A sprinkle more of Stardust might have made this a more starry affair (Stardust (DVD))

Member Name: bilbob20

Product:	Stardust (DVD)
Date:	17/12/07 (71 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Good special effects, and terrific cameo's

Disadvantages: A turgid overlong film that drags its heals

When Tristian Thorn (like his father before him) defies the law of the town and crosses over the wall into another worldly land, he uncovers a land thats full of witchcraft and magic. In search of a star to impress the local beauty, Tristian has to get past the beautiful, but ageing, Larnia. Unfortunately the star is in the form of the cold and frosty Yvaine. Yvaine has been knocked out of the sky, and is not happy to be tacked onto Tristian and dragged through the land. As it turns out though, Tristian isn't the only person in search of Yvaine. Larnia and her two haggard sisters require the heart of Yvaine to give them eternal beauty. So, as Larnia hunts the pair down, they have to overcome a viscious gypsy witch, and a band of sky pirates lead on by the hilariously camp Captain Shakespeare. But, its the ultimate obstacle of their love for each other that they must overcome if Tristian is to save Yvaine from the hands of the witches.

This is one of those films that promises plenty, but doesn't fully deliver. Michelle Pfeiffer is terrific as Larnia, and its testimony to her lack of vanity that she sheds hair and her beauty for the terrific scenes where she ages horribly. Claire Danes is great as well, as the unlikely fairy tale beauty - full of acidic one liners and witty comebacks. The rest of the cast are decent on screen, but hardly add anything to a heavy fable that runs too long for its own good. Its only Robert De Niro's late turn that offers any relief from a tale thats all too miserable to be a decent fairy tale.

The screenplay and the direction by Matthew Vaughan is terrific as well. So the disappointing thing is that its such a tired and glum affair. Its certainly not for the lack of trying on the cast and directors part. But its near half an hour before anything remotely exciting happens. The special effects department do a terrific job too, most notably the scene's where Pfeiffer's beautiful Larnia becomes a haggard witch. There's also a notable scene where a house is erected almost by magic that carries the film nicely. Had the film shed a good half hour, then the swifter tale might well have been more acceptable, as the finale is a crowd pleaser where you will be routing for the hero. Unfortunately, it drags its heals so much in the first half, that by the time you get to the second more exciting half, you're kinda willing it to be over.

Another problem is that this type of film is marketed in such a fashion that it would most likely appeal to the Harry Potter loving kids. But with some brutal violence and some gory death scenes, it doesn't quite know whether it wants to be an adult variation of the fairy tale or a film that will appeal to the family. But if its the latter, it fails on every level with its adult dialogue and goriness, and if its the former, then it fails on its lack of intrigue and mystery. A poor show for a film that is so well executed then. Its not often I'm so set up for disappointment in a film.

Summary: Stardust fails to deliver any sparkle