The Princess Bride [1987]

On the DVD: The 1.77:1 anamorphic transfer is strong, if not quite as detailed as it might be. Colours lack just a little solidity and some scenes evidence a fair amount of grain. Released theatrically in Dolby stereo, the Dolby Digital 5.1 remix spreads the sound effectively across the front speakers but makes very little use of the rear channels indeed. Extras are limited to filmographies of five of the leading actors, and a 4:3 presentation of the theatrical trailer, which gives far too many of the film's surprises away.--Gary S Dalkin

The Princess Bride is, essentially, a tale of two quests woven together - Westley and Buttercups' search for "true love" and The Spaniard's quest for justice. The romp that ensues is a joy to behold as it dishes out laughs one moment and pathos the next. Overall a warming and satisfying experience for the viewer. It is also a film that gets better on repeat viewing as (unusually) knowing what is about to happen only adds to the enjoyment.

In conclusion - don't be put off by the "fairy tale" tag as this film is much more than that. Definitely a film to own rather than watch once and forget. Excellent heart-warming entertainment for grown-ups (and your kids'll like it as well). All this and great music too. Highly recommended.


All time fave!   May 19, 2001
18 out of 21 found this review helpful

Ok, I have to admit it, for all my blusterings about being an action movie kinda gal, this has to be my all time favourite movie. It has some great, if slightly larger than life characters, fabulous sets, and is a great fairytale story. The idea of having the grandfather reading to his ill grandson gets a bit annoying in places, particularly in the Screaming Eels bit, where he repeats himself, but I guess that is just a part of the film. The cameos are great, Billy Crystal as the Miracle Man is hilarious, Mel Smith's Albino in the Pit of Despair always has me rolling in the aisle and Andre the Giant is great in his role as Fezzik.

I love all the fights scenes, especially the one on the top of the cliff, between the Dread Pirate Roberts and Inigo Montoya(Second best line in the film, "My name is Inigo Montoya, you killed my Father, Prepare to Die"). That also has to be the scene with the best exchange in the whole movie, you know the one "There is something you do not know...".

This film has something for everyone, and if you haven't seen it, buy it now, cos everyone needs to see this film!


Tongue in cheek tastic   April 10, 2006
13 out of 13 found this review helpful

Fantastic film..Tongue in cheek excellence. The charaters are superbly cast, the acting is spot on. I can see why people do not like this film...IT IS BECAUSE THEY JUST DON'T GET IT! The tongue in cheek style can be missed, and they maybe expecting Indiana Jones special effects. This is a shame because they are missing out on a great, funny, clever film.
The sword fight is amazing, the lines are funny and delivered perfectly, as well as the acting...Go on try this film, and if you are luckily enough, you will become part of it's cult following..


Think this happens everyday?   July 22, 2006
E. A Solinas (MD USA)
13 out of 13 found this review helpful

Every now and then, someone makes one of those rare movies that crosses the lines of romance, action, fantasy, fairy tale, and a story for all ages. And isn't annoying either. With snappy dialogue and lovable characters, "The Princess Bride" is a classic tale of high adventure, danger, true love, screaming eels, and Sicilians who talk too much. And yes, there's kissing.

A bored little boy (Fred Savage) is sick in bed, is told a story by his quirky grandfather (Peter Falk). In it, young lovers Buttercup (Robin Wright) and Westley (Carey Elwes) are separated when Westley is apparently killed. A few years later, the heartbroken Buttercup is unwillingly affianced to the slimy Prince Humperdinck. As if that weren't enough, she's kidnapped by a trio of mercenaries.

But things go wrong for the mercenaries -- a mysterious masked man is following them, and he defeats each of the mercenaries with his swordplay, strength and wits. He also knows quite a bit about Westley's fate -- and Buttercup soon finds that he IS Westley after all. But Buttercup is only a cog in Humperdinck's evil plot, and now it's up to Westley, gentle giant Fezzik (Andre) and vengeance-seeking Spaniard Inigo Montoya (Mandy Patinkin) to save her.

If "Princess Bride" had been done in a halfway serious manner, it wouldn't have been even remotely interesting. It would have been just another kids' film. But with William Goldman's tongue-in-cheek script and entertaining characters (Miracle Max, anyone?), it becomes something a lot sweeter and funnier.

Rob Reiner has a deft, wry touch that matches Goldman's story, and he does a superb job of keeping the grim moments lighter than they would have been otherwise ("We'll never make it through!" "Nonsense, you're only saying that because no one ever has"). With scenes like the torture machine, Miracle Max and Westley's three duels, Reiner keeps it deadpan rather than openly comic. But there are also scenes of touching romance and reconciliation, and some very good swordfights for Inigo.

And the dialogue (penned by Goldman) is full of quotables -- lines like "Inconceivable!" "My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die," "I'm not left-handed!" and "As you wish" are more or less immortalized. At the worst of times it's solid; at the middling times, it's memorably quirky; at the best of times, it's hilarious.

Yes, the title is about Buttercup. But she's a pretty pallid character compared to Westley, Fezzik and Patinkan. Elwes always seems to be winking at both the characters and audience, while Andre is lovable as the sportsmanlike, superstrong giant, and Patinkan as the discouraged Spaniard searching for a six-fingered man. His clash with the casually evil Rugen is a wonderful action-packed climax.

And Billy Crystal makes a brief but insanely good appearance as the Miracle Man, an embittered medieval healer with a very peeved wife (Carol Kane, who steals the scene with her shrieks of "Liar!").

Crammed with adventure, true love, swordfights, pirates, casual villains, and a clergyman with a speech impediment, "The Princess Bride" is an adorable comic classic. A must-see.


The Princess Bride   March 6, 2006
12 out of 15 found this review helpful

This film is an enjoyable story with interesting, well developed characters. Ok, so you can tell that the buget wasn't much and the special effects are pretty much non existant, but what you have to remember is that this is a good story. For those reviewers that compare 'The Princess Bride' to Disney i think you need to step back and take a look at what this film is about. It is a heart-warming tale, about love overcoming adversity and if it doesnt have the high-budget, cgi dependant, underdeveloped characters and highly dubious plotlines of the high powered film producers of today, what it does have is far better. I would recomend this film to anyone as something to watch to feel good about the world. A love story with a little humour and sword-fighting? What more could you ask for to warm your heart a little? I think people are too much in love with 'save the world and destroy everything you don't like' films.this is a wonderful story about two people in love...and revenge...and a giant...and poison, miracles and ROUS's...an all round good film. I recommend it.