This adaptation of the Neil Gaiman novel by the same name attempts to bring the fantastical world of "The Wall" to a wider audience. By allying the unusual plot with unusual film direction, a new medium is created for this solid story. This film has its negatives and positives but at any rate is a good example of a successful novel to film crossover.
Of course, these theoretical underpinnings are not enough to make a film worth watching. Real mastery of the movie craft must be shown and Stardust often shows flashes of this brilliance. It is unpredictable, wise and witty. When you add a solid cast to this and some excellent cinematography and effects it is quite obvious that director Matthew Vaughn has created a modern fantasy classic. His depiction of the witches rivals Rohl Dahl and Robert de Niro is an excellent choice for Captain Shakespeare.
But of course, this film is not without its faults. Occasionally, some of the acting falls flat and the script stalls but the main issue of the feature relates to plot. The success of a story like this hinges on the consistency of plot and Stardust suffers in this regard because of the relative brevity of the film. This is not a major issue however and I suspect it is due to the fact that film adaptations of novels are necessarily curtailed for the big screen. The other notable failing of the feature is the predictable ending to a largely unpredictable film. But while it is an obvious conclusion, it is an appropriate one.
Overall, this is a brilliant story that takes its place amongst classic family films.
-The English Student
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