One of the surprise of 2007/2008. I was expecting a YaYa and Da fantasy in the long line of "Harry Potter" tradition. Instead, we have dark, funny, believeable and romatic fantasy. The director is Mattrew Vaughn who directed Layer Cake. One thing about his directing film is the "cut", how one scene jump to another scene. While other director is good, he is the best of the best by light year. The part where the star fall, he chained four different set pieces together is his best work. It flows like magic, easy on the eyes and our mind. If you watch Transformer, then watch this movies, you will notice the difference.



One thing about this movie stands out is the casting. A gay pirate play by De Niro; A evil sexy old witch play Michelle Pfeiffer, Goatman, the Princes of Stromhold which are funnier to watch when they are dead. Where did Neil Gaiman come up with these characters? On top of that, Mattrew Vaughn, just nailed these characters. Claire Danes and Charlie Cox is coolest couple because they fight and be cool with it. Start with "Are u my Mother?", they just hit it off.  I perosnally dislike the character Tristan Thorne from the start to the finish. He is flaw but that is the beauty of it. You don't have to be perfect like Tom cruise to get the "Star" Yvaine to fall in love with you. When Yvaine shine, the indicator of  her love level, Clarie Dane nailed these scenes while Charlie Cox looks like a dork. I love it. I wish girlfriends come with these light bolts, men's life would be much easier.

I really looking forward to Mattrew Vaughn next film - Thor, from Layer Cake, a hardcore gangster movie to a happying ending CGI movie like StarDust, he proved he can direct action, drama movie as well as romantic fantasy. That just put him in the same league as Steve Spielberg. No, Steve Spielberg can't do romance.

Rating: 8 out of 10