Stardust

[shipperx]

(Sorry for spamming today)

Anyway, the movie Stardust  is out and here's the CNN review

Selected Quote:

Adapted from Neil Gaiman's novel by Jane Goldman and director Matthew Vaughn, "Stardust" gets off to a false start with a prologue told in such broad strokes it comes off as crude and supercilious, even with no less a personage than Sir Ian McKellen narrating. But this richly plotted, thumpingly scored story settles into a groove as soon as Yvaine enters the picture and the chase is on.

My Commentary:

Frankly, I could say much the same for the novel.  At least as far as it being a false start.  The novel telling it in broad strokes, however, isn't the problem.  The book actually told it in far too much detail.  In fact, I fully anticipated that  much of the very, very, very long beginning of the novel would be cut and/or expedited in the film.    It seemed to take forever to get to the point where Tristran actually found the star and discovered it was a girl.  And the action doesn't actually begin until Tristan meets Yvaine.

I haven't seen the movie, but I have read the novel which, quite frankly, began quite slowly and with a great deal of backstory about Tristan's birth.  And as a criticism of the book, I realize that it took me a long time to read it, but my memory of the beginning of the book was that the woman who raised Tristan as her son wasn't inordinately fond of him, yet the impression at the end of the book seemed to be almost the polar opposite.

I did like the romance inasmuch as it was not love at first -- or even second -- sight.  Gaiman allowed for the reader to root for the two of them to get together well before the thought ever entered either Tristan's or Yvaine's minds.  By the time they do realize that they've fallen in love it's a reaction of "Well, of course they have!"   I actually am partial to that sort of strategy of written romance.  

All in all, a nice book but not Gaiman's best.  I don't know whether I'll make it to the movie, but I wouldn't mind seeing a film adaptation of it.

Comments

[miggy.livejournal.com]

I have yet to read the book, but I participated in a longish marketing survey for the movie some months back. I must say, the marketing campaign they showed me then made it look absolutely dreadful, but between the commercials they actually wound up running and the reviews I'm seeing now, I'm pretty intrigued.

[shipperx.livejournal.com]

Not having seen the film, I can only discuss the book. Since the book was in fact originally written as a comic (but simultaneously released as both book and comic), I think it probably lends itself well to film as it was conceived in a very visual style.

Plot-wise, I have strong suspicions that the weaknesses in the film will most likely been the same weaknesses as in the novel. In many ways it reminds me of Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy in that the adventures in the novel seem a bit aimless. It's not a tightly plotted novel but a pleasantly meandering one, where you enjoy Tristan's trip through the land of faery. And Gaiman, being Gaiman, and writing for his audience, isn't necessarily making the world of Faery a nice world (as opposed to a fantastic one). It's a world where witches can do very, very bad things to you. Very bad, indeed. There is a dark underbelly. But the Tristan, the protagonist. is lovable and good-hearted in the novel (if not precisely the brightest bulb in the world) and it strove for a happy -- but not perfectly happy because there is no such thing -- ending.

If you can enjoy the journey without becoming frustrated by all the detours, it's an enjoyable book. But it did have some problems with not having a particularly forceful trajectory, and that the protagonists (in the novel) don't so much resolve the situation, as the situation naturally work itself out...as if by nature... or magic.

[miggy.livejournal.com]

Huh. Could work for me, could not; I certainly enjoy novels like that but find that filmmakers can't always translate them well, yeah.

The campaign I watched for the survey took every last doubletake, funny face, special effect, and otherwise over-the-top moment they could find and crammed it into a aggressive MTV-worthy series of flashing screens. I'm wondering how they ever thought that was a good idea, paired with what you're describing.

[queenofattolia.livejournal.com]

As I've said elsewhere, I hate the cast. It's the worst, made up almost entirely of actors I loathe (and who, by the way, have absolutely no draw or audience recognition).

Hey, it's Serenity all over again! Heh.

[shipperx.livejournal.com]

I have no problem with Michelle Pfieffer as Lamia because her Catwoman was creepy as all get-out so she can probably pull of the wicked witch. Claire Danes seems to be a very odd choice for ethereally beautiful, and frankly, kinda bitchy Yvaine.

[wisemack.livejournal.com]

Hmmm... I can't tell. Did you read the novel or the GRAPHIC novel with the marvelous Charles Vess paintings? 'Cause if it's the former, you really missed half the experience. I just can't imagine the story without the pictures.

And having kept up with the progess of the film in Neil Gaiman's blog, I'm feeling quite hopeful. I mean, if the author actually likes it? A good sign! (And as Neil said himself, if he hated it, he wouldn't have stuck around to discuss.)

[shipperx.livejournal.com]

I read the novel, but would love to see the graphic novel.

[wisemack.livejournal.com]

Oh, and here's a better review from Stephanie Zacharek over at Salon:

http://www.salon.com/ent/movies/review/2007/08/10/stardust/

We like Stephanie. Remember her? Remember Stephanie? She's the chick who began her review of "Smashed" and "Wrecked" with: It may be the greatest postcoital line ever: "When did the house fall down?"

http://archive.salon.com/sex/feature/2001/11/28/buffy/index.html

[celesteavonne.livejournal.com]

I agree with Stephanie 100%; what a great review!

Thanks for sharing the link :)

Neil Gaiman Interview on NPR

[deborahc.livejournal.com]

I listened to an interview with NG on NPR yesterday about the film (originally been broadcast on Wed 8/8). He spoke about how much had to be cut out of the film from the book, and joked about how far into the book it is before you even meet the main character. Very interesting and entertaining interview. Here's the link:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=12594675

[celesteavonne.livejournal.com]

I loved the movie; was just giddy about it, start to finish. I loved the book, too, and read it with a kind of childish, indulgent joy. It may not be Gaiman's best, because I think he revels more completely in a darker tale.

Speaking of taking forever to get through a book... I've been reading Ameriacan Gods for five years! I do adore Neil Gaiman. In my dreams, I write like him.