Genre: Adventure/Fantasy

Director: Matthew Vaughn

Certificate: Stardust was rated PG by the Irish Film Censor's Office (www.ifco.ie) i.e. may be watched by unaccompanied children of any age. However parental guidance is advised.

Violence = strong. Drugs = none. Sex/Nudity = mild. Language = strong.

OFFICIAL WEBSITE:

Stardust

Well what can I say about Stardust that hasn't already been said?  Firstly, Stardust is a film for everyone, it crosses all age barriers and sits well with both adults and children alike.  A fantastical tale, we meet Tristan (Charlie Cox) a young man who craves adventure, but lives in a small village called The Wall that borders a mystical and forbidden kingdom ruled by the dying King Stormhold (Peter O'Toole), whose remaining sons and heirs vie for the throne by fair means or foul, watched enviously by the ghosts of their deceased siblings.  Tristan has fallen in love with haughty village beauty Victoria (Sienna Miller) and promises during a midnight picnic to retrieve a falling star they've watch descend to earth in order to win her hand.  Enter Yvaine (Claire Danes) who is actually the living and breathing falling star and not at all what Tristan expected.

And thus the odyssey begins as Tristan and Yvaine embark on a quest to return back to the village in order for him to win the heart of his true love, but they have to encounter a multitude of characters along the way including the evil witch Lamia (Michelle Pfeiffer), the air borne pirate Captain Shakespeare (Robert De Niro), the King's sons, and in particular Septimus (Mark Strong), the comical Ferdy the Fence (Ricky Gervais), and interwoven into all this is the added mystery of Tristan's birth mother whom he's never met.

There are some great special effects, and swashbuckling images in there, with several comical set pieces that leave you with a smile on your face, and it's certainly a film with a real feel-good factor.  However, for me Stardust fell a little short on times, the script tried too hard to be funny, and every now and then it just fell flat on its face.  Danes who is literally the star of the show and should for want of a better word sparkle and shine, gives a lacklustre performance, and I'm sure there are several actresses out there that could have done a better job.

De Niro adds a comical and surprising slant to proceedings, and although attacks it with great gusto has the look of 'I can' t believe they are actually paying me for this'  written all over his face, and the cameo by Gervais as Ferdy the Fence is well… typical Gervais dressed up in historical costume – no more, no less.  Pfeiffer adds some glamour to proceedings and despite what must have been hours in the make-up department genuinely looks as if she's having a good time.

Stardust is a fairytale, thus is ostensibly meant for family viewing, with the usual pantomime goodies and baddies thrown in for good measure.  There is always going to be a place for this type of movie as it has a broad appeal.  I found Stardust fun and very watchable on times, if a tad too long at just over two hours ten minutes - shaving fifteen minutes off it may have made the difference.

However, that said, Stardust made a refreshing change from the usual sex and violence we seem to have thrown at us by the bucketful, and I left the cinema feeling entertained, and I'm sure it will be a big hit with audiences.  In a word - Fantastical.

Reviewed by Mary Kate, Premier Movie Reviews 2007

If you enjoy Stardust you might also enjoy: Bridge to Terabithia, The Chronicles Of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe,  Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone,  Harry Potter and The Chamber Of Secrets,  Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban, or Lemony Snicket's A Series Of Unfortunate Events.

Claire Danes

Robert de Niro

Michelle Pfeiffer

Sienna Miller

Charlie Cox

Peter O'Toole

Mark Strong

Ricky Gervais

WORTH A WATCH