Review of the movie STARDUST - Beware Spoilers.
I've just finished watching Stardust (for the second time - watched it once at the movies in English then just downloaded it in French, yay) and I mostly liked it, although it was frustrating sexist at times. Plus Charlie Cox, who played Tristan Thorn, was gorgeous with his white coat and quiver of lightning. If only he was a girl...
I don't remember much about the actual book, so I can't ramble on about how the movie differed. I recall liking the writing and being impressed at how the plot fitted together, however I was disappointed with the royally dull, bog standard fairy-tale solution. And the ending was worst in the film due to cinematic time pressure.
But my main problem was with Yvaine and her hopeless starlet act. In the book I definitely remember that she was a lot more bitchy than in the film, where she only gets a couple of irate lines before reverting to being a shimmering girl again. All she does is get rescued, look pretty, declare her love for Tristan, and get rescued some more. Honestly. If a wicked witch was dragging you away to cut out your heart and you had no clue someone was coming for you, and if the only person who could possibly rescue you didn't even know where you were... would you come nicely? Would you lie tranquilly on a cold stone surface and wait for the love of your pathetic life to undo the buckles that strapped you down while you had your hands free anyway? ARGGGGGGGGG.
It was terribly stereotyped. While Tristan was learning how to fight Yvaine practiced upon a piano and danced. I know what I'd rather do; I'd swordfight in a second if my elbow had healed enough for me to use it again. And those sparkly blue dresses... blah. If you faced a long trek through muddy fields and uncertain encounters, wouldn't you at least choose an outfit that had sleeves and pockets?
But yes. Tristan Thorn was very, very sexy. I want his white coat. And his sword. And his horse. And his shoulders. Although I don't fancy being a King draped in factory farmed furs; I’d rather be campy Captain Shakespeare (who I don't remember from the books either, but I’m feel no urge to complain about dancing gay pirates).
Summary: Stardust is a clever, romantic fantasy with an excellent plot. But the gender politics in it are frustratingly standard, with the main female character another passive beauty like Buttercup from
The Princess Bride or even Sally from
The Nightmare Before Christmas.
Oh, and the trailer in French can be found
here. Tis so very pretty.