ALARIS' REVIEWS

10th September 2008
Stardust (2007)

I think the best word to describe this film is 'charming'.

Stardust is a film based on the Neil Gaiman/Charles Vess illustrated novel of the same name, following a rural lad called Tristan as he attempts to retrieve a fallen star, hoping to impress the young woman he fancies.

I enjoyed the novel, but where the original work was dark and gruesome, the film is fun and fantastic. Fans of the novel might be peeved by the striking departure, but I personally prefer fun and fantastic. The story is told in a lyrical, fairytale style, reminiscent of the much loved Princess Bride. The visuals are lovely, from the cluttered shops to spectacular spells, with a wonderful sense of the fantastic.

The characters are warm and engaging, and Charlie Cox (Tristan) has a great deal of natural appeal as the awkward, good natured lead. The film is well cast, although Michelle Pfeiffer's accent is a little wobbly (she plays the witch, Lamia ), and Robert De Niro could have been a little more subtle in places (he plays the pirate, Shakespeare). I also kept hoping that Michelle Pfeiffer would burst into song (she doesn't).

The film takes significant liberties with Gaiman's novel, leaving us with a rather more sanitised and cheerful story. While this could spell Hollywood meddling, Stardust has clearly been made by people who have a great love and understanding of the fantasy genre. The film retains many of the imaginative story elements of the novel, and it's great to see these brought to life onscreen. I found Stardust highly enjoyable, with strong pacing and an offbeat sense of humour.

Much of the ending deviates from the novel, probably because translating something to film usually requires such sacrifices. I was a bit disappointed with the decision to change the reunion scene between Tristan and Victoria, the young woman he fancies. I considered this one of the loveliest scenes in the original novel, and it's a pity that it was rewritten as a simplified cliché in the film.

If you're looking for a film version of Gaiman's novel, you won't find it here. But if you're looking for a fun, sweet, quirky, fantasy adventure, then Stardust fits the bill.

Verdict: A fun, fantasy adventure, with engaging characters and a quirky sense of humour.

If you liked The Princess Bride, you'll probably like Stardust.

Read Clementine's review of Stardust (2007).

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