Friday, John and I slipped out of the house, leaving the sleeping children with our intrepid babysitter Logan, and went to see STARDUST.
I have waited eagerly for movies for years, and seldom has a movie I’ve been especially anticipating lived up to my hopes. (I don’t count a few of the recent big fantasy/superhero blockbusters, everyone has waited for. I mean movies I, personally, have been waiting for.) STARDUST is a clear exception!
After waiting for over a year, following all the pre-release stuff Neil Gaiman posted on his blog, I finally got to see the movie, and it was even more delightful that I had hoped. It had all the charm of the book, plush one or two nice touches that were not in the book. ( A few nice things were left out, but I forgive them.)
The movie is much in the same spirit as PRINCESS BRIDE. It is not as funny or witty, but has wonderful magic and wonder to it. Michelle Pfeiffer plays an evil witch and De Niro plays a Space Pirate with a bad reputation.
The movie is filled with magic and charm, and I strongly recommend it.
I think The Adventures of Baron Munchausen is a better comparison, cinematically, than Princess Bride. Which is not to knock PB, but PB is a comedy pastiche of fantasy movies and novels, while Stardust and BM tell a story with strange happenings.
The mood doesn’t seem quite the same, though, as Munchausen is rather surrealistc and Stardust is not. Not a bad comparason though, and you are right that it is not a comedy.
Would you recommend reading the book before seeing the movie? Or would that make the movie disappoint?
I don’t think it would matter. John had just reread it and enjoyed the movie very much. Though I think it could be just as much fun to see the movie first and then read the book. Either way, you should know that there is a major character in the movie (Captain Shakespeare) who is not in the book — so you don’t get jarred. ;-)
I’m actually on chapter 3 now. I’m still debating on whether to see the movie this weekend or not. I would like to see the movie before it leaves theatres. Besides…the more money Hollywood makes from it, the better the chance of them making more like it :)
just see it
I haven’t read the book, and I enjoyed the film immensely! I look forward to buying the DVD.
Re: just see it
The book is beautifulm, all these Charles Vess drawings of the Fairy Market and such.
I think The Adventures of Baron Munchausen is a better comparison, cinematically, than Princess Bride. Which is not to knock PB, but PB is a comedy pastiche of fantasy movies and novels, while Stardust and BM tell a story with strange happenings.
Would you recommend reading the book before seeing the movie? Or would that make the movie disappoint?
I don’t think it would matter. John had just reread it and enjoyed the movie very much. Though I think it could be just as much fun to see the movie first and then read the book. Either way, you should know that there is a major character in the movie (Captain Shakespeare) who is not in the book — so you don’t get jarred. ;-)
The mood doesn’t seem quite the same, though, as Munchausen is rather surrealistc and Stardust is not. Not a bad comparason though, and you are right that it is not a comedy.
just see it
I haven’t read the book, and I enjoyed the film immensely! I look forward to buying the DVD.
Re: just see it
The book is beautifulm, all these Charles Vess drawings of the Fairy Market and such.
Sean’s brother, sister-in-law, niece, & nephew went to see “Stardust” at a drive-in theatre while they were in NH for a few days. They weren’t all that crazy about it, though. Actually, they arrived at the theatre when the movie was already 1/2-way through (they wanted to go see “The Simpsons”, but the time of the movie was too late–Sean’s nephew and niece are 9 and 5 respectively).
Sean’s brother, sister-in-law, niece, & nephew went to see “Stardust” at a drive-in theatre while they were in NH for a few days. They weren’t all that crazy about it, though. Actually, they arrived at the theatre when the movie was already 1/2-way through (they wanted to go see “The Simpsons”, but the time of the movie was too late–Sean’s nephew and niece are 9 and 5 respectively).
I’m actually on chapter 3 now. I’m still debating on whether to see the movie this weekend or not. I would like to see the movie before it leaves theatres. Besides…the more money Hollywood makes from it, the better the chance of them making more like it :)