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The FLY Paper
Stardust
By Angela Crist
Feb 29, 2008, 21:29

Few things are more nerve-wracking for a lover of books than to see a movie adaptation of one. The same questions come up every time: What did they ruin? Can they possibly have done anything better than (insert author's name here)? The movie Stardust raised those same questions, and answered them.

Neil Gaiman is undeniably a very gifted writer; Stardust the book is an instant favorite with those who read it. His writing style is rich, descriptive and exciting; everything a reader wants from a good story is there. The palms of every fan of this book were a little sweaty when they headed into the theater to see this movie for the first time.

The story of Tristan Thorn's quest to bring a star back to Victoria in order to prove his love for her is one that has made many readers fall in love with the tale itself. Upon finding that the star he seeks is, in fact, a woman, complications of the expected and utterly unexpected type ensue, leading to a book of mythical proportions. The ending will leave readers thinking about the story for days.

Stardust the movie is undeniably a very good movie. A big name cast, including Robert De Niro, Sienna Miller and Michelle Pfeiffer supports an unknown in the starring role- Charlie Cox as Tristan. The talent in the movie is extraordinary, but not overwhelming. One problem that often comes from having superstars in a movie is that the character they play is lost in their name: this is hardly the case in Stardust. Actors become secondary to the characters they portray, and portray well.

The special effects in the movie are as wonderful as the actors: gorgeous scenery, ranging from Iceland to Europe, provides a dramatic backdrop for every scene. Computer generated effects are smooth and realistic, which is satisfying as they could have been overdone, given the fantastic nature of the story. These effects are combined with a stellar soundtrack (if you'll pardon the pun): it's a combination of all that is good in music. From pieces adapted from classical composers such as Antonin Dvorak and Johann Sebastian Bach to a wonderful song from Take That in the credits. The obvious effort that went into transforming Gaiman's book into a movie pays off completely. Stardust is an artistic masterpiece.

Certain elements from the book, such as Tristan's ability to locate any place within the kingdom of Stormhold, are left out of the movie. This proved to be a disappointment, because it is one of the central pieces that make Tristan an intriguing character from the very beginning of the book. In contrast to that unfortunate change, other differences between printed page and silver screen were delightful. De Niro's character is vastly different from the Captain in the book, yet the change is one that adds a lighthearted feel to the movie, which could have become too dramatic.

Stardust is not a movie that will change the world, but it is certainly one of the best movies adapted from a book to be made recently. It will leave viewers feeling as though the two hours they invested in it were well-spent, and no one will be able to resist smiling, laughing and having a good time while watching it. On the whole, Stardust is most definitely a movie worth watching. And then watching again. And again.