Stardust

[library_mama]

Hardcore fans probably saw this in the theater. We watched it New Year’s Eve. Am I catching up yet?

Stardust Movie adaptations of books… particularly books by favorite authors like Neil Gaiman. It has the potential for either extreme greatness or extreme badness. In this case, amnachaidh and I were charmed. It might have helped that it had been a few years since we’d read the book. Here’s the basic plot: Tristan, our hero is a social outcast bent on winning the heart of the town beauty, Victoria. They live in the little village of Wall, so called because it is bordered by a wall. Faery is supposed to lie on the other side of the wall, although no one has been to check, except, unbeknownst to Tristan, Tristan’s father. When Tristan and Victoria see a falling star together, Tristan vows to bring it back to her by her birthday. Meanwhile, in Faery, the dying king has thrown his ruby necklace and knocked a star out of the sky. His six sons (named Secundus through Septimus, some reduced to watching ghosts) are willing to kill to be the first to find it. And three witches send one to find the falling star, whose living heart will keep them young for centuries. For a star in Faery is a living woman. The story had the perfect blend of adventure, romance and humor to make it feel like a slightly wilder version of The Princess Bride. The actors – Claire Danes as the star, Michelle Pfeiffer as the witch, Robert DeNiro as the sky captain and newcomer Charlie Cox as Tristan (transforming beautifully from nerd to hero) were all phenomenal. This is one we’ll want to watch again.

Comments

[thebookpixie.livejournal.com]

I found it very charming! It also reminded me of Baron Munchausen (sp?) - another tale of fantastic adventures that's a bit of a movie classic.
Glad to hear that you liked it!

[sapphireone.livejournal.com]

Thank for the recommendation! I haven't seen Baron M., and will want to check it out.

[grammarwoman]

I agree that the movie was charming and delightful. (I just saw it a couple of weeks, back, too. I think you guys are closer to catching up than I am.)

One quibble, though: the main witch was Michelle Pfeiffer. *grin*

[sapphireone.livejournal.com]

Thank you! Oof - could it be something to do with writing on 4 hours of sleep? anyway, it's fixed now.

[elaine-alina.livejournal.com]

We really liked it too. Always a challenge for a movie when one already loves the book, but like you, it had been a few years since I'd read it too. I loved Robert DeNiro's character :)

[parslaanna.livejournal.com]

I, too, watched this movie just recently, and loved it (despite my general dislike for Clare Danes.) The chorus of dead brothers was especially well done, I thought.