Critic Reviews
Stardust (2007) Rank 3 Reviews
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Arkansas Democrat-Gazette (Philip Martin)
...the easy comparison is to Rob Reiner's similarly pitched The Princess Bride (1987), it's really more like a live action version of one of Hayao Miyazaki's animated epics, but without the haunting resonance of the Japanese director's best work. ...read the complete Stardust movie review at Arkansas Democrat-Gazette (Philip Martin)
The Cranky Critic (Chuck Schwartz)
Romance for the ladies. Action for the gents. A good time for us grown ups. ...read the complete Stardust movie review at The Cranky Critic (Chuck Schwartz)
Los Angeles Times (Kevin Crust)
'Stardust' proves an enchanting blend of romance and adventure. ...read the complete Stardust movie review at Los Angeles Times (Kevin Crust)
Cinema Blend
In Stardust a young man named Tristran must save a woman who is actually a fallen star from an evil witch in a goat powered cart. Along the way he gets help from unicorns, gay pirates, and oh yeah he may just be a long lost prince. Even for a fantasy ...read the complete Stardust movie review at Cinema Blend
Right now is the Golden Age of fantasy films. This year I have
already seen for the first time three fantasy films that are
among the best I can ever remember seeing. One was PAN'S
LABYRINTH and two have been based on the writings of Neil ...read the complete Stardust movie review at
Christian Spotlight on the Movies
In the provincial and claustrophobic little English village of Wall, there is an entrance to another world, the land of magic and ...read the complete Stardust movie review at Christian Spotlight on the Movies
Sacramento News & Review (Jim Lane)
...a likeable charmer... ...read the complete Stardust movie review at Sacramento News & Review (Jim Lane)
The Movie Chicks
The adventure begins simply enough with a young man, Dunstan (Ben Barnes), who crosses a wall, which in reality is a passage from England to another world – Stormhold. He only stays long enough to meet an enslaved princess (Kate Magowan) and nine months ...read the complete Stardust movie review at The Movie Chicks
The King's Room (Paul Perkins)
With all the big name films that comes out during this time of the year it nice to have a film that not one that blows stuff up or ones that it animated. It nice to have a film that make you dream upon a star and enter a fantasy world. ...read the complete Stardust movie review at The King's Room (Paul Perkins)
rec.arts.movies.reviews (Mark R. Leeper)
A first-class fantasy film, one of the best. Gaiman is a fresh and a different voice in fantasy writing so the film is full of surprises and some genuinely funny jokes. ...read the complete Stardust movie review at rec.arts.movies.reviews (Mark R. Leeper)
filmfacts (Andreas Edler)
Killer Movie Reviews (Andrea Chase)
STARDUST, based on the novel by Neil Gaiman, starts with that most wonderful of fantasy conceits, a magical world that exists side-by-side with the real world, but in which no one chooses to believe. ...read the complete Stardust movie review at Killer Movie Reviews (Andrea Chase)
www.susangranger.com (Susan Granger)
It's an enchanting sword 'n' sorcery fairy tale - this summer's playful 'date movie,' culminating in a glowing "happily ever after." ...read the complete Stardust movie review at www.susangranger.com (Susan Granger)
IGN Movies (Todd Gilchrist)
Overall, Stardust is one of the better films I've seen this summer because it is by and large more wholesome and sincere than the relentless thrill rides and self-referential comedies with which it competes. ...read the complete Stardust movie review at IGN Movies (Todd Gilchrist)
eFilmCritic.com (William Goss)
Yes, the boy will become a man, and the guy will get the girl. That much is certain. Those aren’t spoilers, but rather universally understood truths regarding the concept of epic storytelling, especially with regard to fantasy, and particularly in terms ...read the complete Stardust movie review at eFilmCritic.com (William Goss)
efilmcritic.com (Peter Sobczynski)
Walking into the screening of "Stardust," I wasn't at all sure of what to expect. On the one hand, I knew that it was some kind of elaborate mystical epic and that it somehow combined the talents of Neil Gaiman (the author of any number of acclaimed ...read the complete Stardust movie review at efilmcritic.com (Peter Sobczynski)
Tracksounds! (Christopher Coleman)
The Providence Journal (Michael Janusonis)
Here’s a fantasy full of witches and wit and invention and romantic warmth, with nary a bespectacled teenager in sight. ...read the complete Stardust movie review at The Providence Journal (Michael Janusonis)
Cinerina (Karina Montgomery)
I kept feeling that same tingling that I get toward the end of a Harry Potter book, that longing to know more about this world, to spend more time in it. A worthy comedic peer with The Princess Bride. ...read the complete Stardust movie review at Cinerina (Karina Montgomery)
Orlando Sentinel (Roger Moore)
The stuff dreams are made of. ...read the complete Stardust movie review at Orlando Sentinel (Roger Moore)
Cinemaclips.com (Roger Tennis)
It is out-of-this-world fun and enjoyment. ...read the complete Stardust movie review at Cinemaclips.com (Roger Tennis)
ViewLondon (Matthew Turner)
DVDTown.com (John J. Puccio)
I began smiling a few minutes into the picture, and I ended smiling. One could hardly ask for more. ...read the complete Stardust movie review at DVDTown.com (John J. Puccio)
Bullz-Eye.com
Much ado was made when Matthew Vaughn, who spent ten years making a living as a friend of Guy Ritchie before striking out on his own to direct “Layer Cake,” was offered the director’s chair for “X-Men: The Last Stand” after Bryan Singer bowed ou ...read the complete Stardust movie review at Bullz-Eye.com
FilmJudge (David Mercier)
Newsday (Jan Stuart)
Stardust comes as close as any newfangled fairy tale in recent years to sating the appetite of dream-hungry moviegoers. ...read the complete Stardust movie review at Newsday (Jan Stuart)
Detroit Free Press (Terry Lawson)
Even if it is not as smart and emotionally affecting as MirrorMask it will alert moviegoers to the talent of Gaiman -- a storyteller for the ages. ...read the complete Stardust movie review at Detroit Free Press (Terry Lawson)
Quad City Times (Davenport, IA) (Linda Cook)
Well, look what fell out of nowhere. ...read the complete Stardust movie review at Quad City Times (Davenport, IA) (Linda Cook)
Charlotte Observer (Lawrence Toppman)
Stardust takes a standard structure -- young hero of unrecognized worth goes on a quest to save a damsel -- and plays charming variations on that theme. ...read the complete Stardust movie review at Charlotte Observer (Lawrence Toppman)
Journal and Courier (Lafayette, IN) (Bob Bloom)
Most knowledgeable filmgoers can figure out who does what to whom and who winds up with whom. The enjoyable part is watching everyone get there. ...read the complete Stardust movie review at Journal and Courier (Lafayette, IN) (Bob Bloom)
Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN) (John Beifuss)
Pure imaginative escapism... ...read the complete Stardust movie review at Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN) (John Beifuss)
Houston Chronicle (Amy Biancolli)
No, Stardust isn't a children's movie. It's a movie for anyone, of any age, who believes in magic -- or wishes they did. ...read the complete Stardust movie review at Houston Chronicle (Amy Biancolli)
Groucho Reviews (Peter Canavese)
It's been quite some time since a fantasy adventure this cheekily entertaining has made its way down the pipeline. ...read the complete Stardust movie review at Groucho Reviews (Peter Canavese)
Creative Loafing (Matt Brunson)
Every time it appears that the movie has exhausted its bag of tricks, it pulls out something else that's sure to startle and please. ...read the complete Stardust movie review at Creative Loafing (Matt Brunson)
Mr. Brown's Movies (Michael Dequina)
Don't be fooled by the lackluster trailer, which paints this as being in the staid and wholesome Narnia mold--it's a lot more fun than that. ...read the complete Stardust movie review at Mr. Brown's Movies (Michael Dequina)
MovieFreak.com (Sara M. Fetters)
The film is a kaleidoscope of wonderment, much of it bouncing off of the screen in such robust and magnificently layered detail a person needs to see it twice just to take it all in. ...read the complete Stardust movie review at MovieFreak.com (Sara M. Fetters)
Kalamazoo Gazette (James Sanford)
a delightful, thrilling and entertainingly offbeat yarn... Pfeiffer is positively spellbinding... Vaughn has given this seductive fairy tale the same dark comedy and out-of-left-field wackiness that made his first effort memorable. ...read the complete Stardust movie review at Kalamazoo Gazette (James Sanford)
Salt Lake Tribune (Sean Means)
Stardust may fall short of the fairy-tale grandeur and humor of [ The Princess Bride ], but it has plenty of charms of its own. ...read the complete Stardust movie review at Salt Lake Tribune (Sean Means)
Sean the Movie Guy (Sean McBride)
Should remind most audiences of The Princess Bride, although this film is a lot more adult in its themes and villains. ...read the complete Stardust movie review at Sean the Movie Guy (Sean McBride)
Miami Herald (Connie Ogle)
The most surprising thing about Stardust is that its most winning element is neither its delightful story nor its special effects but its sly sense of humor. ...read the complete Stardust movie review at Miami Herald (Connie Ogle)
Oregonian (Shawn Levy)
Stardust in a nutshell: hardly great shakes, but better and more satisfying than it first seems. ...read the complete Stardust movie review at Oregonian (Shawn Levy)
Looking Closer (Jeffrey Overstreet)
The Princess Bride never needed to jolt us to hold our attention; the closer we get to the end of Stardust , the more it devolves into a marathon of furious special flourishes. ...read the complete Stardust movie review at Looking Closer (Jeffrey Overstreet)
The Movie Boy (Dustin Putman)
For anyone who has grown weary of this season's many soulless special effects blowouts ("Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer," "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" and "Transformers"), the whimsical "Stardust" is just what the doctor ordered. ...read the complete Stardust movie review at The Movie Boy (Dustin Putman)
TheMovieBoy.com (Dustin Putman)
Stardust isn't just a one-note movie with a lot of pizzazz and zero substance, but a more thoughtful motion picture that ponders many of the mysteries of life in a way that is accessible and emotionally satisfying. ...read the complete Stardust movie review at TheMovieBoy.com (Dustin Putman)
MovieCrypt.com (Kevin A. Ranson)
... blazes its own trail with the always-hopeful message that love indeed conquers all (unless a horrible death claims you first.) ...read the complete Stardust movie review at MovieCrypt.com (Kevin A. Ranson)
Sun Publications (Chicago, IL) (Josh Larsen)
There has always been something diabolical about Pfeiffer's beauty ... and she both plays up and subverts that image here. ...read the complete Stardust movie review at Sun Publications (Chicago, IL) (Josh Larsen)
EmanuelLevy.com (Emanuel Levy)
While Vaughn's goals to be faithful to Caiman's literary source and also ground the fable in reality are honorable, the execution is uneven, resulting in a work that changes tone and style from reel to reel, making demands on viewers to take huge leaps. ...read the complete Stardust movie review at EmanuelLevy.com (Emanuel Levy)
Worcester Telegram & Gazette (Daniel M. Kimmel)
Stardust will either usher in a new interest in fantasy films for grown-ups, or else become one of those cult movies whose devotees will eagerly seek out converts. ...read the complete Stardust movie review at Worcester Telegram & Gazette (Daniel M. Kimmel)
San Antonio Express-News (Larry Ratliff)
Harry Potter for older teens and adults, that's the best way to describe the fantastic fantasy ride that is Stardust. ...read the complete Stardust movie review at San Antonio Express-News (Larry Ratliff)
Plenty may doom this fantasy vehicle at the box
office, but if that were to happen, it wouldn't
be the fault of the actors. Blame it on the
incomprehensible trailer that positions this more
as a special-effects-laden adventure rather than
a sweet ...read the complete Stardust movie review at
Screen International
A fairy tale based on Neil Gaiman's four-part DC Comics book from 1997, Stardust is an ambitious high-concept adventure which is one of the few non-sequels, non-toy or non-TV adaptations to arrive in theatres this summer. But although entertaining, ...read the complete Stardust movie review at Screen International
Compuserve (Harvey S. Karten)
Every actor wants to be a star, though none would like to a fallen star. In Matthew Vaughn’s “Stardust,” Claire Danes gets to be both. She’s well up there, a superstar, then falls, but it’s only in her falling, not while in the sky, that she f ...read the complete Stardust movie review at Compuserve (Harvey S. Karten)
Salon (Stephanie Zacharek)
There are people who love fantasy movies as a genre, and people who end up loving fantasy movies in spite of themselves: I know more than one person who, turned off by the intricate imagined universe of J.R.R. Tolkien's novels (as well as, perhaps, by ...read the complete Stardust movie review at Salon (Stephanie Zacharek)
Film Journal International (Daniel Eagan)
Based on a popular novel by Neil Gaiman, Stardust is for the most part a lighthearted, entertaining adventure that works best when it doesn't take itself too seriously. Directed with real flair and opulently packaged, the film stays relatively true to ...read the complete Stardust movie review at Film Journal International (Daniel Eagan)
Bucket Reviews (Danny Baldwin)
Taking a cue from the classical whimsy of The Princess Bride, Matthew Vaughn’s Stardust is a rollicking adventure of a good time. This is a post-modern rendition of old-fashioned fantasy of the purest caliber, equally entrancing in terms of its mythical ...read the complete Stardust movie review at Bucket Reviews (Danny Baldwin)
The Onion A.V. Club
The big-screen film adaptation of Stardust, a graphic-novel-turned-full-length-novel written by Neil Gaiman and illustrated by Charles Vess, seems to aspire to be this decade's The Princess Bride: a lively, jovial fantasy that's smart and slick enough to ...read the complete Stardust movie review at The Onion A.V. Club
The Flick Filosopher (MaryAnn Johanson)
I wish I could be more enthusiastic about Stardust. I like it just fine: it’s sweet and amusing and nicely diverting. And it’s colorful enough and clever enough and jam-packed enough with all sorts of pretty to wonder at that if this is your kinda thi ...read the complete Stardust movie review at The Flick Filosopher (MaryAnn Johanson)
Entertainment Insiders (Jonathan W. Hickman)
What wonderful fun! If you can give into the fantastic premise, “Stardust” is grand adventure on a grand scale. But I wonder if modern audiences will warm to a story that is purely out of la-la land? My guess is: Why ...read the complete Stardust movie review at Entertainment Insiders (Jonathan W. Hickman)
Richmond Times-Dispatch
When William Goldman wrote "The Princess Bride," his stated intention was to write a fairy tale with all the boring parts left out. ...read the complete Stardust movie review at Richmond Times-Dispatch
Spirituality & Health (Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat)
Stardust is a pleasant adult fairy tale about a young man who goes on a quest that tests his ability to love and his courage in facing those who are enslaved to power. Tristan Thorne (Charlie Cox) is a curious young man who works as a humble clerk in a ...read the complete Stardust movie review at Spirituality & Health (Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat)
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (Michael Machosky)
Thanks to Harry Potter and friends, it seems the fantasy floodgates are now wide open. "Stardust" starts out with an almost parodic avalanche of fairytale/fantasy cliches, from evil witches to scheming princes, quixotic quests, secret portals -- even ...read the complete Stardust movie review at Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (Michael Machosky)
Reel.com
Matthew Vaughn made his reputation on violent, tough, crime movies, first as Guy Ritchie's producer on Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch and then as a director in his own right with the gritty, Daniel Craig-starring Layer Cake. In other ...read the complete Stardust movie review at Reel.com
Cinema Signals (Jules Brenner)
In a dimension somewhere between the fantastical corridors of a "Pan's Labyrinth" and the farcical extremes of Monty Python, "Stardust" glows with an unsteady light while evoking the style and incredibilia of Terry Gilliam ("The Adventures of Baron ...read the complete Stardust movie review at Cinema Signals (Jules Brenner)
ReelViews (James Berardinelli)
Stardust, based on the acclaimed illustrated novel by Neil Gaiman and Charles Vess, takes viewers to the mystical land of Stormhold, where stars walk, ships fly, and magic is real. A fantasy in the tradition of The Princess Bride, Stardust leavens its ...read the complete Stardust movie review at ReelViews (James Berardinelli)
Laramie Movie Scope (Robert Roten)
“Stardust” is a bit like those slightly fractured fairy tale skits they used to show on TV's Saturday Night Live. It's familiar, but with a funny twist. Comedy turns out to be the saving grace of this film about a young prince on a magic quest to win ...read the complete Stardust movie review at Laramie Movie Scope (Robert Roten)
Three Movie Buffs (Eric Nash)
Stardust takes place a hundred years ago, or so, in a city in England named Wall. It is called that because a long wall is near by. Part of the wall is broken down and it is a ...read the complete Stardust movie review at Three Movie Buffs (Eric Nash)
The Hollywood Reporter
Diverting and pleasurable to watch, "Stardust," a tongue-in-cheek sword-and-sorcerers romp bolstered by a top-flight cast, is most adroit when it plays the fantasy straight rather than sending up the genre. Adapting Neil Gaiman's novel, director Matthew ...read the complete Stardust movie review at The Hollywood Reporter
Sci-Fi Movie Page (James O'Ehley)
Stardust is a magical tale of witches, princes, magical realms and the mythical sleepy English village of Wall. ...read the complete Stardust movie review at Sci-Fi Movie Page (James O'Ehley)
The Globe and Mail
The movie Stardust, based on the novel by Neil Gaiman, is a sprawling shape-shifter of a story, with enough narrative twists for a trilogy. With a lot of stars, including Claire Danes, who plays a literal one, the movie has a very British, free-wheeling, ...read the complete Stardust movie review at The Globe and Mail
Reeling Reviews (Robin and Laura Clifford)
Based on the Neil Gaiman novel, "Stardust" is a big, sprawling adventure tale that has Tristan on the quest of a lifetime. He leaves the safety of his village, Wall, and journeys across the magical land to find the fallen star. He arrives at the site of ...read the complete Stardust movie review at Reeling Reviews (Robin and Laura Clifford)
Apollo Guide (Brian Webster)
Fantasy movies, maybe because they depend on audience members buying into an entire unlikely world, are vulnerable more than most to the all-or-nothing syndrome of love it or dislike it entirely, without a lot of ground in the middle. But then there are ...read the complete Stardust movie review at Apollo Guide (Brian Webster)
ReelzChannel (Brent Simon)
Antagony & Ecstasy (Tim Brayton)
It is more often fun than not. ...read the complete Stardust movie review at Antagony & Ecstasy (Tim Brayton)
Window to the Movies (Jeffrey Chen)
Stardust may be the first movie I've watched that made me feel it was consciously aspiring to be The Princess Bride. This is interesting to me because I always thought Bride would remain one of those cult sleepers with a rabid but relatively small ...read the complete Stardust movie review at Window to the Movies (Jeffrey Chen)
ReelzChannel (Brent Simon)
ReelTalk Movie Reviews (Jeffrey Chen)
Quite straightforward, and we're allowed to simply soak in the pleasantly surprising amount of fun stuff here. ...read the complete Stardust movie review at ReelTalk Movie Reviews (Jeffrey Chen)
The Phantom Tollbooth
So you thought falling stars were either a wonder of science or a myth? Make a wish, etc? Well, guess again. Stardust (from the novel by Neil Gaiman) presents the idea that falling stars are actually people who have sort of tripped up there, jumped the ...read the complete Stardust movie review at The Phantom Tollbooth
The Arizona Republic
For a movie all about magic, Stardust has surprisingly little of its own. ...read the complete Stardust movie review at The Arizona Republic
Movie-Vault.com (Mel Valentin)
Comic book writer, novelist, and, most recently, screenwriter Neil Gaiman’s (Neverwhere, Sandman) second foray into feature-length filmmaking, Stardust, is, like most of his work in various media, ...read the complete Stardust movie review at Movie-Vault.com (Mel Valentin)
Tiscali UK
Any film featuring Robert DeNiro as a transvestite sky pirate preening to the Can Can is certifiably unconventional, and Stardust is definitely that. An adult fantasy of the mythical variety (as opposed to the pornographic), it ...read the complete Stardust movie review at Tiscali UK
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Austin American Statesman
"The script offers more wit than we expect from this kind of film, the action gets more involving as it goes, and Gaiman's knack for unexpectedly magical images kicks in when needed." ...read the complete Stardust movie review at Atlanta Journal-Constitution
RevolutionSF (Navin Vembar)
I have a bad habit of trying to predict the end of plot-heavy movies as soon as the opening credits appear. "Oh, they're going to fall in love," I say. Or "They're going to die in a tragic boating accident," I proclaim with a satisfied nod of my head. To ...read the complete Stardust movie review at RevolutionSF (Navin Vembar)
Shadows on the Wall (Rich Cline)
Ambitious and entertaining, this twisted fairy tale is like The Princess Bride meets Time Bandits with its quirky humour and unashamedly romantic plot. But the gigantic production design sometimes drowns the simple love story at the film's heart. ...read the complete Stardust movie review at Shadows on the Wall (Rich Cline)
Parent Previews
Tristran (Charlie Cox) is a young man hopelessly in love with a local village girl named Victoria (Sienna Miller). But while he nightly professes his affection for her, she only has eyes for what she considers a more suitable match, the rich and socially ...read the complete Stardust movie review at Parent Previews
Appreciating Great Trash (Chris Coleman)
kids-in-mind
A young man (Charlie Cox) vows to bring a star that's fallen from the sky to the beautiful but unfeeling woman he loves, as a token of his devotion. During his quest he ventures into a strange and dangerous realm and eventually finds the star, which has ...read the complete Stardust movie review at kids-in-mind
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
"Stardust" is like a fantasy on steroids.
It's all bulked up with bits and pieces from fairy tales and myths and movies alike: a prince who covets his father's throne and is willing to kill his brothers for it; a royal unaware of his own blue blood; a ...read the complete Stardust movie review at Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Philadelphia Inquirer (Steven Rea)
'Are we humble because we gaze at the stars, or do the stars gaze at us because we are humble?" narrator Ian McKellen asks at the beginning of Stardust. It's a question that doesn't really get answered in director Matthew Vaughn's doggedly whimsical ...read the complete Stardust movie review at Philadelphia Inquirer (Steven Rea)
The Seattle Times (Moira Macdonald)
Complete with a corset-wearing pirate, a witch whose beauty is only skin deep, a cranky star and a dying king, "Stardust" is a wildly crowded and sporadically entertaining fantasy adventure. Based on Neil Gaiman's best-selling fantasy novel, it's ...read the complete Stardust movie review at The Seattle Times (Moira Macdonald)
The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel
When a movie starring Michelle Pfeiffer and Robert De Niro comes out with little marketing or promotional fanfare, it's tempting to suspect that it's awful. ...read the complete Stardust movie review at The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel
New York Post (Lou Lumenick)
A lavish production and Michelle Pfeiffer's wicked witch are the best things about the wildly un even screen adaptation of Neil Gaiman's cult fairy tale ...read the complete Stardust movie review at New York Post (Lou Lumenick)
Frank's Reel Reviews
The success of such fantasy epics as the Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter series have brought the genre to the forefront as not only a reliable box office draw, but as a prolific vehicle for great storytelling as well. ...read the complete Stardust movie review at Frank's Reel Reviews
The New York Times (Stephen Holden)
In “Stardust,” a sprawling, effects-laden fairy tale with the thundering stamina of a marathon horse race, Michelle Pfeiffer is Lamia, as deliciously evil a witch as the movies have ever invented. Shooting deadly green lightning from rings on her ...read the complete Stardust movie review at The New York Times (Stephen Holden)
Big Picture Big Sound (Joe Lozito)
Like many fantasy films, “Stardust” – based on Neil Gaiman’s intricate fairytale novel – tells a simple story in an extraordinary environment: a boy with a mysterious past aims to win the love of a fair maiden and must battle all manner of villa ...read the complete Stardust movie review at Big Picture Big Sound (Joe Lozito)
The New York Times
In “Stardust,” a sprawling, effects-laden fairy tale with the thundering stamina of a marathon horse race, Michelle Pfeiffer is Lamia, as deliciously evil a witch as the movies have ever invented. Shooting deadly green lightning from rings on her ...read the complete Stardust movie review at The New York Times
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