Neil Gaiman on screen at last

Rating: 9/10 (3 September 2007)

Finally a Neil Gaiman story has been successfully brought to the screen. Mirror Mask was a fascinating movie artistically, but not nearly so engaging as Stardust. With an easy story telling approach, reminiscent of Princess Bride, Stardust captures Gaiman's sense of magic coexisting alongside our mundane existence. Unlike the Rowland's Harry Potter, Gaiman's magic has a decidedly sharper, nastier edge, but at the same time there is a marvelous sense of humor and the story really never takes itself too seriously. As for the cast, Peter O'Toole and Robert De Niro were hilarious, and Michelle Pfeiffer really held the story together with her witchiness. The leading protagonists were fun. Clare Danes as the star had simple grace and good humor which well balanced Charlie Cox's faltering steps toward manhood. All in all, it was a great family movie.