JohnDoe
Bryn
BrentonThe Princess Bride (1987) - Footage Included
December 22nd 2006 03:21
The Princess Bride
DVD Cover
Writer: William Goldman
Starring: Robin Wright Penn, Christopher Guest, Mandy Potemkin, Cary Elwes, Billy Crystal, Chris Sarandon
“My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father prepare to die”. – Inigo Montoya
Written for his daughters, Writer William Goldman’s The Princess Bride is rife with adventure, laughs and a self aware intelligence that would later inspire adult friendly children’s entertainment like Shrek.
Released in a time where ultra violent, hi tech films like The Terminator were the rage. The cinema run was brief, it’s box office non-eventful.
The key to the film finding an audience was the videotape revolution, it has been a fantasy classic ever since.
“You rush a miracle man, you get rotten miracles.”-Miracle max
For those who have not yet had the pleasure, a young boy is sick in bed (Fred savage) and his kindly old grand pappy (Peter Falk) comes round to read him a fairytale.
“That's right. When I was your age, television was called books. And this is a special book. It was the book my father used to read to me when I was sick, and I used to read it to your father. And today I'm gonna read it to you.” – Grandpa
Swinging right into familiar territory like Douglas Fairbanks Jnr on a vine, there is the beautiful maiden Buttercup. Wesley, A Norse like hero, who loves her unconditionally, but turns to piracy on the high seas. (That’s the aaarrr kind, not the bootleg type)
“Im not left handed either”- Wesley
Pursued by a triage of misunderstood villains, astounding skill with a blade and the greatest kiss the world has ever seen ensues.
“You only think I guessed wrong! That's what's so funny! I switched glasses when your back was turned! Ha ha! You fool! You fell victim to one of the classic blunders! The most famous is never get involved in a land war in Asia, but only slightly less well-known is this: never go in against a Sicilian when death is on the line! Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! Ha ha ha....” – Vizzini
I will tell you this, we are not the three wise men!
John Doe says:
A clever nod to the Errol Flynn style swashbuckling adventure’s of the 1930’s the Princess Bride toys with cliché and plays with formula like Pinky and The Brain in their lab.
When John Doe first sang this films praises his male friends would look at him cross eyed declaring, “it sounds like a chick flick.” After donning an eye patch and running them through with my cold blade they had no choice and invariably enjoyed it.
William Goldman’s (All the presidents Men, Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid, Marathon Man) crafting of words is skilful and appears effortless. Separating his work from anything that came before it by embracing what audiences already knew and then manipulating it.
Director Rob Reiner (This is Spinal Tap, Stand By Me) obviously loved it on the page and more importantly understood the tone of the work. Making fun of Robin Hood style cinema while unbridled love for that which it parodies, seeps into every frame.
The casting and educated performances pounce off the screen, it’s a witch’s brew that transports you to a fantastical world that is grounded in reality, and the conflicting ideas work.
Mandy Potemkin (Dead Like Me) as Iago Montoya steals it, his lovable rogue schtick makes you wonder if he doesn’t live day to day in his garb.
Andre The Giant, Christopher Guest (This is Spinal Tap, Best In Show, Waiting For Guffman), Chris Sarandon and Billy Crystal have a ball acting with mucho gusto.
Cary Elwes (Saw) pretty boy posing suits the role and Robin Wright Penn’s inner and outer beauty have never been used so blatantly since.
Peter Falk is a long way from Casavettes films and Columbo playing his age happily. Never dull, the part maybe small but he fills it with a double edged charm that gets better with time.
Maybe those involved hopped into the Tardis and found out what Pixar had planned for the next generation of know it all kids. I always watch this film around Christmas time and last nights screening reminded me just why it has been hailed as timeless and imitated since.
The DVD:
Transfer Widescreen/5.1 Dolby Digital
Extras: Empty as a dead mans chest. The U.S double disc overflows with bonus feature goodness. The only choice if you put the Princess Bride on a pedestal .
If you click below you can see a battle of wits from the movie.
And as a Xmas present for Horrorphile Bryn, here is a fan made trailer cut to make this family gem into a horror film. Hope you get a kick out of it.
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Comment by LaurenD
LaurenD
Comment by Stanley
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
I knew there would be some fans of this film and christmas is a great time to revisit it.
Merry Xmas to you too Stanley,
I find the Princess Bride does improve with age.....Hope you enjoy getting reacquainted with your youth.
Please make sure you come back and tell me what it was like through adult eyes?
Comment by postmoderncritic
Postmodern Critic
Relativity Watch
Padsoc
Great review, I remember being entertained by the first four fifths of this movie in high school but never getting to finish it off... it's now on my list of titles to rent next time I happen at the video/dvd store.
Comment by Adrian
Philosophy Blog
Whenever people try fencing for the first time, they always do the "I'm not left-handed" thing...
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
that "horror" trailer was hilarious!
and a great review JD!
Merry Xmas cowboy!!!
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
The Princess Bride is one of the few films that I think is univesally enetrtaining. Doesn't matter if your a cynic or an optomist it has something for everyone.
Seasons Greetings postmodern,
Great to know that I have inspired you to see the last part of the film. Inspiring others to see these films and remind of greatness is my whole blog writing mission.
Have a great day budddy.
Make me laugh Adrian,
That is so cool about the fencing secret handshake, and I am right handed.
Merry Sipholus and a happy gonarea Bryn,
Knew you would get a kick out of The princess Bride horror edition. Giddy Up.
Comment by postmoderncritic
Postmodern Critic
Relativity Watch
Padsoc
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
Comment by Cibbuano
Hunt Famous
Orble Post of the Day
Fat Cult
Techbreak
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
I insinuate nothing.
Just play with words for my amusement, its an old saying. It infers full tilt boogie partying over the silly season. Meant with all respect, howlin wolf.
Hi Cib seasons greetings,
Did you see Princess Bride when it was out in cinemas or liek most of us, catch it on VHS?? ....
Comment by Lilla
From The Home Front
Enviro Warrior
Dream Herald
Esoteric Bookshop
...thanks for the re-cut trailer treat... *still l-ing ol* My daughter says it still doesn't look frightening... she says in fact it made it look more exciting....ha ha! Be that as it may, we take this little gem out of the re-watch cupboard every 3-4 months... it is such a good film - as you say, for all ages....
I find it interesting that often films that become classic cult films, were originally flops at the box office... things like Start Trek that also flopped as a series [at the time]... revolutionary ... I am reminded to get PB out over the holidays and watch it again...
I still haven't found the gangster movie... it must be good, it's always out on hire...
Merry Christmas to you and yours...
Lilla
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
It gives me great joy to no there are so many people out there who still love Princess Bride.
Great you have passed it on to the next generation.
Cult films generally doent get much notice upon release because they are usually ahead of the curve. Once mainstream cinema starts ripping it off 5 years later, thats when it hits a chord. Also the marketing for brave material is usually kept to a minimum.
Is Millers Crossing the gangster film your talkig about?
Hope you have fun with family and fiends over the break.
Comment by Wendi
This is one of my favorite movies of all time, and I was thinking about it just today amidst my "romance" soul-searching. Not only did I TOTALLY have a crush on Cary Elwes (total hunk), but his replies to his lady left me... *sigh*... dreamy.
"As you wish"
*flutters*
W
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Princess Bride is irresitble, I remember as a teenaged guy flatly refusing to like it. Then when I sat down and watched it I was quickly converted by it's assured swiftenss and it still makes me laugh today.
Love sharing mutual appreciation for great films, drop back soon.
Comment by Wendi
I should have been here sooner.
Still digging,
W
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Every opinion is valid if it's sincere,
Dont be shy to post here.
Ive been reading Dr Suess again
Comment by Wendi
I don't watch much t.v., and we don't get local stations here because I live out in the frigging boonies and rely on satellite. I do watch the haunting shows whenever I can, though. Can't wait for the next season of Ghost Hunters to start. Haunted Hotels, Most Haunted, A Haunting...
What HAVE I seen lately?
Well, in the past year, I've been to the theater I think three times, maybe four. The first was last fourth of July and I saw Lake House. Loved it. Love Sandra Bullock. The second was Eragon... loved it. The third was Bridge to Terabithia - hated it, but I hadn't read the book first and didn't know what I was in for. And whenever it was that the last Harry Potter movie came out, I was there for that, too. That's it for theaters. I really do need to get out more!
National Treasure was one I saw and enjoyed a great deal. I liked the Matrix movies... nothing else has really left an imprint, I guess. Oh... Da Vinci code was great. The Others... Nicole Kidman is another of my favorite actresses, and the subject matter of that one drew me in, of course.
I refuse to watch horror. I'm a scaredy cat (hauntings and gore are not the same). Oh, speaking of horror, I just remembered another recent series of movies I wasted time on... Scary Movie (Why, Lord, Why?).
Most recent at home viewing has been Shaggy Dog and Dragon Heart... not particular favorites, but an okay way to lose a few hours.
So I suppose I'm going to have to attack this from a different direction and instead of looking for something I've seen and can communicate about, I'll have to pick some of your posts that I like and add them to my rental list!
I'll be back...
W