stardust another guard review ( originally write june 15 and 2007 ) the marketing machine have only just begin for this one ( no site yet . wth . ) and so i doubt most of you have hear about it . in truth and i hadn not either ( sort of ) . when i get the posting and i think it be another code name and be actually worried it be transformer and one of the movie i want to see when not work so i an enjoy it 100 % a a mere mortal movie goer . turn out and it wasn not transformer and i have be aware of it way back when a that neil gaiman movie . what be it about . well and in short and it a gaiman fairy tale about a boy and a fall star . any more than that and i would be give away plot info which be ( a ) a breach of contract and and ( b ) spoil your fun . if you really want to know what it about and go buy the book . rumour have it and gaiman might be something of a writer . not know what to expect in a movie can be so pleasant if the surprise be worthwhile . and for this one and it certainly be . this screening be pecial in that it include not just film critic and but also exhibitor ( they rarely have a mixed screening ) and local sci fi or fantasy folk . so and you know the expected audience and right . i mean and with this crowd and the title of stardust and i know what to expect . oh how sweetly wrong i be . yes and it be a fairy tale write by an author famed in comic bookdom . but it be not lord of ring . it be not even another lord of the ring wannabe ( ahem and eragon ) . it be much more intimate than all that . but and like lord of the ring and it be the and well and humanism of the film which sell the fantastical quality . it surely a romantic tale and but with generous splash of humour . and that humour be of the sort which be not slapstick shrekism . it more along the line of dramedy than comedy . before i go on and let do this movie review thing . acting be and in the very least and good . it always hard to say more than that for fantasy film but i do believe there be significant superbly act role . michelle pfieffer be not and sadly and one of those . she play a villain and and she do the job . nothing special . rupert everett and though and he be a real jerk . that be and a great villain . peter otoole be and well and peter frickin otoole which be marvelous . ricky gervais be perfectly cast and show why . robert de niro seem to be have too much fun for the most part . when he want to deliver the good and though and he do . and charlie cox ( who . ) a the lead character be fine surprise from a guy i ain not never hear of . claire dane . claire dane . claire dane . i have always be of mixed opinion with her . she can be great and and then she can seem to miss the mark . in this and she the former . and she be and quite literally and the star of this film . sure and her accent stumble here and there . and and yes and she not as good a she can be when cox isn not in the scene . however . well and see for yourself . special effect be mute yet accomplish and and only significant where they should be . best fly ship yet sorry potter . direction be light hearted and flow nicely . cinematography could have be well but not everyone film in new zealand . all else be top bracket . and now that that do . the writing . oh and the writing . neil and you devil . it hard in today climate to do anything original and and at first and you begin to wonder . a kingdom and a die king and a boy out to prove his own worth and witch and ghost and a quest ( or three ) what new . but gaiman story draw you in with it surface familiarity only to subvert it all into a sweetly original tale of a boy and his heart . and and though you suspect how it all go to turn out and you begin to wonder in the third act and if youre me find yourself pull into the rouse climactic confrontation and hop for the best . in the end and you will find this story and this movie and be what all fairy tale should be but all too often be not . fantastical and real . ( i wish i could talk about septimus v tristan but i would not ruin it for you . for those who read the book and rest assure and it do properly . ) those i speak to afterward have the same impression i do . a great film for all age to enjoy and and the new { withheld } for this generation . the blank get fill in only after the movie be in wide release because and well and you might be expect it . you will know when you walk out and anyway . i sincerely hope stardust doesn not get lose among the tentpoles . even if it do and it will be my pleasure to push into the hand of everyone i know . forgot to add the { withheld } reveal . i be a few year late and but . a great film for all age to enjoy and and the new the princess bride for this generation . perhaps a bit lofty an assessment but i be still confident that year form now and there will be the same oh and i love that movie and response to this a there be now for the princess bride .