FILM NAME: Stardust- In Theatres

FILM COMPANY: Paramount Pictures, Paramount Pictures International, Di Bonaventura Pictures, Inc., Marv Films

DIRECTOR: Matthew Vaughn

PRINCIPAL ACTORS: Claire Danes, Robert De Niro, Michelle Pfeiffer, Sienna Miller, Charlie Cox

DATE OF RELEASE: August 10^th 2007

GENRE: Action/Adventure, Comedy, Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy and Adaptation

FILM LENGTH: 2 hours 8 minutes

RATING: PG-13

WEBSITE: www.stardustmovie.com

4 ½ Stars

REVIEWED BY: Emily Axelson

After hearing that Stardust film was much like the sensational movie, The Princess Bride, I went to see it as soon as possible. The Princess Bride is one of my favorite movies, and naturally I didn’t feel that it would be quite as good, considering the brilliance of its opponent. Well, although I was partially right, and it did not measure up to The Princess Bride, it was still a fantastic film to enjoy.

Tristan (Cox) is a hopeless romantic desperately attempting to win the love of Victoria (Miller). However, a man named Humphrey is also trying to win her over, and Victoria seems to be leaning towards Humphrey. When Tristan discovers that Victoria is indeed engaged to Humphrey, he arranges a midnight picnic to ask for her hand instead. Just before he is able to ask her, they are interrupted by a shooting star. She comments on how beautiful it is, and Tristan states that he will fetch her that star in exchange for her hand in marriage. She accepts. There is only one problem; the star had fallen on the other side of “the wall”. The wall separates their world from a whole other world filled with fantasy, magic, and mystery. Being the brave man that he is, Tristan ventures to the other world in search of the star. When he comes across a giant crater with a lady inside named Yvaine (Danes), he asks her if she’s seen a fallen star. She seems confused and keeps stating that she fell there. They then come to conclude that she was the fallen star. Though Tristan is confused, he immediately grabs the girl and begins to carry her towards the wall. But she escapes. He then must find her to take her back. Though the situation is not as simple as it seems. Three witch sisters who feed off of star hearts to gain their youth are in search of Yvaine as well; one of them is the queen of the witches (Pfeiffer).

Back at home Tristan lives only with his father and all he’s heard about his mother is that she is on “the other side of the wall”. All he is equipped with is a black candle which is the fastest source of travel and takes you wherever you want to go. When Tristan does find Yvaine, he quickly says to think of home. However, their homes are different. While his is on the other side of the wall, hers is up in the sky. They then end up between the two; in the clouds. Intense arguing breaks out, but they get disturbed by a flying pirate boat! The two get kidnapped by flying pirates including Captain Shakespeare (De Niro). Discovering that the pirates are also in search of the star, they desperately try to hide the fact that Yvaine is what they seek. With everyone disguised; Yvaine disguised from her true form (a star), the witch hiding her witchcraft from the world, and Captain Shakespeare secretly being a truly kind hearted pirate rather than a nasty one, all people want is to get the star, all she wants is to escape.

Filled with magic and fantasy, Stardust is a great way to escape to a mystical world for two hours. It truly is a perfect film the whole family can enjoy. The one thing I’d have to say could be improved in this film was the darkness. The fact that the witches feed on hearts was much darker than the rest of the story, which slightly took away from the ’family appeal’ of Stardust.

Up until now, I was never the biggest fan of Claire Danes; however, this film changed my mind. Her character as Yvaine, a stubborn fallen star was portrayed very well. I was also quite impressed with Robert De Niro’s character. Of course, watching De Niro in whatever he is in is always an outstanding pleasure, but this character I found very different from previous roles. He’s been in comedies before, but this was the first time I witnessed him being way out there funny. His “secret” is hysterical; as I’m sure you’ll agree when you see it. All in all I’d say Stardust was a mystical, original, and magical way to spend an evening. Doesn’t quite beat The Princess Bride, but it’s one of the closest ones to it.