Stardust

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)

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)

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)

An engaging story with a pleasant esprit of British dry humour and finally, after a long time, a fairy tale that does not make a fool of the children and delights the adults with its wit and the originality of its setting. I'm sure I'll read something by the oddball Gaiman sometime. Matthew Vaughn has grown up, and the likeable De Niro hasn't had such a rewarding role in a long time (his "travesty dance" in The Wardrobe is, I'd say, a rare moment in his long acting career). I don't mind the visibly limited budget at all, because this film has a soul and that's worth it. The slightly rushed finale is a bit of a pity perhaps, but otherwise it’s a very nice film. (12/25/2007)

After the two films I've seen from Vaughn (Kick-Ass and this) I'm still not convinced he's much of a director, but he's definitely a cool wingman. Stardust is a not-so-cleverly story edited affair (enough things here could have been resolved in dialogue and didn't need to be unnecessarily shown) that has little will to mask its social budget and devotes its own shot, if not scene, to every digital special effect, no matter how bad. You even realize at the beginning of the film that you hate everything that's been there so far. And yet without it, the gradual coming of age of not just the hero, but the story, probably wouldn't work. First you're delighted with details like the hillbilly Yvaine, the envious witches, the blue blood, and the brotherly shenanigans (with, again, the unbelievably perfect Mark Strong), then the whole direction the film takes with lots of perfect digressions to round out the plot, the best of which I would consider to be the relationship between the fearsome Captain Shakespeare and his crew of cutthroats. And I still enjoy the pirate rapists' tough-guy gesture to this day. "Now remember, Captain Shakespeare has a fearsome reputation." (05/03/2012)