DVD Reviews: February 24

Feb 24 2008

STARDUST (PG) ***

An A-list cast headed by Robert De Niro, Michelle Pfeiffer and Clare Danes star in this fantastical tale of a fallen star filmed partly on the isle of Skye.

Lock Stock And Two Smoking Barrels director Matthew Vaughn is at the helm, taking a rare step away from the gangland world in this children's fairytale.

Charlie Cox is Tristan, desperately in love with the aloof Victoria (Sienna Miller) and willing to do anything to impress her.

She tells him she will marry him if he can retrieve a fallen star from the neighbouring magic kingdom, Stormhold, so he sets off on a quest to track it down for her.

Tristan soon discovers the star is actually a beautiful girl (Clare Danes) who is being pursued by evil witches.Pfeiffer has an incredible makeover to age her as one of the hags.

This will enthrall younger audiences while De Niro's turn as a sky pirate is the standout for older viewers.

EASTERN PROMISES (18) ****

David Cronenberg is on dazzling form with this terrifying depiction of Russian mafia life in London.

When a baby is born to a young drug addict, Naomi Watts' midwife finds herself dragged into the criminal underworld.

Rising mobster Viggo Mortensen is the key figure, displaying icy cool calm and a horrifying capacity for casual violence.

This is edge-of-the-seat stuff which opens up a new,scarier world of mobster movies.

LIFE IN COLD BLOOD (E) *****

Snakes and lizards don't have the appeal of polar bear cubs or monkeys, which makes what David Attenborough has achieved in his latest Life series so impressive.

He takes us into the world of the reptile, tracing the fascinating history of these species through their long evolution and shattering the perception they are simply killers. Stunning.

THE INVASION (15) ***

Another remake of the classic Body Snatchers tale but this time aliens infect people while they sleep.

Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig star but there is a disjointed feel which reflects the film's troubled production.It's not a bad movie but it adds little to previous versions.

Not for the squeamish.

Mickey McMonagle