A "PG-13" Movie with a "G" plot

Rating: 5/10 (22 June 2008)

There are four points I wanted to make about this film. One: This movie's plot would seem more feasible if it were a typical rated "G" Disney movie, but for a movie rated "PG-13" I want something more plausible. (Yes even in the fantasy genre, movies can be creditable, this movie wasn't) Two: There was no explanation offered for why Tristan's hair suddenly grew on the ship. If this was a magical ability of Shakespeare then why wasn't this more apparent? Three: Not one single character in the movie wondered what would happen if Shakespeare flew his ship over the wall. (I wondered this immediately after first seeing the ship.) Four: Too many continuity mistakes. Normally this is my least favorite of mistakes that movies make, mostly because I don't even notice them until I read about it on web sites like this one, however I was able to spot several on my first viewing of the movie. Having said all that I still recommend this movie, but only if you have nothing else to do. It's not bad, it's not great either but I don't think it's worth avoiding. I am reminded of something Ebert once said when critiquing a movie. He said "A great film has at least three great scenes, and no bad ones." Unfortunately for Stardust I can only think of one great scene and at least three bad ones.