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"What Would You Do
For Sienna Miller's Hand
in Marriage?" |
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Directed by Matthew
Vaughn - Written by Jane
Goldman, Matthew Vaughn
Starring Sienna Miller,
Michelle Pfeiffer,
Claire Danes, Charlie
Cox
Robert De Niro, Ricky
Gervais, Jason Flemyng,
Peter O'Toole, Ian
McKellen
Distributed by Paramount
Pictures -
2007 - 128m - Rated PG13 |
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Too many witches spoil the brew... |
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I've been hearing
early speculation (internet chatter) that "Stardust" is the 2007
equivalent of the 1987 fantasy masterpiece, "The Princess Bride".
Well, that is wayward and wishful thinking. It is far too massive,
far too messy and far too dark for that comparison.
The reason that "The Princess Bride" has endured is because of its
simplicity... It is adorable because it is small. If "TPB" is a cute
fluffy puppy, "Stardust" is a fully grown greyhound panting
ferociously after a race.
I've just written two paragraphs that might suggest disdain for the
film -- but that would be far from the truth. I just don't think it
has 5% of the magic found in the twenty-year-old film it is being
compared to.
"Stardust" actually works very well from time to time. The opening
20 minutes are wonderful. I was really looking forward to a lovely
adventure. We see the origins of our protagonist, Tristan. We hear
his vow to retrieve a shooting star as he tries to win the hand of
his one true love (Sienna Miller).
He crosses the forbidden wall leading to Stormhold and finds the
fallen star -- a girl named Yvaine (Claire Danes). Of course, there
are complications... Michelle Pfeiffer plays a centuries-old witch
who needs the star for her eternal youth. New love blossoms between
Tristan and Yvaine. Three regal ghastly brothers seek the necklace
around Yvaine's neck. Even Robert DeNiro shows up as the captain of
an airship.
It is precisely when "Stardust" stretches for too much that it
becomes mired in mediocrity. I just lost interest with the
characters and the messy structure. It has its entertaining moments,
but they are too few and far between.
The adventure strives for the lofty heights attained in the first
"Pirates of the Caribbean" without ever quite getting there. Even
the tunes and the costumes mimic those found in Gore Verbinski's
trilogy. And above all, the reason that "Stardust never quite
succeeds is that it isn't the least bit romantic. It tells us that
there is a romance, but it fails to show us.
Westley and Buttercup have nothing to worry about in that
department. |
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© Written by TC Candler -
Email Me! |
Richard
Propes' Comment
n/a
Jacob
Hall's Comment
n/a
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