Movie Review – Princess Bride, The
– Summary –
Director : Rob Reiner
Year Of Release : 1987
Principal Cast : Cary Elwes, Robin Wright, Chris Sarandon, Christopher Guest, Mandy Patinkin, Andre The Giant, Wallace Shawn, Billy Crystal, Carol Kane, Peter Cook, Mel Smith, Margery Mason, Fred Savage, Peter Falk, Betsy Brantley.
Approx Running Time : 98 Minutes
Synopsis: A man reads his sick grandson a story; about a princess and a handsome prince who are destined to be together.
What we think : Timeless romantic story remains as cute, quotable and memorable as always; a staggering cast and deft direction by Rob Reiner ensure this one is one for the ages.
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What can I say – whatever i say people will have different opinions. As a film that I watched along with my Best Mate Katie, EVERY weekend for a very long time, I will always be a little teeny tiny bit biased. I earned such a predictable reputation that on one young birthday – lets say 9ish, I was given a very carefully home-recorded VHS copy with a specially made cover insert drawn especially for me by none other than…. Katie’s Mum. It had the Princess, Westley on one knee and a smiling sun on the front.
Regardless of my personal history, this film is a stayer! A bit like Willow – for those who saw it whilst still young enough to fall in hopeless little-girl love with Mad Mardigan.
The Princess Bride had everything for everyone. ‘Nuff said.
Dwarves, Giants, Swordsmen, Twue Love, Mawwiage, a villian.
For those poor unfortunates that didn’t watch this film in their youth, I still believe it to carry humor for all ages. One memorable quote:
Aboard Vizzini’s boat.]
Inigo: That Vizzini, he can fuss.Fezzik: Fuss… Fuss… I think he likes to scream at us.Inigo Montoya: Probably he means no harm.Fezzik: He’s really very short on charm.Inigo Montoya: You have a great gift for rhyme.Fezzik: Yes, yes, some of the time.Vizzini: Enough of that.Inigo Montoya: Fezzik, are there rocks ahead?Fezzik: If there are, we’ll all be dead.Vizzini: No more rhymes now, I mean it!Fezzik: Anybody want a peanut?Vizzini: [screams in frustration]
Hahahaha!
The opulent costumes, the immense scenery and semi-scary rodents all add up to a visual journey alongside the characters perils. The course of true love never runs smooth and short of a Shakespearean style tragedy few have had as much trouble as Westley and Buttercup. But in the stories, not even death is a problem and we see justice done, sweetly and neatly.
Sorry I can’t write more praise, have to go.
That’s the short and short of it.
Predictably, I give it a rookie rating of 10/10 BUT I will add a clause to that – it is 10/10 to people too young to notice that the ROUS’s are fake and badly done. To everyone else, i guess its 9 &1/2. Sad but true.
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Who wrote this?
William Goldman (he actually exists) wrote the novel "The Princess Bride" by himself. He writes the book AS IF he is simply adapting an original manuscript by a man called S. Morgenstern (a fictional man who was from the fictional country of Florin). In "The Princess Bride", Goldman has these humorous bits in italics which talk about how he cut out this section because ________ .
These parts, along with Morgenstern’s biography and all the “autobiographical” bits about his childhood and his divorce are completely made up and are just in there to be funny, although they are written as if they were true. In real life, William Goldman wrote the book for his two young daughters, one of whom wanted a story about a princess and the other wanted a story about a bride.
Interesting! I was unaware of this, so this is good to know! Thanks Joseph!!
Can't say that I agree. Oh well, Cest la vie!
This review has left me with a huge smile on my face!!
100% agreed Mel !
*sigh* such a chick flick….