Stardust…
You can read my review on the book here. The movie is like the book, a very enjoyable ride, but with its faults. Parts of the book plot were change, most of them for the better.
Without trying to spoil too much, the ending was made “happier” which I liked, however the book emphasized Tristan's adventuring nature and reluctance to accept his new role in the ending. All of that was removed, which is a shame since I enjoyed those specific moments. There are a couple of other moments from the book that I wish they could have included in the film, but it can’t all be included I guess.
However the movie does improve on many things. The overall pace of the story is vastly improved, slimming down the story and adding in more moments of action and adventure makes for a much more exciting time. Tristan, in the book, winds up avoiding most of the confrontation that occurs towards the end of the story; here he is front and center for all of it. When I was reading it I found it to be kind of interesting and surprising since you would expect the hero to be involved in all of the major conflicts, but seeing how those parts were changed in the movie, I have to say that I enjoyed the more typical approach better.
Stardust doesn’t take itself too seriously and maintains a fun excitable tone for a full two hours. With touches of romance, action, adventure, and comedy scattered throughout the entire film, Stardust has something for everyone.
***1/2