Stardust, A Fantasy Fairy Tale
Departing from his previous British underworld themes, (Layer Cake and Lock Stock & Two Smoking Barrels), Director Matthew Vaughan has lavishly adapted Neil Gaiman's fantasy fairy tale Stardust.
The story is the quintessential journey of discovery. It follows 18 year-old Tristan, played by big-screen newcomer Charlie Cox, on his quest to win the heart of his true love, the beautiful yet self important Victoria (Sienna Miller) by journeying into the unknown world beyond the wall that encloses his English village. Within one week he must retrieve a fallen star to win Victoria's hand ahead of his rival Humphrey (Henry Cavill) who has set off on the equally arduous trek to Ipswich to buy a ring.
In Stromhold, the world beyond the wall, the King (Peter O'Toole) is dying. He sets his sons a task, and the one who captures the star will become the heir. The warring siblings go about this task with ever increasing violent acts of fratricide. Unfortunately as well as meeting a premature demise, the ghosts of the brothers are bound together, their appearance trapped at the moment of death, until the new king is crowned. This allows some enjoyable cameos from, amongst others, Jason Flemyng, David Walliams and Rupert Everett.
Competing the trio of pursuers of the star is the evil haggard witch, Lamia (Michelle Pfeiffer), who needs the star to rejuvenate her and her sisters' long past youthful looks. Pfeiffer's casting appears ironic, given that when she appears on screen 'sans prosthetic' this recently enrolled member of the half century club has had more than a little magical assistance to make her look as 'fabulous' now as she did in the Baker Boys.
Having located the star, which is embodied in the human form of Yvaine (Claire Danes), Charlie and the unenthusiastic Yvaine begin the trip back to 'Hole', unaware that Lamia and the remaining princes are in pursuit. As they journey and overcome increasing adversity, Yvaine shines brighter and brighter the more...
...well, you need to see the film to find out.
The script is taken more than 10 hours of dark original material. The cast have interpreted the characters that Vaughan and his co-writer Jane Goldman have crafted splendidly, especially Robert De Niro as Captain Shakespeare who takes his trademark borderline psychotic in a new direction. Jake La Motta it's not.
Other cast notables include Ricky Gervais as Ferdy the Fence (or is it Andy Millman?) and, taking a break from Harry Potter duties, Mark Williams as Billy.
The end result is a highly recommend film that provides both laughs for the adults and an edgy fairy tale for early teens.
In Stromhold, the world beyond the wall, the King (Peter O'Toole) is dying. He sets his sons a task, and the one who captures the star will become the heir. The warring siblings go about this task with ever increasing violent acts of fratricide. Unfortunately as well as meeting a premature demise, the ghosts of the brothers are bound together, their appearance trapped at the moment of death, until the new king is crowned. This allows some enjoyable cameos from, amongst others, Jason Flemyng, David Walliams and Rupert Everett.
Competing the trio of pursuers of the star is the evil haggard witch, Lamia (Michelle Pfeiffer), who needs the star to rejuvenate her and her sisters' long past youthful looks. Pfeiffer's casting appears ironic, given that when she appears on screen 'sans prosthetic' this recently enrolled member of the half century club has had more than a little magical assistance to make her look as 'fabulous' now as she did in the Baker Boys.
Having located the star, which is embodied in the human form of Yvaine (Claire Danes), Charlie and the unenthusiastic Yvaine begin the trip back to 'Hole', unaware that Lamia and the remaining princes are in pursuit. As they journey and overcome increasing adversity, Yvaine shines brighter and brighter the more...
...well, you need to see the film to find out.
The script is taken more than 10 hours of dark original material. The cast have interpreted the characters that Vaughan and his co-writer Jane Goldman have crafted splendidly, especially Robert De Niro as Captain Shakespeare who takes his trademark borderline psychotic in a new direction. Jake La Motta it's not.
Other cast notables include Ricky Gervais as Ferdy the Fence (or is it Andy Millman?) and, taking a break from Harry Potter duties, Mark Williams as Billy.
The end result is a highly recommend film that provides both laughs for the adults and an edgy fairy tale for early teens.
Here Is The Writer : Martin Gallagher
Martin Gallagher has never played for West Ham or England, nor had a number one hit single, but he has worked in the City for many years (for what that's worth). A life-long Londoner, he made the migration from east to west a few years back and is still trying to get used to the absence of fried chicken takeaways and the over abdundance of coffee shops. Martin is married, has two daughters, and is also interested in travelling, football and writing. He hopes to publish his first novel 'sometime in the future'.
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