STARDUST

UK, 2007, 128 minutes, Colour.
Charlie Cox, Claire Danes, Michelle Pfeiffer, Robert De Niro, David Kelly, Kate Magowan, Melanie Hill, Sienna Miller, Henry Cavill, Nathanial Parker, Peter O’ Toole, Mark Strong, Jason Flemyng, Rupert Everett, David Walliams, Dexter Fletcher, Ricky Gervais.
Directed by Matthew Vaughn.

Stardust is a fairly tale, a fairy tale for adults – and for those who enjoy their fantasies with more than a little spoof and satire. It is in the vein of such imaginative predecessors as The Princess Bride and Terry Gilliam’s The Adventures of Baron Munchhausen and The Brothers Grimm.

It is all a bit of a surprise, especially knowing that the director, Matthew Vaughn has produced gangster films like Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and directed Layer Cake. This is something completely different.

Based on a story by Neil Gaiman, set in the 1850s and narrated by Ian McKellen?, Stardust is basically a tale of boy meets girl, some perilous adventures and a happy ending. Except… The boy (Charlie Cox) is from England but his mysterious mother comes from the kingdom of Stormhold) and he has crossed The Wall from England into Stormhold to retrieve a star that has fallen to earth for his snooty girlfriend (Sienna Miller). The star is really the girl of the romance (Claire Danes), a star who was knocked out of the sky when the signet ring of the kingdom was thrown by the dying king (Peter O’ Toole) and collided with the star. Behind the scenes, the king’s sons literally battle it out for the inheritance (and, as they die, they form a ghostly observation bench to watch the proceedings). So far, so good – and bad.

On the bad side are three witches who depend on the heart and blood of a star to keep them young (but have lacked a star for four hundred years). They draw lots to go and recover the star – except that one of them cheats, Lamia, who is played in grotesque make-up by Michelle Pfeiffer. But, not to worry, when she is rejuvenated at times, we see the beautiful actress herself.

On the good side, there is a pirate ship’s crew led by Captain Shakespeare who is a gruff macho ruffian in public but a gentle, cross-dressing, can-can dancing ‘whoopsie’ behind closed doors. And this is Robert de Niro.

Chases, quests, betrayals, magic. They are all here. And there is excitement as the surviving brother, Septimus (an excellent Mark Strong), black clad, closes in on the star who is wearing the signet ring about her neck. He has to confront Lamia to do battle for the ring.

There are a few little twists before the end, but it is a genial enough fantasy for those who can be delighted by movie magic. Realists beware.

1.The appeal of this kind of fantasy? Imagination?

2.British production? Values? Based on a novel? The strong cast? The British locations, the fantasy locations, sets? England and the kingdom of Stormond? The musical score?

3.The introduction, science, astronomy, the stars? Facts? The disputes? One hundred and fifty years ago? England, the Wall, the kingdom of Stormond? The old guard at the gate, keeping people out? Dunstan and Tristan and their going over the wall? The old guard giving up?

4.Dunstan, his walk, tricking the guard, exploring the town, encountering Una and Sal? Una and her being a slave? The purchase of the flower, the kiss, his going home, nine months later, the baby’s delivery?

5.The passing of eighteen years, Tristan as a young man, his relationship with his father, absent mother? His trying to woo Victoria? Going to her window, the girls laughing at him? The rivalry with Humphrey? Going to the shop, working, Victoria pushing in at the head of the line, his serving her, her taking him away, his losing his job, telling his father, getting the information from his father about his mother? Going to Stormond?

6.The picture of the king, dying, ruthless on his death bed, the different brothers, their numbered names, those that were dead being ghosts, observing? Secundus and his arrival, his being pushed over the cliff? The others being killed? Primus and his pursuit? The bishop and his death? Primus and his travelling, the bath, the encounter with Lamia, his death?

7.Septimus, the most resourceful of the brothers, the look of Olivier’s Richard III? Clever, his pursuit? Riding the horse, the ruins? The confrontations? The pirates? Going to the wall, going to the castle, the confrontation with Lamia, his death? Lamia and her using the doll with the touch of the voodoo to fight Tristan?

8.The brothers, watching, the variety of ghosts, the images of their deaths, enjoying the spectacle, Septimus and his joining them, watching his body being used by Lamia for the fight?

9.The slinging of the pendant into the air, crashing into the star, the star exploding? Tristan’s promise to Victoria, one week to get the star, going across the wall, finding the crater, encountering Yvaine? The awkwardness, the talk, helping her?

10.Yvaine, as a star, watching the human race, learning about humans, evil and love? Her injured walk, the healing, the various encounters? Going to the inn, Lamia and her deceit, the bath, the threats, being saved from death? Primus and his attack, his death? Tristan and Yvaine taking the carriage? Their being caught up in the pirates’ net? Welcomed on board, the captain, the tough crew, the captain keeping up appearances? His good advice to them? Training of Tristan in swordfighting? Their going to the wall, sleeping, Tristan going back to the village, Yvaine and her despair, wandering towards the wall, rescued in time? Going to the witches, the confrontation with them, with Lamia? Tristan coming to her rescue? The fighting? The swordfighting? The final defeat – and the encounter with Una, the acknowledgment of who Tristan was? The wedding and the happy ending?

11.Tristan as a character, the adventures, interacting with Yvaine, his memories of Victoria, falling in love with Yvaine? At the inn, taking the coach, with Captain Shakespeare, the swordfighting, the return to the wall? His going to see Victoria, the misinterpretation of his message? Seeing Victoria with Humphrey, leaving her? Hurrying back? The rescue of Yvaine? The confrontation with the body of Septimus? The fight with Lamia, the witches, her deceit, her finally being destroyed? His being named as the heir, Una as his mother, rescuing her? His happy ending as king?

12.Sal, in the marketplace, Una as her captive, the cord, the gift of the flower? Sal later encountering the witches? Una and her escaping? Sal and her destruction?

13.Victoria, spoilt, in the village, being wooed by Tristan, with Humphrey, in the shop, the star, the quest, the return and her disdain of Tristan? The confrontation with Humphrey – and his being afraid?

14.The three witches, the four hundred years, grown old and ugly? The news of the star? Lamia and the drawing of lots, her cheating, becoming beautiful again, going on the quest? Her attacks on the enemies and using her power, growing old in the arms? Eventually growing old again? Her taking over the goatherd, the goat? Setting up the inn, welcoming Tristan and Yvaine, preparing the bath, the plans? The arrival of Primus? The clash with him – and his death? Her pursuit of the couple? Going back to the sisters, their urging her on? The ship, her going to the wall? Eventually capturing Yvaine, taking her to the castle? Tristan to the rescue, using Septimus’s body for the fight? Her seeming to give in – her sisters dead, her deception, the confrontation and her death?

15.Captain Shakespeare, his tough attitude with the men, the raucous men? His assistant knowing the truth? His being very gentle with the couple, having to put on the macho style? Entertaining them, talking, comparing notes? His clothes? His dressing, dancing the can-can? His being unmasked – and the crew knowing this already?

16.The tradition of adult fantasies? Fairy stories? The humour and fantasy of such films as The Princess Bride? How successful Stardust?