Rating: PG-13
Starring:
Charlie Cox as Tristan Thorne
Claire Danes as Yvaine
Robert De Niro as Captain Shakespeare
Sienna Miller as Victoria
Michelle Pfeiffer as Lamia
Sarah Alexander as Empusa
Jason Flemyng as Primus
Rupert Everett as Secondus
Mark Strong as Septimus
Kate Magowan as Una
Melanie Hill as Ditchwater Sal
Ricky Gervais as Ferdy the Fence
Peter Goodall as Tristian’s Son
Peter O’Toole as King Of Stormhold
Nathaniel Parker as Dunstan Thorne
Ben Barnes as Young Dunstan Thorne
Mark Burns as New Bishop
Adam Buxton as Sextmus
Henry Cavill as Humphrey
Jake Curran as Bernard
Olivia Grant as Girl Bernard
Frank Ellis as Mr. Monday
David Kelly as Old Guard
Terry Murphy as Very Old Pirate
Ian McKellen as Narrator
Josie Rees as Xenia
Joanna Scanlan as Mormo
Directed by Matthew Vaughn
Special Features:
Good Omens: The Making of Stardust
Blooper Reel
Deleted Scenes
Other Info:
Widescreen
Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound
French and Spanish Language
French and Spanish Subtitles
Running Time: 127 Minutes
Synopsis:
The following is from the DVD cover:
“An epic tale starring Claire Danes with Michelle Pfeiffer and Robert De Niro. In hopes of wooing a beautiful girl (Sienna Miller), Tristan (Charlie Cox) promises to bring her a falling star. But he’s in for the adventure of his life when he discovers the star is actually a celestial beauty named Yvaine (Danes). When an old witch Lamia (Pfeiffer) attempts to steal Yvaine’s youth, Tristan must protect her at all costs, in this magical family adventure that will make you laugh out loud and believe in love again.”
“Stardust” is rated PG-13 for some fantasy violence and risqué humor.
Mini-Review:
I never read Neil Gaiman’s original graphic novel, so I can’t tell you how the movie compares to the comic. But after seeing the film I can tell you that it will appeal to anyone that likes fantasy. And I’m talking more along the lines of “The Princess Bride” fantasy/comedy than “The Lord of the Rings” fantasy/adventure. “Stardust” has quirky comedy, cute romance, and fairy tale plot. The end result is a fun and original story that is easy to get pulled in to.
Charlie Cox certainly stands out as Tristan Thorne, our young hero. He makes an equally convincing geek and dashing hero. I think using a relative unknown helped make him a bit more identifiable with audiences, especially considering how many other big names are in the film. Claire Danes is also good as Yvaine, our heroine. She’s beautiful and scrappy, much like a fantasy Princess Leia. Danes has great chemistry with Charlie Cox and it makes their eventual romance all the more appealing. But it’s some of the veteran actors that really steal the show. Michelle Pfeiffer is really in top form as Lamia, the wicked witch. Whether she’s wearing ugly makeup or fully beautified, she steals every scenes she’s in. It’s great to see her back on the big screen. Robert De Niro also has a memorable cameo as Captain Shakespeare. He’s a pirate with a shocking secret and it certainly generates a lot of laughs. Also look for cameos by Sienna Miller, Rupert Everett, Ricky Gervais, and Peter O’Toole.
Overall, “Stardust” is a fun and quirky romantic, comedic fantasy. If you’re looking for something a bit out of the ordinary, this film more than delivers.
While many genre DVDs have a ton of bonus features, “Stardust” gets significantly short-changed. There are no standard extras like commentaries, special effects featurettes, or even any interviews with De Niro or Pfeiffer. Maybe they’re saving these for some sort of special edition. Instead you get “Good Omens: The Making of Stardust” and a blooper reel. You also get five deleted scenes. A couple of them feature more of the ghosts. We see them at the crater when Yvaine first lands. We also see them playing “I Spy” in the carriage as it rolls along. Most significant is an alternate ending showing Tristan as an old man on his deathbed surrounded by his many children .none of whom killed each other. This was a case where the theatrical version was the right way to go.
