Stardust question

Never, EVER, watch the movie before you read the book. EVER. Especially Neil Gaiman.

I've read both the graphic novel (actually, the four issue miniseries, then the graphic novel), heard the audiobook and saw the movie. They're all different and they're all valid. See the movie and know that there's stuff that's been changed for that medium. Read the graphic novel and the prose novel (or listen to the audiobook) and realize that these two are different for the same reason.

The movie is much more lighthearted that the books but the actual story is there and works. There are elements that I prefer in the books and there are elements that I like in the movie. Do both and get a much fuller experience.

I actually liked the movie a lot more than I liked the book. I didn't like the characters in the book, and Tristan didn't seem believable to me. I liked the story of the movie more, I liked the villains more, I liked the end more. I don't know, this book wasn't really all that great for me.

I read the book/graphic novel first, then watched the movie. While there were some differences, the movie did mostly keep true to the spirit of the story even if its a bit more light-hearted. Both can be enjoyed on their own merits.

I read the book first and saw the movie years later. Then I read the book again. I think the book is more poetic and more intricate. I still loved the film, it was funny and entertaining, but I think it's missing the slightly sinister streak and the hazy, dreamlike quality of the book (I think of misty forests and sunlight glinting off hidden things when I think about the book. The film is much more boisterous). Anyway, I agree that it's best to read the book first (always), so you don't miss anything because of the pre-set pictures in your head.

You should almost always read the book first. In this case, you should read the book and not bother with the movie.

Read the book! There's so much more in it, and some of the material gets swamped in the film by the gay Captain and that stuff ... Once you've read the book, you have an easy way into the film.

I actually didn't even know there *was* a movie. But movie versions of books usually pale in comparison.

It's a hard question to answer considering the writers of the movie took a lot of (great) liberties with the movie. Which in turn changed the tone from an adult fairy tale to a light hearted movie for the whole family. So to answer your question, I don't think it really matters, at least with Stardust. I enjoyed both of them equally for very different reasons.

Wow... There is a movie? :D But yeah, read the book first. It´s almost always the best opinion.

This is one of the very few exceptions where I prefer the movie over the book.

I saw the movie first and then went and found the book. Honestly it is one of the few books I've ever read that I liked the movie better. The movie has more action, it movies faster and has suspense...the book just kind of...ended. So I don't really think it matters which one you do first with this particular book, though normally I'm an advocate of always reading the book first. Just read the book AND watch the movie.

I've got to disagree with the crowd here. My rule is watch the movie first, then read the book.

What I usually find is if I watch the movie first, then dive into the book, I find myself doubly enjoying all the new and added material. But if I read the book first, then I find the movie a lacking experience, and criticizing how they did things, and things that were left out.

Obviously, don't wait for a movie that hasn't been announced if you're interested in a book. But if you're hearing about a book because of a movie, and you're interested, hold out. You'll come out happier rather than feeling angry and frustrated like the average internet poster who just posted 'First' in the second comment.

I read the book first. Both the film and book are enjoyable, but they remarkably different from each other. I would read the book first and keep an open mind for the movie.

I saw the movie first and I loved it. I wouldn't know about the book if not for it, but I think you should read the book first. it's very different and most of the time, I was trying to separate what I knew from the move and what I was reading on the page. I still really enjoyed both because they were different enough that they could be different stories.

I can count on one hand the instances where the movie is better than the book. If you want to enjoy the movie for what it is, see it first, but if you want to take in the fullness of Neil Gaiman's story, read the book first and try not to be too critical when you see the movie.

The book is well worth reading. The ship's captain in the film is different from the book, but the main sweep of the story is the same - boy goes to find falling star and bring her back. For the rest of the changes - read the book and be pleasantly surprised!

I saw the movie first, i never even would have heard of the book if not for the movie, i loved the movie. I never have read a book after seeing the movie first tho. Is the book good as well? What main changes are there?

I am amazed by the comments that the film lacks the sinister streams of the book. Quite the contrary, the film is much more violent and grim even though juxtaposed with wit and lighthearted humor. I saw the film first, quite ignorant of the existence of the book, and found that it helped in visualizing the countenance of the fallen star. I was relieved with a much more satisfactory (and less violent) ending in the book.

The book isn't exactly rated PG if that helps any.

Info: for those in the UK, the movie is being shown tomorrow (Christmas Day) at 12.45pm on the Film4 channel.

Watch the movie and forget about the book.

The book is considerably CONSIDERABLY better than the film. I mean, so much better. Really. Honest. Promise.

i saw the movie before i knew the book exsited. i usually read the book first. i enjoyed them both.

I'm not going to lie, I think the movie is waaay better than the book! Mainly because the book was sooo anticlimatic! When you read it, you'll know what I mean. Trust me, the movie is so much better but if you haven't watched it yet, read the book first just so that you get the full effect of how much better it is!

I absolutely loved both, but in complete and separate ways. I see them as different beings both with their own amazing stories. I don't think it really matters what you do first, as long as you know that they're different. Don't let one influence the other, just let them be their own stories.

I saw the movie first then read the book and for once i liked the movie better. Usually you read the book and pick apart the movie, but not so in this case. I would read the book first and enjoy it for what it is, then watch the movie and enjoy the characters brought to life.

I guess I have to be the one to disagree with the majority of the people who have commented. Let me first preface it by saying I am a HUGE fan of Neil Gaiman. I read the book long before the movie came out, and I was really anticipating the film.
The book is very tightly plotted, with many twists and turns, and never gives up too much of what will follow.

As for the ending, I may be able to understand that people like a typical Hollywood happy ending. However, I am thankful that Gaiman ends the book in a way which is much more satisfying than the expected and accepted. Gaiman is a master storyteller, and I don't believe Hollywood will ever be able to capture the pure nuances of storytelling that Gaiman embraces.

Whichever you decided to do first, just make sure you do NOT skip the book. It is an adult fairy tale, and is a minor modern classic.

I read the book and loved it. I saw the movie and loved it. Yes they took stuff out, but it was more for the sake of brevity than a hatchet job on the book. Book first or movie it doesn't matter. If you enjoy one you will probably enjoy the other. The books is on the list of ones that I get a bit jealous of someone getting to read it for the first time. ENJOY.

The book is amazing. Beautiful. Magical in so many ways. The movie is....nice. Don't get me wrong, I love movies! But this tale was meant to be read.

B8th the movie and the book are brilliant. The movie is more light-hearted, but it is intended for a younger audiance. Neil Gaiman has a fantastic way of writing that is almost ageless

I have not seen the movie. I read the illustrated book and listened to the audible book. I skip movies of books that I love - they just make me crazy.

Read the book first. The movies is a bit more fun and comedic aimed at a more general audience. The movie is fun, but the book is so much better.

Listen to the book. Neil Gaiman is an exceptional audio narrator. And the casting director of your imagination will always win out over a film.

Either way round both are great!

I read the book first, and I liked the movie. Although, having read the book first I did notice how the two differed. I preferred the ending of the book to that of the film, but the ending was still good in the film.

I saw the movie then read the book. I actually enjoyed the movie more

I've read the book before I ever saw the movie.

The book and movie are completely different, I watched the movie first then read the book, and although the book was good, I liked the movie a lot better.

I saw the movie before I read the book, and I enjoyed both. The endings are different, and there are some changes dealing with The Lilim and Victoria. I felt the book had more of a feminist message than the movie, but I still enjoyed both of them.

The movie had excellent casting (except for Claire Danes) and the costumes were stunning.

I think that, more often than not, it's a good idea to read the book before seeing the movie. In the case of Stardust, I read the book well before the movie and, although I enjoyed them both, I definitely liked the book more.
Don't get me wrong though, the movie is really good too. Matthew Vaughn is a fantastic director.

Both are very good! I always like to read the books first, so I can use my imagination to create my own ideas of how everyone and everything looks.

I saw the movie first then read the book sometime later. Enjoyed both.

I prefer to read the book first and then watch the movie. In this case i saw the movie first and then read the book. I enjoyed both but think i would have enjoyed the book more if i didn't keep picturing the movie whilst reading it.

Another vote for book first, then movie. After all, the book has to be good/popular/whatever for their to be a movie in the first place ...

I'm new to this site and may be a little late but here's my two cents: I think you should read the book. Watch the movie. Read the book. Watch the movie....
Honestly the book has so many more elements in it than the movie could attempt; there is something about the movie that, although based on the book and characters, they're completely stand-alone forms of entertainment. Honestly!
I own the book and the dvd. You can take what you want from that.

Usually I would say read the book before seeing the movie but in this case, they're so different that it really doesn't matter which you do first. Watching the movie first isn't going to ruin anything in the book for you and vice versa. I ended up seeing the movie before reading the book and I can say that this is one of the rare cases where I actually prefer the movie to the book.

I listened to the audio book first. It was wonderfully narrated by Neil Gaiman. I strongly recommend reading or listening to the book before seeing the movie. The movie is fantastic but it doesn't capture the magical nuances of the book.

you'd appreciate it more if you've read the book but the movie can stand for itself. so in this case, it won't matter they're both very entertaining.

Always read the book first, it will be easy to accept both version and love them as individual pieces of art. I read the book first, watched the movie, then flipped through the graphic novel. Each version is different because Gaiman rocks like that so there really is no competition it is a matter of which one you like the most.