Stardust
2007
**½
Director: Matthew Vaughn
Cast: Claire Danes, Charlie Cox, Sienna Miller, Ricky Gervais, Jason Flemyng, Rupert Everett, Peter O'Toole, Michelle Pfeiffer, Robert De Niro
Like his father 18 years earlier, Tristan crosses the forbidden wall to the magic kingdom of Stormhold to retrieve a fallen star, which has taken the shape of a girl. At the same time the sons of the dead king want the star to determine who inherits the throne, and a trio of witches need it to restore their youth. This romantic fantasy from Neil Gaiman's novel is lighthearted, charming and silly (Robert De Niro plays a cross-dressing sky pirate?). Its characters are well-drawn and the central performances are likeable. However, as I've recently been to Middle-earth, Narnia and Hogwarts, Gaiman's adventure in Stormhold cannot offer a shred of originality.
