Spoiler-free review of the new Stardust movie

[xiphias]

Lis and I saw a preview screening of the movie based on the Neil Gaiman novel based on the Neil Gaiman/Charles Vess comic book Stardust.

Less-than-good stuff in the movie:
The pop song they wrote and played over the closing credits.

Greater-than-good stuff in the movie:
Everything else.

Comments

[rosefox]

Awesome! I can't wait to see it.

Just back from STARDUST!!

[(Anonymous)]

GREAT Movie. Well done for sure.

[yendi]

Yay! We had passes, but ended up being unable to make it (although the dinner we were at allowed us to inform others of the impending release of the movie). Glad to hear it turned out better than I'd hoped for.

[erin-c-1978.livejournal.com]

W00T! That sounds promising!

[paper-crystals.livejournal.com]

I am debating whether I should see the film. Robert DeNiro is in it and DeNiro usually isn't in bad films, Neil Gaimen wrote the book and because he is Neil Gaimen he probably wrote the screenplay, but the plot is different. Actually, looking at wikipedia Matthew Vaughn directed it which means that the movie will be good (at least I really liked Layer Cake) and I have never seen Vaughn direct DeNiro which I think would be thrilling. Okay. I am seeing it.

[xiphias.livejournal.com]

DeNiro has so much fun in that movie. . .

[paper-crystals.livejournal.com]

DeNiro is someone that can make a movie good or at least watchable just by acting in it. He is also good at picking directors and scripts. There are some really good actors that just don't know how to pick good movies or scripts (I am refering to actors that have a choice in the matter not the ones that will act in anything because there are so many qualified actors and because they are poor.) and thus you have a good actor who is being directed horribly in a bad script. And then why watch the movie except if you are a fan.

Even though Gaimen didn't write the script I am trusting him not to mess things up.

[xiphias.livejournal.com]

I don't think Gaiman wrote the screenplay, but he was one of the producers of the movie.

[mattblum.livejournal.com]

He didn't write the screenplay (Matthew Vaughn--the director--and Jane Goldman did). I'd be willing to bet that Gaiman had script approval rights, though.

Thanks for the review. From the trailers, it really could've gone either way, so I'm really glad to hear it's so good.

[tpau]

it was a comic book? huh. i have only red the lovely book with Vess's illustrations... do you know which it was first?

[xiphias.livejournal.com]

That's what I meant -- graphic novel, or rather, story with pictures in it.

[tpau]

no, what i hav eis nto a graphic novel. itis a novel. with maybe a dozen pictures throughout the book.

[xiphias.livejournal.com]

Yep, that's the one.

[cheshyre]

No, Gaiman also wrote a prose novel about the story, which I think included some Vess illustrations.

Captain Shakespeare isn't in the comics/GN.

I may run to the library to pick it up at some point today...

[tpau]

oh. that is totally not what i think of as a graphic novel... like Sandman is a graphic novel, or Maus... whereit is large novel but in a comic-like fashion...

hm, either way, so the movie is good? the previews looked horrid, like they totally changed the story all around...

[brooksmoses]

Another friend of mine who saw a screening said that the previews totally didn't do it justice, FWIW.

[xiphias.livejournal.com]

According to folks who've read the book and seen the movie, they DID change the story all around -- but that's not a bad thing. The basic story is the same, all the details are different -- but the details for the movie work for a movie, while the details for a book work for a book.

[nolly.livejournal.com]

There is a version with, as I recall, 178 Vess paintings, but it is text-with-pictures, not standard graphic novel. This came first. There is also the just-the-words version, which may have a smaller set of pictures in. There are some changes in the adaptation, for many reasons, including time and cost. Some of the scenes cut for time will wind up on the DVD. Neil and Jane addressed this after the ComicCon showing, among other questions; I'll try to get my notes typed up and posted this week.

[greenlily.livejournal.com]

Yep, mrmorse saw the preview and has been telling me in no uncertain terms that I have to go see it. I suspect I'll want to see it more than once, if for no other reason than that I may spend the entire first viewing being totally gobsmacked by DeNiro.

I own the novel, and have repeatedly read it with great enjoyment (it's probably in my Top 20), but haven't yet got 'round to the graphic novel. Sounds like I should do that RSN.

[fibro-witch.livejournal.com]

Saw an interview with Neil last night on G4. They are live at comic con this week.

He talked about sending the scrip to DeNiro and Michelle Phiffer (sp) and being so surprised when they agreed to do the film. And how he so enjoyed the way the film turned out.

Then he talked a lot about Beowolf, and the work behind that film. He said that Angelina Jolle was a huge part of making that movie happen.

Are you and Liz coming to the Arisia meeting on Sunday? We have not visited since before you went to Italy, and I miss you guys. Besides, I found some cool stuff that demanded being given to you. So I have presents for both of you.

[anhelometuo.livejournal.com]

That movie looks...awesome. I just saw the trailer for it, and I'm speechless.

I'm jealous that you already saw it. :( But thanks for sharing it with us! I'll definite watch it when it comes out. After all, its only two more weeks. :)

Where'd you see it at?

[xiphias.livejournal.com]

There was a free preview screening at the Brattle Theatre in Cambridge.

[estrelladesax.livejournal.com]

Would that have happened to be in San Diego, at Comicon? ;)

[xiphias.livejournal.com]

Nope. Brattle Theatre, Harvard Square, Cambridge, MA.

[nolly.livejournal.com]

I saw it in San Diego, and entirely agree with this review. I have notes from the Q&A Neil and Jane did afterward, which I intend to post this week.

[mrmorse.livejournal.com]

I saw a screening on Tuesday. I absolutely agree with your list of greater-than-good stuff in the movie. I can take or leave the pop song over the closing credits, but the music after the pop song is awesome.