a babylon candle and a glowing heart

joyful_storm and i went to a SIFF preview of Stardust last night. it's been so long since i read the book that i can't say much about the adaptation. (obviously the book did not make a profound impression.) as i watched, it struck me that this is a family film, in the sense that parents could go with kids of mixed ages (probably not under 10 or so) and everyone would have a nice time. there are jokes kids would get, jokes that would fly over youngsters' heads, plenty of action, some jeopardy, and a romance. it lacks blatant sex, bloody violence, and scatological humor. it retains the earthiness and casual brutality of its fairytale inspiration.

(someday, people will get over the LotR films and we can stop having helicopter shots of people rushing across beautiful lonely landscapes. i hope it's someday soon. at least that Matrix freeze-n-rotate thing is dying out. i'm not saying it's all evil, it's just a new cliche.)

you may recognize most cast members from British TV. the Americans are mostly good (i didn't hate Claire Danes, who is usually as annoying as Gwyneth Paltrow) but my jury is still out on the scenery-chewing Michelle Pfeiffer and Robert DeNiro - who is unable or unwilling to do dialect to match the rest of the cast. DeNiro's performance is full of energy and charm, and he's on screen for just the right amount of time. other stars are brief appearances or narrative only. (i leave their names out to allow others the pleasure of recognition. i think the only opening credit was the title.)

the film was sweet, and i think it may attract a cult audience similar to Labyrinth or The Princess Bride. it's an alternative to the action epics of the summer while still containing both action and epicness. (take your romcom fan sweetie, still get to see swordfights and chases.) there's nothing special about the credits, so if you don't want to listen to the lame Take That song, just skip out.

a babylon candle and a glowing heart

joyful_storm and i went to a SIFF preview of Stardust last night. it's been so long since i read the book that i can't say much about the adaptation. (obviously the book did not make a profound impression.) as i watched, it struck me that this is a family film, in the sense that parents could go with kids of mixed ages (probably not under 10 or so) and everyone would have a nice time. there are jokes kids would get, jokes that would fly over youngsters' heads, plenty of action, some jeopardy, and a romance. it lacks blatant sex, bloody violence, and scatological humor. it retains the earthiness and casual brutality of its fairytale inspiration.

(someday, people will get over the LotR films and we can stop having helicopter shots of people rushing across beautiful lonely landscapes. i hope it's someday soon. at least that Matrix freeze-n-rotate thing is dying out. i'm not saying it's all evil, it's just a new cliche.)

you may recognize most cast members from British TV. the Americans are mostly good (i didn't hate Claire Danes, who is usually as annoying as Gwyneth Paltrow) but my jury is still out on the scenery-chewing Michelle Pfeiffer and Robert DeNiro - who is unable or unwilling to do dialect to match the rest of the cast. DeNiro's performance is full of energy and charm, and he's on screen for just the right amount of time. other stars are brief appearances or narrative only. (i leave their names out to allow others the pleasure of recognition. i think the only opening credit was the title.)

the film was sweet, and i think it may attract a cult audience similar to Labyrinth or The Princess Bride. it's an alternative to the action epics of the summer while still containing both action and epicness. (take your romcom fan sweetie, still get to see swordfights and chases.) there's nothing special about the credits, so if you don't want to listen to the lame Take That song, just skip out.