1 of 3

Stardust Our rating: Rate this movie   MPAA rating: PG-13 (for fantasy violence and some risque humor) Genre: Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, Romance Theater release: August 10, 2007 by Paramount Pictures Directed by: Matthew Vaughn Runtime: 2 hours 8 minutes Cast: Claire Danes (Yvaine), Charlie Cox (Tristan), Sienna Miller (Victoria) Ricky Gervais (Ferdy the Fence), Jason Flemyng (Primus), Rupert Everett (Secundus), Peter O'Toole (The King), Michelle Pfeiffer (Lamia), Robert De Niro (Captain Shakespeare) Related: Talk About It/Family Corner

Once upon a time …

That famous opening line conjures vivid pictures of storybooks, princes, princesses, magic spells, wicked witches, dragons, epic battles, and curses broken by the power of a kiss.

Some of us associate it with children's stories, and write off the kingdom of make-believe as "kid stuff." But lately, since Peter Jackson's big screen adaptation of The Lord of the Rings and the publishing phenomenon of Harry Potter, grownups have become an enthusiastic audience for fairy tales. And more and more authors and artists are creating fantasies specifically tailored for adults.

When it comes to "adult fairy tales," author Neil Gaiman is becoming one of the world's most popular tale-spinners. His roots are deeply planted in traditional fairy tales from Andersen to Grimm, and he fuses differing cultural mythologies into striking new visions that convey spiritual ideas. Popular stories like the Sandman comic book series, Neverwhere, and American Gods have won him a loyal following.

Tristan (Charlie Cox) is completely smitten with the aloof Victoria (Sienna Miller)

Stardust is not your typical Gaiman yarn. It appeals to a younger audience with its wit, whimsy, romance, and elements of children's stories. Some conservative evangelicals and Christian ministries might condemn it, saying its focus on witches and spell-casting will lure children into dangerous territory. But as in J.K. Rowling's stories, the magic here is distinctly the stuff of make believe. Here, spells and charms and curses give us a way of thinking about the many differing gifts and powers we possess. They vividly illustrate the conflict of good and evil, the consequences of sinful choices, and the difference between love and lust.

But there is a problem with Stardust that should give parents pause before they let their children run off to this PG-13 tale. And it has nothing to do with the fanciful spellcasting. The movie's marketing suggests that Stardust is a light-hearted adventure for all ages. And on the big screen, it is. But if young viewers run from the movie to the novel, they'll be exposed to scenes of gratuitous sex and material inappropriate for younger readers. So be warned: If your kids like this PG-13-rated movie, it may lead them to an R-rated book.

As this is a review of the movie, not the book, let's focus on what moviegoers will encounter:

The film's title refers to the magical aura of the story's celestial damsel in distress. Yvaine (Claire Danes) is a star. Seriously. And she's lived in a heavenly realm for many years. But when the king of Stormhold (Peter O'Toole) brings her crashing down to earth, she finds herself and her magical ruby pursued by a wide variety of people and powers.

Evil princes want to claim the ruby and thus the kingship. A particularly wicked old witch (Michelle Pfeiffer) wants to cut out Yvaine's heart to steal its power, regaining physical beauty and youth. Ghosts straight out of Beetlejuice want to be entertained by the whole endeavor. And a garrulous trader (Ricky Gervais) wants, well, money.

Claire Danes as Yvaine, the fallen star

But thanks to the power of a transportation device called a "Babylon candle," someone else finds Yvaine first. Young Tristan Thorne (Charlie Cox) is trying to prove his love to Victoria (Sienna Miller), the vain, insensitive beauty who has claimed his heart. He promises Victoria that he'll fetch her that fallen star, and he crosses over a magical boundary from the quaint village of Wall into the realm of Stormhold. When Tristan discovers Yvaine, he puts her on a leash and drags her along in what becomes the most elaborate cross-country chase since Midnight Run.

Tristan thinks his journey with Yvaine will lead him to winning Victoria's heart. But every moment with the fallen star takes him into a deeper understanding of love, and before it's over, he'll solve some of the mysteries of his parentage. Meanwhile, Yvaine will find the missing piece of the heart she seeks to protect.

Narrated by Gandalf himself (Ian McKellan), Gaiman's fantasy is wild, fast-paced, unpredictable, and packed with references to other tales. Like many contemporary fantasies, the story's themes could be easily reduced to bland slogans that appeal to our self-interest: "Be what you were born to be." "Don't conform to your society or live within its boundaries." Stardust falls short of true profundity by its refusal to acknowledge the existence of any authority higher than our own fractured hearts. The sexually ambiguous airship-pirate Captain Shakespeare (Robert De Niro) serves to deliver an obvious, unfortunate message: That you should do whatever you want, no matter what other people think.

next page... |  1 of 3 | last page