Stardust

Weird weird weird... but in a good way. I had no idea what to expect going into this movie, and most of the way through it I still had no idea what to expect. It's a very modern fairytale that knew not to take itself too seriously, and isn't afraid to be just odd enough that a lot of the sheep-like summer blockbuster masses won't appreciate how much fun it is.

Most of the characters actually have a lot of, well, character, rather than just the same old flat stereotypes most movies like to beat you to death with every summer. The main guy and Claire Danes are a touch boring by themselves, but not too bad, and they're surrounded by so many fun and weird characters that you barely notice at all. Michelle Pfeiffer does an outstanding job of being the kind of villain that you love to hate. The wife and I both loved Robert De Niro the cross-dressing lightning-fisher. Michelle Pfeiffer stole the show, and Robert De Niro stole it from her. The minor characters are a lot of fun too... from the goat-guy, to the gate keeper, to the rowdy sailors, to the murderous princes, the minor characters add a lot of fun to this movie.

At first glance Stardust looks like another factory-direct-see-it-only-if-you're-bored-or-your-ladyfriend-wants-to-see-it movie, but it's quite a bit better than that. Think of it as The Princess Bride: The Next Generation, but not as quotable. I think it takes a certain kind of personality and sense of humor to fully appreciate, but if you're the kind of person who can appreciate a movie that strays from the formula, you'll probably like it.

high points: Captain Whoopsie, kung-fu grandpa, I haven't seen a haircut like that since Betty Boop's nemesis opened a salon, witchy woman, what man wouldn't want to become a goat if he got a pair of boobs out of it, tiny tiny tiny mouse.

low points: Stars like to shine (and cheat their way out of a clever ending to match the rest of a clever movie while they're at it).