'Stardust' has spark

New blockbuster 'Stardust' is much, much more than just a fairytale.A fantasy epic with a modern twist, this film offers romance, drama, action, adventure, humour and magic in many different forms.The film boasts a host of Hollywood stars including Sir Ian McKellan, Peter O'Toole, Robert De Niro, Michelle Pfeiffer, Claire Danes, Rupert Everett, Sienna Miller, and introduces relative newcomer Charlie Cox in the lead role.The star-studded cast have made every effort to stretch the boundaries of their career with De Niro playing a cross-dressing pirate and Danes a fallen star, while Pfeiffer is shockingly transformed into a hideous old witch.The film is based on the illustrated novel by Neil Gaiman, who was reluctant to allow his creation to be adapted for the big screen for years. But he finally found a man he could trust in director Matthew Vaughn.Gaiman said: "I let Miramax have it at the end of the 90s and was very relieved when the option expired and I got it back. Then I spent five years saying no to various directors and lots of blonde women who thought it would be an ideal vehicle for their career and wanted to play the star. And I kept saying no."But I knew that Matthew loved 'Stardust'. Claudia had read it first, fell in love with him and made him read it. And he'd talked to me about seeing it as a film and how much he loved it. Then he phoned me up one day and said, 'I've just walked of 'X-Men 3' and I want to make 'Stardust' a film, will you help me?' Of course I said yes. I trusted him."

Vaughn and Jane Goldman, the wife of British TV presenter Jonathan Ross, co-wrote the script for the film, and acted parts out for Neil during the planning stages so he could give his approval. But he sat back and let them write it themselves.

He said: "It was very apparent that Matthew had a vision for how he wanted to make the film and I felt very comfortable with that. He said I could co-write the script it if I wanted and I elected not to. But I found him his co-writer.

"I knew the areas he felt uncomfortable with tended to be the more romantic parts of the script and I thought it would be good for him to work with a woman on this.

"It needed to be a woman who was romantic but also liked fantasy and had the wit to work with the humorous parts of the script. And I found Jane Goldman, who loved the book, and I introduced her to Matthew and they hit it off and it went from there."

The fairytale adventure story - which has been compared to classics such as 'Labyrinth' and 'The Princess Bride' - seems to be one that everyone just falls in love with the minute they read it.

Vaughn said: "I loved it. I loved the book, I loved the story and I wanted to do something I could share with my family, my kids and my wife. And I wanted to do something different."

And his wife, supermodel Claudia Schiffer, agrees. She said: "The film is wonderful. I think it is a good sign that I have already seen it so many times and I am not tired of it."

Cinema goers are bound to be enchanted with the film too.

'Stardust' tells the story of a star that falls to earth, landing in the magical kingdom of Stormhold, next door to the village of Wall - so called because of the stone wall which prevents village folk entering the fantasy realm.

Many characters see the star fall to earth, and believe the stardust holds the key to all they desire.

Hero Tristan, played by Charlie Cox, hopes catching the star will win him the heart of his beloved Victoria, played by Sienna Miller.

Ruthless Prince Septimus believes capturing the star is the only way to beat his brothers to inheriting the throne from his father the King of Stormhold, played by Peter O'Toole.

Meanwhile, hideous, gnarled wicked witch Lamia, played by Michelle Pfeiffer, is convinced the star will give her eternal youth and beauty.

For the movie, Pfeiffer had to wear prosthetic make-up which covered her face, head and neck to make her look old and ugly.

The 49-year-old star confessed she burst into tears the first time she looked in the mirror and saw how would look as an old hag. On top of that, being encased in plastic made her claustrophobic as well.

But Pfeiffer was keen to take on the role, which mocks Hollywood's own obsession with youth and beauty.

Pfeiffer added: "Matthew wanted to shine a light on that and poke fun. To play with our obsession with youth and the ludicrous degrees to which women will go to reclaim their looks."

The film is a stunning magical adventure full of action, humour and drama, but also carries a lot of metaphors for the morals of Tinseltown.

Everybody wants a piece of the star, and all hope to gain different things from her, just like the modern cult of celebrity demands of today's stars.

Lamia's desire for eternal youth is a reflection of the increasing use of plastic surgery among Hollywood stars.

Vaughn said: "The character was inspired by all those women in Los Angeles who were once beautiful, and now look like freaks. The fact is, the ageing process is scarier than claws and fangs."

Pfeiffer added: "Lamia's desperate quest for youth is a metaphor for the grotesque mutilation taking place in society."

As well as the horrors of seeing herself aged and withered, Pfeiffer also had to endure the brutal Scottish weather.

During one scene she had to be chained to a mountain - for fear she might blow off during filming - while she was pelted with hail.

Vaughn said: "The weather was terrible and the producers were saying we had to keep filming and they didn't realise that poor Michelle was really suffering, but she didn't complain once - which I was astounded by. I was very impressed. She's a real trooper."

There are so many big names and impressive performances in this film, that no one person could be named the star. But 24-year-old Cox is certainly the hero.

The up-and-coming British actor - whose few previous roles include playing Sienna Miller's brother in 2005's 'Casanova' - impresses in his role of brave and romantic Tristan. He sets out to win the heart of Victoria and ends up finding true love.

Cox says of the film: "The love story is key. If it works, then the comedy and adventure surrounding it will really take off. They go hand in hand."

The young star admits it was daunting working alongside so many Hollywood giants.

He said: "I was very excited to work with Michelle and Mr. De Niro. He asks you to call him Bob, but I don't feel entirely comfortable with that!

"Sword fighting with them an amazing experience, and not something everyone gets to do, but you can't enter into that without worrying that you might injure one of the greatest actors of all time. So I was nervous, but excited at the same time."

As well as being romantic and fantastical, the film's depth has helped capture many hearts.

The humour is sharp and witty and brilliantly carried in the extensive comic cast.

'Extras' star Ricky Gervais heads the string of British comedians in the film, playing stinking cretin Ferdy the Fence.

Gervais said: "I loved this role I got to improvise, wear a silly hat, and not wash. It was brilliant."

But there is far more to the film's humour than silly hats. The wit offers metaphors for the bizarre Hollywood world which Vaughn wanted to focus on and transforms it into something far superior to a simple swashbuckling entertainment for kids.

This magical adventure has everything, and it will surely stand the test of time just as previous films in this unique genre, such as 'Labyrinth', have.

Just as everyone in the story wants something different from the star, so every viewer will take home something different from this film. No one watching 'Stardust' could fail to be entertained, wowed and enchanted.

By Albertina Lloyd