Featured Movies
Partners
StardustClaudia PuigStardust lights up the screen with a splendid tale of heroism and romance. You don't have to be a fan of fantasies to enjoy its considerable whimsy. Based on the 1999 adult fairy tale by Neil Gaiman, Stardust is an entertaining and energetic saga of an enchanted world inhabited by both magical beings and seemingly ordinary folks. Think of a slightly less clever Princess Bride sprinkled with a dash of the epic grandeur of TheChronicles of Narnia. Director and co-screenwriter Matthew Vaughn (Layer Cake) has crafted an ambitious action-adventure fairy tale with moments of dark wit and plenty of noteworthy performances. Ian McKellen elegantly narrates the story of the noble and kind Tristan (Charlie Cox) and his quest to retrieve a fallen star so he can win Victoria, the woman he loves (Sienna Miller). Things are not as simple as they sound, however. Victoria is apathetic and doesn't deserve him, while the fallen star he meets becomes a luminous young woman (Claire Danes) when she hits Earth. The supernatural activity takes place in a kingdom called Stormhold. Tristan and Victoria are from the non-magical side of the tracks, which is separated from the fantasy world by a stone wall. Tristan persuades the star/girl named Yvaine to accompany him back across the barrier to show her off to his lady love. But their journey is made perilous by a series of onslaughts from others seeking the star. First among them is a cackling old hag of an enchantress (Michelle Pfeiffer), one of three sisters who need the star to restore their lost youth and beauty. The three living sons of the king of Stormhold (Peter O'Toole) also require the star in their bitter contest for their father's throne. The would-be kings are aptly named Primus, Secundus and Tertius. Along the way, Tristan meets a fierce pirate named Captain Shakespeare (a scene-stealing Robert De Niro). The veteran actor seems to be having such a good time in this flamboyant role that at times he threatens to obscure the rest of the drama. But the role is such an amusing departure for him that you almost can't blame him for chewing the scenery. Both he and Pfeiffer seem to relish their larger-than-life roles. Ricky Gervais as Ferdy the Fence, an opportunistic trader, is another highlight. Though it takes a little while for the adventure to get off the ground, Stardust is a sprawling and rapturous flight of fancy. It's worth taking the journey to this imaginative world and soaking up the resplendent saga. ?? Copyright 2007 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc. |
