Love the Book--- Liked the Film

Rating: 8/10 (30 March 2008)

I absolutely went over the moon in rapture when I saw the poster for this film. I love and horde all of Gaiman's works and I thought this particular story was very fitting to be translated to the silver screen (don't get me wrong-- I think all his books/comics would make singular movies. For the right audience that is...).
I must confess my first thought was...essentially-- "god I hope they won't tone it down." The novel is one of my favourites of Mr. Gaiman's for its simplicity, but as always with his works-- the surprising passages that step it up to a darker, interesting- dare I say provocative- level. The book is the perfect sci-fi/fantasy fairytale that I seek out in my heart of hearts. The type of thing I expel constant bursts of laughter over that have passersby asking what I'm reading. The book I read passages out loud to whomever I may be in the company of (boyfriend, friends, parents, little brother..). It is the quintessential fairytale-- with a bit of an edge now and then.
Anywho-- when it comes to the movie-- I was beyond excited. And it delivered. I only wished I hadn't read and loved the book first. Otherwise the film (almost) would have stood on its own. I will count it among one of the modern fantasy movies I always crave more of (the like of "Big Fish", "Pan's Labyrinth", "Mirrormask" (another Gaiman film), the "Lord of the Rings" and "Harry Potter" adaptations (if you go for the Potter films, check out "The Worst Witch" with Fairuza Balk), "The Science of Sleep", "Amelie" (Also, "A Very Long Engagement"), bits of "Finding Neverland", and uh... lots more I can't think of... probably "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" too. Well, mostly just Pan's Labryinth and Big Fish. Stardust just has more of that big, flashy, Hollywood, all round audience appeal.
I could go into the parts of the film that.....um..made me mad-- being familiar to the book- but I don't want to give tooo much away. (Well OK... the time line is messed up, of course many of the characters lines are far from accurate, many of the personalities of the characters are manipulated (especially De Niro... and erm.. his little secret. His addition and his role seemed purely for his big name and empty laughs), also Ricky Gervais (while I love him-- seemed (again) to be added merely for comedic relief and so he could do his schtick from his schtick in the TV show Extras ("you havin a laugh? Is he havin a laugh???!"), also- it seemed many of the headlining actors did not have very much acting direction at times. Accents failed and delivery sometimes seemed more read, rather than felt. One of my favourite scenes was drastically altered- I suppose it was quite violent in the novel- but it dealt with how the Star (and Tristan) meet the Unicorn). Huh-- enough of that silliness.... sorry..
I do like the film and the book. But they both are quite different from each other. Perhaps in this case, you may not be let down if you see the movie and then read the book. Well, only if you don't have high expectations. From the point of view of someone who did do it this way-- my father-- he liked the film but thought it had lots of holes and wasn't particularly logical. I knew he would appreciate the book, so I suggested he read it. It explains and rectifies a lot.
Hokay so-- the point of these ramblings... ... .. . I recommend both to anyone who enjoys a good fantasy yarn. !