"STARDUST" A Review

I'd heard of the movie, Stardust, when it came into theatres. But for some reason, though I see many films before their DVD release, I put this one off.

Recently I bought the film and, excepting a few lines and gestures, it is a good movie. I prefer to look at the positive side of a thing, when possible. And the love story is one of the most romantic I have ever seen. The actors did a superb job (the witches were disgusting, but, I think, effectively so). I would not recommend this for young teens and younger, but this is a good movie for, say, seventeen and up. There seems to be hints of homosexuality with the captain, and at one point the witch, seeking to regain her youthful appearance, ruins her figure. So there are unnecessary parts, but I think the message of true love far outshone the negative elements.

After seeing the movie and watching the special features, wherein the author, Neil Gaiman, spoke of his writing the novel, I decided to check out the book. I purchased my paperback copy at Borders the other day, started reading last night, and finished its 250 pages this afternoon.

It was a fascinating literary work, full of lyrical prose. A fresh look into Faerie, somewhat akin to Three Hearts and Three Lions by Poul Anderson. There is little continuity with the book, as far as the movie was concerned, so reading the book proved more interesting because one cannot be certain of the tale's outcome.

But, be warned, this was targeted for adult readers. There is a curse word, and two sex scenes. The hero was honorable in the story, chivalrous. And the end was written with such elegance that I felt I could see the star standing in that lonesome tower, gazing into the heavens she once occupied.