Dvd Review

Sydney Morning Herald

Saturday January 19, 2008

Gabriel Wilder

Stardust

Rated PG Paramount Home Entertainment

I don't know how Sienna Miller keeps getting work but here she is playing the shallow and capricious Victoria, the impetus for the naive and nerdy Tristan to head off on a quest and give us a movie to watch.

It is 150 years ago in an English town that borders fairyland. In order to win Victoria's heart, Tristan (Charlie Cox) promises to capture a falling star (Claire Danes). He finds her but hanging on to her is tricky, as others - three witches looking for eternal youth and a prince in line for the throne of fairyland - are also after her.

Stardust is based on a story written by graphic novelist Neil Gaiman, best known for his series about death and dreams, The Sandman. Director Matthew Vaughn envisioned it as a cross between The Princess Bride and Midnight Run. I'm not sure he has succeeded but the film does have princes and Robert De Niro (pictured). What is certain is that he has made a highly entertaining fairytale with all the requisite ingredients: magic, pirates, a unicorn, witches, ghosts, a comely hero and heroine and (spoiler alert) a happy ending.

Despite its sprawling narrative, it's a lean story, simply told and it's funny too. The scenery and CG imagery are magical and the imaginative casting pays off, Michelle Pfeiffer's ancient crone just trumping De Niro's cross-dressing pirate. Cameos include Peter O'Toole, Ricky Gervais, Rupert Everett and Little Britain's David Walliams. The last two play the ghosts of prince brothers - tiny, funny roles, thankfully expanded in the "deleted scenes" section of the DVD's extras.

© 2008 Sydney Morning Herald

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