Stardust

A tongue-in-cheek fantasy bolstered by A-list players and top-flight production values, Stardust is based on a novel by erstwhile ormer comic-book writer Neil Gaiman. In the mythical kingdom of Stormhold, a star has fallen in the shapely form of a young woman named Yvaine (Claire Danes), whose natural radiance—along with the jewel she wears—supplies magical powers much sought after by several factions. The dying King (Peter O'Toole) informs his treacherous sons that the one who finds the star will win his throne. The aged, evil witch Lamia (a scene-stealing Michelle Pfeiffer) wants the power to restore her youth and beauty. And in the parallel-world village of Wall, occupied by mere mortals, lovesick young Tristan (Charlie Cox) promises the fickle Victoria (Sienna Miller) that he will retrieve the fallen star if she'll throw over her insufferable boyfriend. Shot in Scotland and Iceland, Stardust boasts sensational sets, costumes, and special effects, as well as a script that offers both intriguing situations and clever dialogue. The only fault lies in a couple of uneven performances: Danes is somewhat awkward as the star, while Robert De Niro seems ill at ease playing a fey pirate captain who acts macho for the crew's benefit. Still, Stardust is a charming, even enchanting picture that earns its PG-13 rating for violence that may be too intense for younger children. Recommended. [Note: DVD extras include the half-hour “making-of” featurette “Good Omens,” five deleted scenes (6 min.), five minutes of bloopers, and trailers. Bottom line: a solid extras package for a fine fantasy film.] (E. Hulse)[Blu-ray Review—Sept. 14, 2010—Paramount, 127 min., PG-13, $19.95—Making its first appearance on Blu-ray, 2007's Stardust sports a decent transfer with Dolby TrueHD 5.1 sound. Blu-ray extras include audio commentary by writer-director Matthew Vaughn and co-writer Jane Goldman, a “Crossing the Wall” making-of featurette (56 min.), a “Nothing is True…” behind-the-scenes featurette (10 min.), deleted scenes (6 min.), a blooper reel (6 min.), and trailers. Bottom line: a beloved contemporary fantasy makes a solid debut on Blu-ray.]