Every time she uses magic you wonder what terrible, yet utterly fantastic thing she will do next. Robert DeNiro, who is the lightning catcher Captain Shakespeare, did not play Robert De Niro. My surprise and glee could barely be contained by the new non-De Niro-De Niro! He is downright silly!

More impressive than the star power are the no-names who I fell in love with. Charlie Cox, who plays Tristen, as a man is both charming and sweet. His bright eyes and rosey cheeks make me want to be Yvaine, gallivanting around the country-side in his company.

The sets, the costumes, the effects are all mesmerizing. A movie packed with visual splendor, Stardust could be watched by a deaf person and have a powerful visual experience. The cinematography by Ben Davis left me feeling like I was participating in a windswept fairy tale in a magical land. Ben Davis didn't do it alone though. Sammy Sheldon's costumes were as splendiferous as the cinematography. The rich textures and beautiful movements made the costumes rank as high as any movie I've ever seen. Beautiful art direction, outstanding makeup, and outstanding visual effects almost make the plot problems worth ignoring.

Until the end of the movie, I was mesmerized by the story. I didn't care if it was simplistic or unrealistic, it was a fairytale. It has great flow, whisking your attention and emotion from place to place at its will. Like so many movies though, the higher they rise, the greater the splat ending. I am so tired of movies or modern stories, like "Dune", and now Stardust that disregard women so completely that they are ridiculously relegated to utter invalue. What a disgusting waste of beautiful visuals, adorable plot and great acting to make such a stupid error in judgment as to believe women aren't worth the same as men.

If you want to see a movie just for the visuals, see Stardust.