Seen: August 18th, 2007
Format: Theater
Rating: 8
Finally, something really worth watching.
Stardust is a witty and clever little film. It's a contemporary The Princess Bride. It's got class and charm, wit and a bit of wonder. There's good guys, bad guys, a few stunts and gags, and it's all a bit irreverent to boot.
It's fantastic of course, set in a world of magic, full of charms, curses and spells, but not far from our own. It's a plausible world, consistent in it's own rules. The magic plays a part in the tale, but it's also a realm where bravery, smarts and intiative count.
While the characters may seem to be pulled from the same mold as every other fairy tale you've read or seen foisted on the screen, there's a subtle edge that makes them a bit more human, a bit more real. The boy who first evades the guards and trespasses into the magical land begets a child in his brief absence, which is delivered to him after the appropriate incubation peroid. Hardly Hans Christian Anderson material.
Each of these characters is in some way very original and their flaws are what makes them interesting. They're wholly formed and individual. They make the whole affair sing.
The actors have to be given at least a small share of the credit for this. The cast is full of talent, ranging from Peter O'Toole at the old end to Clare Danes at the new. It's hard to single out performances here, as they're all not only excellent, but integral. While there are small roles here, there are very few throw-aways.
This is a fairy tale, and there is an underlying allegory. But it's a more modern one about being true to yourself and differetiating what's truly valuable from what appears to be. It's delivered without disguise, but is integrated nicely with the story. The film never bogs down to preach.
The style of the film is priceless. The sets and costumes are spectacular and lend the film an authenticiy that's hard to escape. Effects are excellent, enhacing the film, but not overwhelming it. Action is good, but generally with an edge of humor that's completely appropriate given the material.
So I'm off to find the novel and read it. If it's half as good as the film, I'm sure it wont' be the last time.
The Good: Fantastic and Clever
The Bad: Nothing I can think of...
The Ugly: Royal succession
1 comment:
Do read the graphic novel. I felt the movie was changed a bit to cater to a broader audience. Despite that it really was quite enjoyable.
If you haven't already, watch MirrorMask. It's another Neil Gaiman story and more complex than Stardust.
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