This is based on the novel by the same name by Neil Gaiman. I read the book a few years ago when it was a Mithlond selection and i quite liked it. We missed the theatrical release of the movie, but based on the strength of our enjoyment of the novel we bought a DVD of the film last year or so. This viewing was my 2nd time watching it — we popped it in because a visiting friend was in the mood for a movie but wanted something light and happy.I can’t really make comparisons between the “Stardust” book and movie. In the 1st place, i rarely think those are fair comparisons because novels and films are different storytelling mediums, and trying to make films work the way novels do is not fair to the art of cinema. In the 2nd place, i just don’t have perfect recollection of this particular novel.
But i did like “Stardust” the film every bit as much as i enjoyed “Stardust” the novel. There are a few significant differences — the climax of film and novel are different (of course the film is a bit more exciting) and the endings are different (the novel is bittersweet) — but mostly the stories follow the same lines, and other differences in translation from novel to film didn’t mar the story for me.
One of the most interesting differences is that the part of Captain Shakespeare is greatly expanded in the film. I didn’t mind much because i actually quite enjoyed DeNiro in the role. I’m not sure how i feel about fact that the punchline of his character is that he’s a “whoopsie,” tho’ i’ll admit i laughed out loud the 1st time we watched the movie.
I’m really not sure how i feel about the difference in the film’s climax compared to the novel’s — that is, the defeat of Lamia the witch. I think the way the novel handled it felt truer and made for a better story, tho’ it’s true that the way the film handled things was much more action-y and exciting. I’ll also admit that i was perhaps unreasonably excited that in the end it’s the woman who saves everyone because what can she do? She can set off a giant nuclear fucking reaction because she is a star. Sure, they twinkle, they shine — they are also masses of incandescent gas, gigantic nuclear furnaces.
There were 3 other things i really loved about the film:
- The chorus of dead brothers. Really excellently done.
- Ricky Gervais as Ferdy. Hilarious and perfect.
- The 1st mate on Captain Shakespeare’s ship. We never get his name, but he is absolutely marvelous in every single one of his few scenes.
Ahem!
Why does the sun REALLY shine by TMBG Had to, sorry, as I heard them perform this live (and consequently bought the CD).
I liked the movie a lot, too. Granted, I read the book afterward, but I thought that the jokes were pretty hilarious (I had some laugh-out-loud moments with the ghost brothers hanging about), and the mood was very nicely set.
Oh, no! Proofread on my own website!! ;) Actually, it looks like that’s the new version of the song — they’d been performing the version i linked to in concerts for years (it’s a song that was written back in the ’50s). We can both be right!
Also: How does one get to be a fact-checker for TMBG?? I want that job!
The ghost brothers were just brilliant in the movie. And Septimus was also quite good as a live brother! :D
Haha, I merely remembered it because I thought it was so hilarious: “Forget that song… the thesis was wrong”, or something like that! It’s on their album Science! for children which did come out only fairly recently. I can still sing along to the original Why Does the Sun Shine, though :D