission.
