Stardust by Neil Gaiman
I would say that 99% of the time when a movie is made based on a book there are too many hurdles to overcome. I decided to list the reason for that.
1. Each reader envisions the characters so differently, that most of the population is bound to be unhappy with the chosen actors.
2. Each reader has experienced the full story, a movie cannot show that due to time constraints, so there is upset at what has been missed.
3. Each reader fills in the blanks that are left around descriptions and those blanks cannot be accounted for in a movie, not matter how great.
But this book has proved to be one of the few exceptions –the movie version of Stardust it much much better. This book is like the rough outline used to create a script for a movie. Bare bones, needs smoothing, needs filling in, needs vibrancy. The movie takes these empty words and literally breathes life into them.
Not familiar with either? Tristan Thorn is madly in love with the much admired Victoria Forester. He promise’s to bring her a fallen star in order to marry her. Unfortunetly that star is on the other side of the wall to the east of his village, which is a the mysterious land of Faerie. Even worse, he is not the only one after the star. So are the heirs of Stormhold and the witch-queen and her sisters. Tristan makes a few friends, finds he has the ability to see a ‘true path’, walks by candlelight, and meets the cranky girl Yvaine. Together they travel, encountering unicorns, sky-ships, and adventure. Will Victoria keep her word, even if Tristan can find the star before everyone else?
For Tweens?
Yes, but they may get annoyed with Tristan, I did. A few racy scenes are actually pretty tame, unless you use your imagination.
Final Word:
Am I really going to say this?? Apparently I am.
Skip the book, watch the movie.
I am going to Librarian hell now, already the soles of my shoes are smoking.
Gaiman, N. (2009). Stardust. New York: HarperTeen.
