Wednesday, January 26, 2011
book/movie review - Stardust
I read Stardust by Neil Gaiman earlier this week in my on going attempt to read all things Gaiman. It's a short, to the point fairy tale. It's an interesting story that I'm sure could have been expanded and made into a longer novel or even a series of novels, but that wasn't the point of Stardust. Gaiman, I believe, set out to right a fairy tale and that's just what he did, complete with unicorns and witches and fairies and marauding princes. There was an interesting speech that Gaiman had given included at the end of this edition about Neil's view on the power of fairy tales and on how fairy tales had originally been intended for adult audiences but when they lost their popularity they were moved to the 'nursery'. This book is set up like a kids chapter book, 10 chapters and an epilogue, with each chapter telling an important part of the story and moving the plot along at an very fast past. It's a 'kids' book for adults. I did enjoy this story but I felt that perhaps it was Gaiman's expert fantasy weaving that saved it from being a contrite, predictable story. So good, quick read but not an American Gods or Anansi Boys. On an related note I watched the movie, I feel I should say inspired by instead of based on, this book this week also. I know when a film maker takes a story they use it to tell a story of their own and perhaps had I waited a while between reading and watching I wouldn't have compared so much but there were some things I just couldn't figure out why they felt needed changing. The movie was okay, had I not just read the book I might hold it in higher opinion but I can't help but think it would have been better without the big name stars hogging up the screen time. The story should be about the story not about how often you can show Robert DeNiro or Michelle Pfeiffer. I can't quite make up my mind though which ending I like better, the movies happily ever after or the books more realistic (within the realm of fantasy that is to say) one.
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Ok, so you already know how much I love Gaiman. So, there is really no question about how much I loved the Stardust novel, but I actually had the opposite experience that you had. Let me tell you a little story...
ReplyDeleteI saw the movie of Stardust in the theaters, mainly because it was the only thing that looked interesting, and in all honesty I kind of expected it to be cheesy and ridiculous. By the time the movie was over, however, I was absolutely in love with it and to this day it is probably my favorite movie. It was only later that I learned that it was based on Neil Gaiman book, and much later that I finally read the book. I consider the book to be an entirely different entity from the movie, both are good but they are both very different.
Movies and books are very different things, even if they are based on the same story. They require different things, because they reach different audiences. They are very different mediums for storytelling, and so the story must be different. Basically, whenever you compare movies to books, you will always be disappointed.
Personally, I like the story in the movie better than I liked the book, but that is because I came to the movie with no expectations.
And I thought Robert DeNiro and Michelle Pfeiffer were brilliant in the movie. They are both amazing actors, and really brought a lot to their roles.
You can tell me a story anytime mountaincat. I saw, and loved, Coraline the movie before I every read the book,and even then I didn't really know who Gaiman was at the time (it wasn't until I read American Gods that I really 'found' Gaiman), and even though the book and movie differ a good bit I still really liked both. I think perhaps if I had seen the movie Stardust before reading the book I would have liked it more or even if I had waited a few weeks instead of watching it the same day I finished reading the book would have made a difference. I can't wait to read more of your stuff, keep writing.
ReplyDeleteI really liked the movie. It retained the "Gaiman-ish" touches and the stars were just CHEWING the scenery! De Niro dancing around with a frilly dress, Pfeiffer and the goat . . . oh, STARDUST, how I love thee. And a nice lesson in there about love being a behind the scenes sort of thing in this crazy, whirling world.
ReplyDeleteAlright I'm convinced. I'll wait a few weeks, a month or so perhaps, and give it another watch.
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