"Stardust" & "Superbad"

My roommate and I went to see “Stardust” yesterday. I have been looking forward to this movie, since it was written by Neil Gaiman (he of “Sandman” and “Good Omens” fame), and it’s been a looong time since there has been a quality fantasy film of the general “rescue-princess-cute-prince” variety. I was thoroughly delighted with the movie, even with all its departures from accepted fairytale culture, like the famed scenes of Robert diNiro (I know that’s not how you spell his name, what is wrong with me?!) being a fierce pirate who hides a penchant for ladies’ clothings. Favourite line: “Now sit down, and tell me about my dear England!” This springing from Captain Shakespeare’s love of England, as he was a boy growing up in the magical world of Stormhold—much the same way young English boys dream about faery-worlds. Love it.

Also loved Rupert Everett’s entrance at the beginning of the film—swaggering in wearing a red coat, much in the manner of Aragorn in “Two Towers” (ladies: you know what scene I mean), causing me to fling myself back into my seat and exclaim “Rupert Everett! You’ve got to warn me before you come through a door like that! D—n!”

Then, deciding that $9.50 was far too much to pay for one movie, but an acceptable price for two, we snuck into “Superbad.” Which was okay. Funny—and at times painfully, PAINFULLY reminiscent of how awkward high school was—but I took umbrage at a few scenes and a few assumptions made by the screenwriters. I also thought more conclusions could have been drawn about a night of drinking and brawling gone bad. I.e., drinking, brawling=bad, unless you’re a pirate. Arr.

Highly recommend “Stardust.” Less enthusiastic about “Superbad,” but you’ll probably see it anyway, if only to know what the hell everyone is talking about.