Stardust (2007)

The prize you set out to win may matter far less than the one you find along the way. Matthew Vaughn's "Stardust" settles over you like a twinkling cloak. Capturing the magic and imagination of Neil Gaiman's fantasy novel, originally published as an illustrated tale, it's a transporting journey into a world of genuine enchantment that "Harry Potter" fans will enjoy as much as adults looking for the perfect date movie. Set in 19th-century England and in Stormhold, a magical kingdom hidden beyond a wall at the edge of a sleepy English village, it's a not-so-simple love story and adventure filled with witches, spells and a fallen star who turns out to be human - and holds the key to eternal youth. Young Tristan (Charlie Cox, wide-eyed and energetic) vows to bring back a falling star for the prettiest girl in the village, the shallow Victoria (Sienna Miller). On his quest, he finds true love instead, in a delightful meet-cute moment when a magic candle sends him crashing right into the star's human form, Yvaine (Claire Danes). Much of the film follows their journey home, though home for Tristan is his village and home for Yvaine is, of course, the heavens. Along the way, they face villains, most memorably Michelle Pfeiffer as a vain, ruthless witch hungry for the youth a fallen star can provide, and the scheming sons of the dying king of Stormhold (Peter O'Toole), whose backstabbing is hilarious, even after death, when the murdered brothers linger as a ghostly Greek chorus. Mark Strong is especially good as the most ruthless of them. While the romance between Tristan and Yvaine is touching, the film truly shines as a clever fantasy yarn and a comedy with more than its share of big laughs. Much of the humor belongs to Robert De Niro as Captain Shakespeare, a fearsome sky pirate who secretly delights in dresses and dancing. Ricky Gervais has a small but memorable role that's basically his character from "Extras." Ian McKellen narrates, and the effects are everything a Gaiman fan could hope for. Catch a bit of this stardust, and you'll feel enchanted for a long while.