Stardust

Stardust is a gem with a playful soul hidden in an undignified shabby technical garb. That is, exactly the opposite of what is usually the case these days. P.S. About a year and a half later: With each subsequent screening (it's a small miracle in itself that I voluntarily watch something more than once), I love it more and more. Slowly, but very surely, it has become one of my favorites... ♫ OST score: 5/5 (02/09/2022)

Gaiman's book is just heavy hype, whose biggest weakness is the author's inability to properly develop the themes of the "other" type of fantasy that he claims to be writing, which is why the expectations for the film were zero. It was all the more surprising to me in the end that I consider Stardust the best fantasy film since The Lord of the Rings. It won't impress you with bombastic special effects (the film was very heavily underfunded) or a sophisticated plot (it couldn't have squeezed more out of the book anyway). Yet from amongst all the films that followed Jackson, only now has a film come along that doesn't ooze producer calculations, but is instead shot with refinement, confidence, and proper authorial passion. Charlie Cox is likable, Claire Danes is truly as beautiful as a star in the sky, and Michelle Pfeiffer still exudes irresistible sex appeal. But none of them can compare to Robert De Niro, who clearly sensed that this was a proper role after all these years, and he enjoys his rugged captain with the tender soul of a transvestite so phenomenally that I (with apologies) shit myself with bliss. From a filmmaker's point of view, it's not worth top marks, but I nevertheless give it full marks for the sincerity that kept me endlessly entertained for two hours...with a wink. (02/19/2008)

A wonderful family movie made even more special thanks to Gaiman’s imagination and his feeling for story. Marvelous casting, from the beautiful Claire Danes all the way down to the horrible Peter O'Toole;everybody fits their roles perfectly and Vaugh demonstrates that he really knows his stuff. Why can’t life be a fairytale like this too? (04/28/2011)

Undoubtedly the biggest cinematic experience from the films of recent times. It is a very pleasant fairy tale fantasy, and very well acted, cast, and thoroughly handled both in terms of direction and script. An impressive romantic spectacle about the search for love and success in life. Contrary to some reviews, I don't think it suffers from poor set design. Scenes with the airship are among those that I will always remember, and as a boy, that's exactly the kind of airship I dreamed of. In several scenes, the authors poke fun at fairy tale stereotypes and lighten the storytelling with jokes and thrilling battles. Intrigues, passions, fights - simply everything that an audience can appreciate. With the exception of really young children (because the film does contain some more drastic scenes), the film is truly for everyone. Overall impression: 95%. (01/31/2009)

Although in terms of technical aspects I can find all sorts of issues, except for the excellent soundtrack, in terms of pure emotion, Stardust affected me like few romantic / fantasy films... I immediately found connection to the likeable heroes, I smiled at the jerky humor, the imaginative choreography and joyfully light storytelling, through which Vaughn masks a relatively forgettable artistic vision and a (lack of) feeling for strong composition. Visually, Stardust is really just a mixture of proven techniques and bad CGI effects, which reveal that 70 million was simply not enough... However, the incomplete impression of the kingdom of Stormhold literally drowns in a nice impression of the story and great characters (especially the central couple and the famous De Niro, who turn a good movie into a great spectacle)... in my opinion Matthew Vaughan managed to create a less than magnificent fairy tale with a big soul. Unfortunately, today's viewer likely prefers magnificence. (10/01/2007)