January 12, 2006
STARDUST
Screenplay by Matthew Vaughn and Jane Goldman, based on novel by Neil Gaiman
Synopsis by Brian Aldrich
In Victorian England, DUNSTAN THORNE, 18, lives in the village of Wall where a long wall separates the village from STORMHOLD, a fantasy otherworld. Dunstan sneaks by the OLD GUARD and wanders around Stormhold where he meets a witch, DITCHWATER SAL, and her sexy slave girl UNA. He fails to release her from her chains, but they have sex. Back in Wall nine months later, Dunstan receives a baby boy, his son by Una. Twenty years later, the boy, named TRISTAN, is hopelessly in love with VICTORIA, the village beauty, but she prefers rich and handsome HUMPHREY. Meanwhile, in the kingdom of Stormhold, the old KING is dying and his surviving male children fight over who will become the new king. The King sends his sapphire ring flying into the sky, saying that the one who finds it will become the new King. The ring hits a star, knocking the star out of the sky. The star falls to earth, becoming a beautiful young woman named YVAINE. She picks up the sapphire and fastens it to her belt. Meanwhile, Tristan and Victoria have seen the falling star. Victoria agrees to marry Tristan if he can bring her the star. Meanwhile, three aging witches, LAMIA, EMPUSA, and MORMO, have also seen and covet the falling star for by killing it, it can return them to youth and beauty.
Dunstan tells Tristan about his mother, giving him her note, a magic candle, a piece of her chain, and a glass flower. He uses the candle to enter Stormhold and drops next to Yvaine. He explains his mission and uses the chain to hold her his captive, promising to use the rest of the candle to return her to the skies after he has given her to Victoria. They set out towards Wall on a Unicorn. Meanwhile, the Princes have killed each other off and only two remain: PRIMUS and SEPTIMUS. Separately, they head for Yvaine and the sapphire.
At the same time, Lamia uses her magic to create a roadside inn. She transforms BERNARD, a village boy, into a goat and then into a girl to be her inn worker. Tristan and Yvaine are separated. Tristan gets a ride from Primus. Lamia welcomes Yvaine into the inn and is about to kill her when Primus and Tristan arrive. While Lamia kills Primus, Tristan and Yvaine escape by using the candle and they are transported to a cloud where they are captured by sky Pirates.
CAPTAIN SHAKESPEARE hides his gayness to his crew and spares the couples’ lives so they can tell him all the new gossip from England. As well, the Captain teaches Tristan how to fence, helping him become a man and dresses Yvaine in some of his lovely gowns helping her to become a woman. The Captain drops them off at a lake, secretly advising Tristan to marry Yvaine. They head for Wall. Septimus and his knights attack the pirates and try to force the Captain to tell him where Tristan and Yvaine have gone, but the Captain and his men defeat them and Septimus flees. Tristan and Yvaine come upon Ditchwater Sal and Una (who has been transformed into a bird), asking for a ride. Due to Lamia’s spell, Sal can’t see Yvaine and transforms Tristan into a mouse for the duration of the ride. During the night, Yvaine tells the mouse/Tristan that she is in love with him. Sal drops them off at an inn where they plan to spend the night before entering Wall. Tristan and Yvaine express their love and have sex. In the morning, Tristan runs off to tell Victoria he doesn’t love her, planning to return for Yvaine. When Yvaine wakes she starts for Wall, but Una (with Sal in tow) reaches her in time to stop her from entering Wall and turning to stone. While Tristan bothers with Victoria and Humphrey, Lamia kills Sal and captures Yvaine and Una. Septimus follows them back to the witches’ lair. The old guard informs Tristan and he follows in pursuit. As the witches prepare to kill Yvaine, Tristan and Septimus join forces to save her. They battle the witches. Una reveals herself as Tristan’s mother and Septimus’ long-lost sister. Septimus kills Empusa and Mormo, but Lamia slays him. Before Lamia can kill them, Yvaine uses her star power to kill her. Having both royal and human blood, Tristan becomes the new king and marries Yvaine. They have a long life with many children. When they die, they live forever in the skies.
Summary Criticism: The story is compelling and the characters colorful. The plotting appears a bit convoluted, but normal for the genre. Lot’s of special effects here.
Stardust (2007) - imdb
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