“A philosopher once asked, "Are we human because we gaze at the stars, or do we gaze at them because we are human?" Pointless, really...”Do the stars gaze back?" Now that's a question.”

And with those opening lines we are immediately enchanted by the world of “Stardust”. And enchanting is exactly what we all would wish that a fantasy movie would do for us every time we go to see one.

Now, I already had high hopes for this movie because there were names in it like: Michelle Pfeiffer, Robert DeNiro, Peter O’Toole, and Ian McKellan. But what I didn't realize was how little these people had to do with this movie. Don’t get me wrong, the parts they played were very important, and the story-line would have limped horribly without them (especially DeNiro – who somehow managed to pull off quite convincingly the part of a cross-dressing pirate that was just as happy trying on lipstick as he was slitting the throats of his enemies – truly bizarre)

But the stars of this movie are the unassuming youngsters that make up the love triangle (square?) that runs the entire plot. I realize you are probably thinking “this has been done before, and before, and before.” Except I doubt that in most of the love stories you've watched before has the young woman being wooed actually been a star fallen from the sky. And to make her plight worse – not only is there a young man trying to catch her to take her back to the first young lady he is in love with, but there are also 3 witches who wish to cut out her heart and eat it. Because, apparently eating star’s hearts keeps one young and beautiful. (I see a big run on Hollywood surgical centers – and me in jail for suggesting this.)

But if this all weren't bad enough – the King of this magical kingdom has just died, and left no heir-but 3 squabbling brothers (there were 7, but four of them have already been killed off by their siblings.) This is a blood thirsty bunch we have here.

So across one side of the kingdom race 3 brothers for the King’s necklace, and across the other side races a witch and a very nice boy for a fallen star.

Need I say that all these racing entities run into each other? Oh, yeah – there was that cross-dressing pirate, too.

I refuse to divulge anymore of the movie. I will however say it is one of the most refreshing films I have seen in many years. My entire family watched it – me, my husband, my 21 year old son, my 15 year old daughter, and my 10 year old son – and we all loved it.

It is rated PG-13 for a little bit of fighting violence, mostly swordplay and a little risque humor which will go mostly over the kids’ heads.

Definitely add this one into your family DVD cabinet!

I purchased this DVD with my own funds.