An Unexpected Pleasure

Rating: 9/10 (17 August 2007)

I've read a lot of differing opinions about "Stardust," from raves to pans. One of my co-workers won't go see it because some of her friends have told her that it takes liberties with the book that they felt were unacceptable. She says that she may see it when it's released on DVD. I'm sorry, but I don't understand people who don't like movies because they don't follow the book exactly. They're two different mediums, for Pete's sake! What may read well on the written page may not play well on the big screen. After all, is "The Wizard of Oz" less of a classic because it didn't adhere scrupulously to L. Frank Baum's original book? Is Walt Disney's "Bambi" less moving because it took liberties with Felix Salten's tale?
There! I've gotten THAT off my chest!
My partner and I both thoroughly enjoyed "Stardust." It has action, adventure, humor, and magic. It starts off a bit slowly, but once it gets going, it's great fun. And unlike other fantasy films of recent years, this one is self-contained. The end of the movie is the end of the story. Michelle Pfeiffer seems to take delight in portraying evil women these days (viz. "Hairspray" and now "Stardust") and she's wonderful. Peter O'Toole is fine as the old king. Robert DiNiro is absolutely hysterical in his role as Captain Shakespeare. The rest of the cast couldn't be bettered. All the threads of the story wrap themselves up very nicely in the finale. We definitely will be acquiring this one on DVD when it's released.