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For years, filmmakers have been trying to capture the magic of the ‘80s fairy tale favorite, The Princess Bride. And, time after time, they’ve failed miserably. Until now, that is. Because Stardust, this summer’s fantastical fairy tale, based on the book by Neil Gaiman, finally pulls it off—or at least it comes very, very close.
Stardust stars Charlie Cox as Tristan Thorn, an awkward shop boy who falls in love with Victoria (Sienna Miller), the most beautiful girl in the village of Wall. But Victoria is about to marry someone else, so to prove his love for her, Tristan decides to bring Victoria a fallen star—even if that means finding a way to cross the mysterious wall outside their village.
Beyond the wall lies the magical kingdom of Stormhold. There, Tristan finds the star—but it’s not the piece of rock he expected it to be. It’s actually a beautiful young woman named Yvaine (Claire Danes), who isn’t exactly thrilled about Tristan’s plan. But eventually the two begin their journey back to Wall, not knowing the dangers that lie ahead of them. An evil witch (played by Michelle Pfeiffer, who obviously spent a lot of time in makeup to look so hideous—which means she’s practically guaranteed an Oscar nod) is also looking for the fallen star—as is a family of murderous brothers, who will stop at nothing to have the jewel that she wears around her neck.
Stardust is a magical adventure that offers a little bit of something for everyone. It’s a charming fairy tale, complete with unicorns and princesses and beautiful women who are really fallen stars. It’s an action film, complete with pirates and sword fights and scary witches. And it’s a comedy, complete with goofy-looking ghosts and all kinds of other hilarious surprises. Put all the pieces together, and you’ve got a film that’s both exciting and enchanting—one that’s so beautiful that it seems to give off a magical glow. From the costumes to the set design, it’s just plain stunning.
With appearances by Ricky Gervais, David Kelly, Rupert Everett, and Peter O’Toole—as well as a shockingly hilarious Robert DeNiro—Stardust boasts a wonderful mix of big names and relative no-names. Every last one gives a solid performance, adding even more life to the story—though the writing is so smart and spirited that I’m pretty sure that the story could have come to life on its own.
Adventurous and witty, magical and quirky, this delightful film provides an enchanting escape for anyone who loves a good fairy tale—or a good sword fight.
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