Doesn't anybody see her at all?

[sovay]

I need that I ATEN'T DEAD card again. In the last few days, I have seen Blow-Up, Persona, and Stardust (2007), and I can state unequivocally that Stardust was the least weird of these three. Blow-Up reminded me strongly of early Angela Carter: I'd have cast David Hemmings as Honeybuzzard. Conversely, Persona was like something Hitchcock and Brecht might have collaborated on, except that the concern with self and silence and response is all Bergman's own. ("Faith is a torment. It is like loving someone who is out there in the darkness but never appears, no matter how loudly you call." —The Seventh Seal.) And after a slightly rocky start, Stardust was extremely fun: I may write up some of my character reactions when I'm a little less fried, but for the record I am fully in the camp of De Niro's Captain Shakespeare as awesome.

Tomorrow, oysters in Milford.

Comments

[sovay]

And I liked those scenes, though I'm still not sure they were in the right movie.

Hm. I had almost the opposite reaction—once we hit those scenes, I felt as though the movie figured out what it was actually going to do, where the preceding set-pieces had been sometimes very beautiful and sometimes a little awkward; the tone coalesced. But I was not a passionate lover of the book; the small or substantial changes made to the story mostly did not bother me.

There's nothing in the movie as beautiful as any one of Charles Vess's illustrations.

Okay, I might agree with that. His illustrations for Stardust are breathtaking.

[cucumberseed.livejournal.com]

I also did not love that book. Actually, I don't think I can really say I've loved anything of Gaiman's that I've read other than a couple of the short stories (and definitely Nicholas Was [ho. ho. ho.]), but I liked it, and I've liked his other work, but I don't think, when I do see it, I am going to feel like they wrecked the book.

Charles Vess on the other hand. That's love.

[sovay]

Actually, I don't think I can really say I've loved anything of Gaiman's that I've read other than a couple of the short stories (and definitely Nicholas Was [ho. ho. ho.])

I love The Sandman. I have arguments with some of his interpretations of mythological figures, but that cycle of graphic novels is truly amazing. I have felt similarly about none of his prose work. Some of the short stories stick with me—for some reason, "Keepsakes and Treasures: A Love Story" is the one that comes most readily to mind—but otherwise, while I do not dislike his writing, his style sort of leaves me flat. But this could always change.

[setsuled.livejournal.com]

once we hit those scenes, I felt as though the movie figured out what it was actually going to do

I certainly felt like it was where the director's hand was surest.

where the preceding set-pieces had been sometimes very beautiful and sometimes a little awkward

I definitely agree with that. And although I don't think Stardust is one of Gaiman's better works, I have a tendency to prefer slower, more long winded tones. I also missed the Tori Amos tree, the "fuck", and the book's ending. At least, I think I miss the book's ending--I wish I could find my copy, but I seem to remember the book having a sort of anti-"happily ever after" that I rather liked. But I could be remembering that wrong . . .

And, feel free to call me a pig, but I really think Michelle Pfeiffer was too old for the role. They needed someone very young, someone they could therefore age more flexibly.

Okay, I might agree with that. His illustrations for Stardust are breathtaking.

I think they were my favourite part of the book.

[sovay]

the "fuck",

Yes. There's something about the very quiet all-lowercase profanity that simultaneously makes and takes the mythic drama out of the starfall. I was rather disappointed that was left out.

and the book's ending. At least, I think I miss the book's ending--I wish I could find my copy, but I seem to remember the book having a sort of anti-"happily ever after" that I rather liked.

You remember correctly: it has the bittersweet ending of immortality; the slow dance of the infinite stars. I did not dislike the film's ending, because of the way it was grounded in the exchange of hearts, but it did surprise me a little.

They needed someone very young, someone they could therefore age more flexibly.

Eh. I thought she was also awesome. And I realize I may never have seen her in a role where she wasn't enchanted: all I can remember her from is Ladyhawke.