August 12, 2007

Movie Review: Stardust

Most movies that I go see, I have some sort of idea of what it is about. That was not the case with Stardust. I had seen a trailer, I think. I somewhat recall seeing some clips with Claire Danes and Robert DeNiro in them. I know I saw at least one television commercial. For some reason, I cannot recall any of the specific content. I went into the theater knowing that it was a fantasy based on a story by Neil Gaiman, but that was about it. When I left the theater, I was very glad to have had so little prior knowledge. Stardust was a breath of fresh air in the fantasy realm. It was not nearly as serious as the Lord of the Rings films, nor as serially driven as the Harry Potter series. Stardust presented a world full of magical whimsy, high adventure, and romance.

The plot of Stardust is made up of a group of other smaller, but no less important, tales. The central tale concerns a young shopboy named Tristan (Charlie Cox). He is in love with a young woman named Victoria (Sienna Miller). The problem is that she is rather self-absorbed and in a relationship with another suitor, a snobbish character named Humphrey (Henry Cavill). One night Tristan makes a last ditch effort to win her affections. While sitting under the stars, Tristan and Victoria see a star fall from the sky. He vows to find the celestial debris and bring it to her as a sign of his love, and his adventure begins.

Actually, I am jumping a little too far ahead. Tristan lives in a town that is completely surrounded by a stone wall. The town's name? Wall. The wall is actually a barrier that separates real world of England (where Wall is located) from the magical land of Stormhold. However, there happens to be a broken down section of the wall, where access to the magical land can be made. The star, which Tristan seeks, is on the other side of the wall. That being the case, Tristan must outwit breach's guard in order to begin his quest.

Meanwhile, on in the land of Stormhold, others begin their quest for the star. The King of Stormhold, played by Peter O'Toole, has seven sons, three of which are still alive. In order to win the crown, the three sons must set out for a mystical gem which is in the star's possession. Then there is Lamia (Michelle Pfeiffer) and her two sisters who seek the star. They wish to extend their lives by cutting out the star's heart and eating it. Sounds tasty, doesn't it?

Back to Tristan, he has gotten across the wall, with the aid of a magic candle (this is a fantasy, after all). The candle has led him right to the star, which turns out to be a young woman named Yvaine (Claire Danes). This would explain why the witches wish to eat the heart of a star (I doubt a real star would taste all that good). So, we have Tristan trying to get Yvaine back to Wall, three Princes seeking the gem around Yvaine's neck, and a witch seeking Yvaine to cut out her heart. Three stories with three different potential outcomes, and they all work. How often do you see that happen?

There is something absolutely magical about Stardust. It never feels as if it is trying too hard. There is an easy flow to the humor, and the way that the adventure is approached. I sat in the darkened theater, caught under the spell of Stardust. I loved the converging stories, the dawning romance between Tristan and Yvaine, Michelle Pfeiffer's transformation from a decrepit witch into a stunning beauty, the frat boyish competition of the princes, all of the right notes were hit. I haven't even touched upon the appearance of DeNiro as Captain Shakespeare.

Matthew Vaughn directed from a script he co-wrote with Jane Goldman. The style, the story, the characters, all working in perfect unison. With so much to like, I don't really want to bring any criticisms to bear. The only complaint I have is that it feels like some of the scenes were cut short. I foresee some sort of extended cut of this down the line. That is a minor nit for a movie that holds together upon examination. The various stories pull together in a manner that makes sense. All of the characters are entertaining, well written and well acted.

Bottomline. Evoking memories of Willow, Dark Crystal, and The Princess Bride, Stardust feels like a timeless fantasy tale. It is smart, intriguing, and creates a new world filled with visual wonders. I was caught off guard, in a good way. It is a nice feeling to walk in without a clue of what to expect and leaving with a grin plastered on your face.

Highly Recommended.

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