Stardust
October 22nd 2007 01:27
Category: Movies
Director: Matthew Vaughn.
Producer: Michael Dreyer, Lorenzo Di Bonaventura, Neil Gaiman & Matthew Vaughn.
Screenplay by: Jane Goldman & Matthew Vaughn.
Starring: Claire Danes (Yvanne), Charlie Cox (Tristan Thorne), Peter O’Toole (The King of Stormhold), Robert De Niro (Captain Shakespeare), Michelle Pfeiffer (Lamia), Ricky Gervais (Ferdy the Fence), Sienna Miller (Victoria).
Produced: 2007 Paramount Pictures.
Running Time: Approx 130 minutes. Rating: PG.
Based upon the novel of the same name by author Neil Gaiman Stardust is a classic fairy tale with all the classic elements that would have made Hans Christian Andersen and the Brothers Grimm weep with wonder and joy. Having read Mr Gaiman’s novel as soon as I heard that it was being made into a movie I knew that I would be making an odyssey down to the local cinema to watch it as soon as it arrived in town. When it did arrive I have to give thanks to the friendly young lady at the counter who in addition to handing me my ticket also provided me with several pertinent details regarding the film I was about to see, the director, producers etc.
From purchasing my ticket I soon ensconced myself within the cinemas confines, a beverage and several packets of chips in tow and sat expectantly waiting for the feature to begin. Admittedly as I sat their waiting I really had no idea of what to expect, I know what the book had been like but often a film adaptation of a novel can be completely different from its inspiring source. Essentially Stardust is a story about love, adventure, self discovery, magic, wonder and good versus evil all classic element of any great fairy tale. Where it deviates from the norm of the genre is that the characters are of a Victorian England look and feel, despite some of them being witches, fallen stars or devious ruthless princes they all could quite easily blend into the society of nineteenth century England.
The story revolves around its two main protagonists, Tristan Thorne, an ordinary shop boy who lives in the English village of Wall and Yvanne, a Star who by a strange circumstance ends up falling to Earth in the magical kingdom of Stormhold. But even though these two are the axis about which the drama unfolds the initial phase of the movie sets the scene and give us an insight to the history and rationale behind the events that are about to take place. Our hero Tristan is the son of Dunstan who eighteen years previously ventured over the wall which gives the village of Wall its name and into the magical lands of Stormhold. Dunstan once he is over on the other side of the wall visits an exotic market place filled with strange things such as miniature elephants, a two headed dog and a jar full of eyeballs. It is here that he encounters a young dark haired woman who claims that she is a princess who is currently enthralled to a witch. Naturally it seems there is some chemistry between the two and nine months after he returns to his village he receives a gift in the form of the baby Tristan.
Tristan swiftly grows into a young man and as the narrator tells us the story of his childhood is not the focus of the action but rather his transformation into a man is. Tristan is unfortunately infatuated with the beautiful Victoria and is at a loss on how to win her heart. His competition is the boorish Humphrey who in his own mind seems far more a better man than he, still one night as he and Victoria share some champagne and he pours out his feelings to her he makes a promise that will have repercussions for his future. As the two of them sit outdoors at night amidst the glow of candle light they see a falling star, Tristan promises Victoria that he will bring her that falling star back from beyond the wall. He has no real idea about what he is getting himself into with that simple promise, nor does he realise that there are others just as interested in this one particular fallen star.
The King of Stormhold is dying and decides that rather than name a successor he will cast out the symbol of his kingship, an ornate pendant, into the celestial realms where it knocks a star from the sky and onto the Earth. Where that star has fallen his surviving sons will find the pendant; the first to do this will become his heir and the next king of Stormhold. The race is thus on amongst the surviving princes to either eliminate their competitors or get to the fallen star first. Then are the three evil witches, they know of the fallen star as well and they seek to find it so they cut out the stars heart, eat it and regain their beauty, youth and eternal life. Apparently this has happened before, four hundred years ago in fact and that poor star ended up sustaining the wicked witches in good looks and vigour for that long. After a little bit of chicanery on her part the lead witch Lamia, aptly played by Michelle Pfeiffer, is the one who embarks on the quest to find the star and take her heart. Naturally Yvanne, the fallen star, has little idea about what is going on only that someone has literally knocked her out of the sky with a weird looking pendant. Fortunately for her Tristan is the first to reach her though neither of the two initially realise what’s going on other than the immediate concerns of their predicament.
Alongside a great story, great acting Stardust has amazing special effects shots, the falling star sequence is simply amazing as well as the Babylon candle sequence, and sweeping panoramic vistas that take your breath away. The village of Wall is a rather quaint village whilst the landscape of Stormhold is wild, untamed and truly magnificent; it seemed similar to some of the countryside in Lord of the Rings as well as the Harry Potter movies. The locations were definitely apt for the story serving to give a neat contrast between the real world of England and the fantastical realm beyond the wall.
So if magic, wonder, adventure and true love are ingredients that you enjoy in a movie then wish upon a falling star and see Stardust.
Producer: Michael Dreyer, Lorenzo Di Bonaventura, Neil Gaiman & Matthew Vaughn.
Screenplay by: Jane Goldman & Matthew Vaughn.
Starring: Claire Danes (Yvanne), Charlie Cox (Tristan Thorne), Peter O’Toole (The King of Stormhold), Robert De Niro (Captain Shakespeare), Michelle Pfeiffer (Lamia), Ricky Gervais (Ferdy the Fence), Sienna Miller (Victoria).
Produced: 2007 Paramount Pictures.
Running Time: Approx 130 minutes. Rating: PG.
Based upon the novel of the same name by author Neil Gaiman Stardust is a classic fairy tale with all the classic elements that would have made Hans Christian Andersen and the Brothers Grimm weep with wonder and joy. Having read Mr Gaiman’s novel as soon as I heard that it was being made into a movie I knew that I would be making an odyssey down to the local cinema to watch it as soon as it arrived in town. When it did arrive I have to give thanks to the friendly young lady at the counter who in addition to handing me my ticket also provided me with several pertinent details regarding the film I was about to see, the director, producers etc.
Tristan swiftly grows into a young man and as the narrator tells us the story of his childhood is not the focus of the action but rather his transformation into a man is. Tristan is unfortunately infatuated with the beautiful Victoria and is at a loss on how to win her heart. His competition is the boorish Humphrey who in his own mind seems far more a better man than he, still one night as he and Victoria share some champagne and he pours out his feelings to her he makes a promise that will have repercussions for his future. As the two of them sit outdoors at night amidst the glow of candle light they see a falling star, Tristan promises Victoria that he will bring her that falling star back from beyond the wall. He has no real idea about what he is getting himself into with that simple promise, nor does he realise that there are others just as interested in this one particular fallen star.
The King of Stormhold is dying and decides that rather than name a successor he will cast out the symbol of his kingship, an ornate pendant, into the celestial realms where it knocks a star from the sky and onto the Earth. Where that star has fallen his surviving sons will find the pendant; the first to do this will become his heir and the next king of Stormhold. The race is thus on amongst the surviving princes to either eliminate their competitors or get to the fallen star first. Then are the three evil witches, they know of the fallen star as well and they seek to find it so they cut out the stars heart, eat it and regain their beauty, youth and eternal life. Apparently this has happened before, four hundred years ago in fact and that poor star ended up sustaining the wicked witches in good looks and vigour for that long. After a little bit of chicanery on her part the lead witch Lamia, aptly played by Michelle Pfeiffer, is the one who embarks on the quest to find the star and take her heart. Naturally Yvanne, the fallen star, has little idea about what is going on only that someone has literally knocked her out of the sky with a weird looking pendant. Fortunately for her Tristan is the first to reach her though neither of the two initially realise what’s going on other than the immediate concerns of their predicament.
Alongside a great story, great acting Stardust has amazing special effects shots, the falling star sequence is simply amazing as well as the Babylon candle sequence, and sweeping panoramic vistas that take your breath away. The village of Wall is a rather quaint village whilst the landscape of Stormhold is wild, untamed and truly magnificent; it seemed similar to some of the countryside in Lord of the Rings as well as the Harry Potter movies. The locations were definitely apt for the story serving to give a neat contrast between the real world of England and the fantastical realm beyond the wall.
So if magic, wonder, adventure and true love are ingredients that you enjoy in a movie then wish upon a falling star and see Stardust.
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