Stardust

Stardust ***1/2

Directed by Matthew Vaughn
Written by Matthew Vaughn and Jane Goldman, based on the book by Neil Gaiman

Starring:
Charlie Cox as Tristran
Ian McKellen as Narrator (voice)
Sienna Miller as Victoria
Henry Cavill as Humphrey
Nathaniel Parker as Dunstan
Peter O'Toole as King
Mark Strong as Septimus
Rupert Everett as Secundus
Michelle Pfeiffer as Lamia
Claire Danes as Yvaine
Robert De Niro as Captain Shakespeare
Ricky Gervais as Ferdy the Fence
Kate Magowan as Salve Girl/Una

128 Minutes(Rated PG-13 for some fantasy violence and risque humor. )
------------------------------------------------------
"Stardust" is probably the most original film that I've seen all summer. And by original I mean that even though it was based on a book, although I hear very loosely, it is not a remake and it is not a sequel, and this summer we've seen our share of it. In fact, I had more fun watching this than I did anything else in the last few months. It's a fantasy story from the mind of the man who brought the visually stunning "MirrorMask" Neil Gaiman. Although I gave "MirrorMask" three and a half stars, I cited that it was visually amazing but had no story. "Stardust" has some neat visuals and a story that is brimming to the point of overflow. There is always something going on during the two hour and eight minute run time, but it never feels like too much and it's always exciting and entertaining. I really loved this film.

Set in England in a town called Wall-and the town is literally surrounded by a wall that separates the village from a magical world-the shop worker Tristan is trying to get the hand of Victoria-the beautiful lady that is several times out of his league. When the two of them see a falling star, Tristan tells her that if she will marry him he will get the fallen star. What he finds when he crosses the wall is a woman named Yvaine who is the fallen star. She is in danger, and is being hunted by the witch Lamia and her two sisters, who need the heart of a star to remain young forever. Lamia uses the rest of the star they have to look young again and begins to hunt Yvaine. In addition to that, the star is being hunted by Septimus who wants to be the king out of his several brothers, and needs a stone that Yvaine has to become the ruler. Getting captured by a flying pirate ship led by Captain Shakespeare-and there is much more to him than meets the eye-Tristan and Yvaine try to escape the witch and the evil Septimus and try to get the fallen star back to her home, or at least safe in one piece.

There is quite the popular cast of actors here all in roles ranging from five minutes to the full picture. In addition to Claire Danes, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Robert De Niro-who are the main three being advertised-there is some fun work by Ricky Gervais-from the UK "Office"-Sienna Miller as Victoria, Rupert Everett as one of the brothers even though his work is rather brief, and even Peter O'Toole who has certainly been trying to do as much work as possible for the last year or so. But everyone brings a certain amount of fun to all the roles, and "Stardust" is quite action packed with amusement. There is some fun comedy here, mostly involving De Niro's pirate, but I won't elaborate-you be surprised yourself, and the brothers of Septimus who, when they die, all end up as ghosts together and follow Septimus around.

This is pure fantasy but its very enjoyable and it was nice to see something a little different from what I've been used to the last few months. In the end flying spiders, talking ogres, and fighting pirates hold nothing against "Stardust." This was directed by Matthew Vaughn, whose last film was the British crime caper "Layer Cake." This is more loud and difficult film to make, but Vaughn has already began to prove his range as a film maker, and this is just as fun as "Layer Cake." August is turning out to be pretty strong so far, and a month that has a pretty bad reputation may not be as bad as I thought it would.

Playing at:
Mostly everywhere