A Magical Film, A Mystical Box Office Disappointment

Rating: 9/10 (6 September 2007)

I went to see Stardust about a month after it opened and failed, rather spectacularly, at the box office. I support fantasy films and thought I would go even though my ability to help the film's box office fate had evaporated after the disastrous first weekend.
My first reaction to watching this film is what a joyous experience it was. This was truly imaginative, vibrant fantasy full of wonderful, whimsical performances and smart details. It has some of the best production design I have seen in some time - the settings are sumptuous and beautiful, every set has its own special character and helps establish Stronghold is a fairy land that I would love to visit.
If there was any place where I felt the film dragged it would had to have been the appearance of pirate captain Shakespeare and his lightning-fishing crew. Although there was nothing wrong with these scenes, they detracted from the work of some wonderful villains (Michelle Pfeiffer as Lamia the witch, and Mark Strong as Septimus, the last surviving prince of a fratricidal family). Any good quest movie needs smart, tough, evil villains, and this film has more than one. Even better, they are at the same time despicable and fun to watch. Captain Shakespeare's appearance put off their particular quests at a time when the movie needed more speed, not less.
I was also a bit mystified by the casting of Claire Danes as Yvaine, the fallen star who is sought by all of the leads. Ms. Danes is a fine actress, but she is plain looking. If you are going to be playing the embodiment of a pure fallen star, you had better be luminously beautiful. Does it help that the male lead, Charlie Cox, is prettier than she is? Would getting Rose Byrne have been such a problem? The final battle scene, at the house of the witches, also drags a bit. The film does not have a rousing finale.
However, in spite of these imperfections, and if anything I am a person who counts imperfections, Stardust was one of the best films I have seen this year, a glorious fantasy adventure. The greatest mystery behind this film is why audiences chose to ignore it, yet flocked to genuine turkeys like Wild Hogs. I expect this film to be discovered on cable in a year or two, and be in heavy rotation on basic cable channels for a decade to come.