Fantastic

Rating: 10/10 (15 July 2011)

I'm not usually a fan of the fantasy genre but this is one Fairy Tale that pleasantly surprised me and had me hooked from the beginning. A wonderful cast reads like a Who's Who of contemporary British acting talent (with the exception of non-actor Gervais) so it was curious to see Claire Danes in the "star" role - she is neither English nor classically beautiful in the Fairy Tale sense.
I must, however, give her 10/10 for her impeccable English accent - few things irritate me more than when American and British actors are cast as the other nationality, and I can think of no other actor from either side of the pond who has mastered the foreign accent better than Danes. Still, neither country is so short of talent that such a reversal is necessary.
It also annoys me when beautiful women are cast as old hags - Sarah Alexander is one of the most beautiful women on the planet! Her performance here still merits a special mention - it may be a small role but she makes the most of it. Indeed, so many of the supporting players give exceptional performances, that alone makes the movie worth watching.
A lovely story, wonderful scenery and the odd if obligatory special effect combine with solid acting and directing to make this a must-see for all the family.