"If your heart is in your dream,no request is too extreme........."

Rating: 9/10 (5 June 2010)

As religion sets in the West so the appeal of another form of escapism - Fantasy - is fulfilling young people's need for a set of values, a vision of a simpler,better world with a reassuring if simplistic philosophy where decency and "Good" will prevail in stark contrast to the harsh reality that exists outside their books and computers. We're all aware of the appeal of Tolkien's cuddly hobbits and Rowling's Boarding School Gothic. "Stardust",while perhaps primarily appealing to this pre - sold audience,is also sufficiently Mainstream to satisfy the picturegoer who happens on it perchance as I did on FilmFour two nights ago. I am not conversant with the writings of Mr Gamain and have never seen a graphic novel other than on the shelves at Borders.This is not something I am either particularly proud of or particularly ashamed of,it's simply because I don't feel that they are aimed at my generation. I mention this merely to disclaim any prejudice one way or the other in commenting on "Stardust". A dying King.Three witches.Star cross'd lovers.An enchanted land.A voice - over by a theatrical knight.A pirate called Shakespeare.All satisfyingly throw - away gestures perhaps,but indicative of the fun the makers of "Stardust" were having.Gratifying too,was the enthusiasm displayed by the cast for the material;even the "names" seemed to be having a good time.Such goodwill is contagious and even a cantankerous old grump like me could hardly avoid exclamations of delight at several stages of the film. A resume of the plot - treated with straight - faced seriousness by the cast,an absolutely essential element in any good fantasy movie - will be unnecessary here.Sufficient to say it borrows freely from the Fairytale tradition. As the young boy on a quest Mr C.Cox changes convincingly from breathless youth to adulthood.Miss C.Daines as the star that falls to earth is enchanting. Miss M.Pfieffer as the chief witch proves you can be a fully - clad woman and still be really sexy. I am not an admirer of Mr R.Gervais and his performance here does not endear him to me.He may be a deliberate anachronism but it just doesn't work I'm afraid. I loved the lightning - catching air galleon and it's scurvy crew,the wonderful unicorn,the sinister village inn,the crumbling castle,the 98 year old "minder" at the wall dividing fantasy from reality........... I think you could fairly say I was happily caught up in the artlessly artful world created by "Stardust". I was even ready to accept Mr R. de Niro as a cross - dressing Can - Can dancing pirate and no movie can do more.