Based on the award - winning novel written by Neil Gaiman.. Stardust is a fantasy, adventure love story.. In the sleepy village of Wall, a young man named Tristan goes on a quest to win the heart of his beloved Victoria.. His journey in search of a falling star Yvaine takes him into the magical world where he faces the witch, Lamia, played by Michelle Pfeiffer and a pirate, Captain Shakespeare, played by Robert De Niro..

Rated: [ PG ] Mild Violence, Fantasty Themes, May Frighten Young Children

Cinema release: 20th September 2007

Running time: 127 minutes

Stars: Robert De Niro, Sienna Miller, Michelle Pfeiffer, Claire Danes, Rupert Everett

It has been three years since the completion of Peter Jackson’s incredible financial and critical success - The Lord of the Rings trilogy - that sent the major studios scrabbling for a piece of the fantasy pie.. However, despite numerous efforts industry wide ( And a number still in the pipeline ), fans of the genre are yet to see the magic reproduced..

It may be unfair to compare Stardust, an unconventional love story from British author Neil Gaiman, with the work of a man who helped pioneer the genre; a more accurate comparison can be found in Rob Reiner’s 1987 classic The Princess Bride.. Yet regardless of the yardstick used, this attempt by director Matthew Vaughn still falls well short of the mark..

Tristan Thorne ( Charlie Cox ) is in love with the prettiest girl in all of Wall ( Sienna Miller ) - a village so named for its cobblestone wall that separates it from the supernatural universe beyond.. In an attempt to win his love’s heart, Tristan promises Victoria that he will bring her back a fallen star.. To make true his promise, Tristan will have to travel beyond the wall into a world of magic and legend where his fallen star is not a rock, but a young women ( Claire Danes )..

However, all is not as it seems - the star did not simply fall from the sky.. She was knocked by the King ( Peter O’Toole ), whose scheming sons now seek the star to secure the kingdom’s throne for themselves.. But even these powerful men will have to tread lightly if they are to avoid Lamia ( Michelle Pfeiffer ) - an evil witch desperate to use the star’s power to restore her sister’s youth and beauty..

For a movie riddled with enchantment’s excessive technical requirements, the movie’s special effects and make - up falls more into the category of low - budget pantomime than big - budget blockbuster.. Even the movie’s major redeeming element - comedy - relies too heavily on obtuse slapstick and dry English nonsense, and is not enough to carry the film..

A major disappointment is the failure of the ensemble cast to step beyond stereotypes as they grapple with the film’s derivative storyline.. Ricky Gervais is perhaps the only exception as a shady trader, as even Robert De Niro’s unpredictable role as cross - dressing pirate Shakespeare comes across as overly camp and far too homophobic for good taste..

This Wizard of Oz quest through The Lord of the Rings cinematic territory with a Chronicles of Narnia ending ultimately relegates its message of love into a cheesy display of naff comedy..

I give Stardust 1.5 out of 5..