The Princess Bride

Rating:
Summary: book or movie, i take both
Review: The following review doesn't do the movie justice because it's really for the book. The movie is much better than the book despite any problems noted later on in this review. I think the point i am trying to make with all this is, what is quite better than either the movie or the book is obviously the movie and the book. it simply will not do to have one or the other, you must have both. of course take all the time you want, time you'll regret not having spent in amazing joy over the laughter, fun, frolic, excitement, romance, sadness etc etc.

the movie is one of my all time favorites and probably the most outright quotable work of art tied only with the book where most of the lines come from. if anything you must have this movie for the delicious Miracle Max scene starring Billy Crystal who out tops the book like Ghengis Khan ousting the persians.

Laughter be told, I laughed long and BOLD

The Princess Bride, S. Morgenstern's Classic Tale of True Love and High Adventure, The 'good parts' version Abridged by William Goldman.

I suppose that says it all, and it does, except for the part about the movie. I know what you're thinking, "Well, I've seen the movie..." and yes, but you haven't READ the book. The movie, which follows the book so closely, is a wonderfully outstanding companion to the novel because it follows so closely at times even to quote the dialogue. There are some slight changes with the dialogue and narrative, perhaps the title of the movie should have been:... Abridged by William Goldman and Further Abridged by Hollywood. As I was saying if you loved the movie you'll the love the book and if you like the movie then at least (shirley) you will love the book and if you didn't like the movie or even hated it the book has such funny moments you'll probably forgive it for being so similar to that movie you couldn't stand.

There is one paragraph in the book that begins towards the bottom of page 47 and ends towards the bottom of page 48; I only mention this because it was by far one of the funniest passages I have ever read. The movie simply does not do it justice, the scene where Buttercup tells Westley she loves him. I won't say anymore for fear that I should say too much and ruin it for you. Back to my point about the movie being a fab companion for this book. The scene with Miracle Max and his wife is out and out better in the movie, but the book has greater detail than the movie, so it is rather quite interesting.

The additional details in this book really make it the "good parts" version and the movie while good has its limitations. Of course the book has its limitations too. One of these is the lack of Cary Elwes. Another limitation is the decided absence of hearing the Archdean's speech impediment, "Mawidge". A greater limitation is that some of the lines in the book are not as funny as the movies or are better when delivered by one of the actors, but the way around these problems is to play the movie when you feel like taking a break from the reading. You can even time it to see your favorite parts after you've just read them.

Really though, the best part of this book is the stuff about the kid and how William Goldman found the book in the first place and all the details about what he cut out. I don't intend to rag on Fred Savage's performance or the producer's, director's, script writer's, costume designer's, casting's, go-for's, or even the extra's (despite this little glitch, everyone involved with the film did a right bang up jop) but the stuff in the book about the kid is actually moving. In the movie it's all, "Yeah, yeah the kid is sick, amazingly clever plot device, now! Get on with it." I mean do they expect us to buy all that serious crap about being sick, first he's sitting up playing a video game, second I've been sick and if you haven't let me tell you he don't look it, and thirdly it takes, what, a day to read the book and he's all apt with attention, not even a break for a nap. If he could sit up and stay that interested all day then he should be in school. Don't get me started, but I digress. In the book the illness is real and serious and you feel what this kid is going through, trying to pay attention, wanting to hear more despite having to go to bed, and boy when he gets frustrated and pisses his father off, whew!

At this point, if you're like me when the review is boring and too long and the writer obviously is more interested in what she or he has to say than ever getting to the point you've skipped to then for the sum up, is this book good enough to buy or even worth dragging my lazy bum to the library? A simple yes, definitely. Do so right now, you're one click away from laughing so loud as to get strange looks. Here follows the paragraph you were skimming for.

Buy this book, buy it now, or regret it later and for the rest of your life until you finally buy the stupid thing and be done with it already. Trust me, I can feel the (buy book) little nag back in your mind just where the hard skull is preventing you from (buy book) scratching at it.

The other great thing is that if you buy the new edition you get the first chapter to the sequel, which everyone is overtly anxious for. One more quick note I could quote "I had such rhymes for you..." about how love is true "You're not going anywhere until I know those rhymes", to be had if that sort of thing makes you glad let your guide be Goldman read on, read on! readon!

Rating:
Summary: My Favorite Movie EVER
Review: Ok. This is me. I never rate high. However, I have made one exception. The Princess Bride. This is my favorite movie. I first discovered this movie when I was...I don't know...6, maybe?...and I didn't like it at first. Now, eight years and probably 200 viewings later, no one can force me to choose between the book and the movie. That's like asking me what I like better: ice cream or cake. There's no way to decide. With unforgettable characters, such as Inigo, Fezzik, and Miracle Max, and some of the most rememberable lines, "Inconceivable!" "Hello, my name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father, prepare to die." "Death cannot stop True Love. All it can do is delay it for awhile." "Anybody want a peanut?" "Mostly dead is slightly alive." "No! To the pain!"...well, you have to see it. I love it. Now, it does have death (obviously, see quotes), some blood (swordfights), and one bad word, but all over all, it's ok for all ages. Please e-mail me at [e-mail] if you have any further questions.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent movie, poor DVD
Review: This is one of my favorite movies of all time, so obviously, I had to get the DVD. But upon reading the reviews for it, I decided to wait until I could get a good deal on a used copy, and feel that I definitely made the right decision. This disc does absolutely nothing to take advantage of the DVD standard, and shows us nothing but the movie itself and a trailer. There are no extras, not even English subtitles (instead, it uses vastly inferior closed captioning). No interviews, no commentary, no making-of documentary, no outtakes. Basically, it offers nothing that a widescreen VHS copy or Laserdisc copy offers, except for better quality than the VHS copy.

The movie gets 5 stars, absolutely! The DVD gets 1 star, because it's a poorly done release. So the over all release gets 3 stars from me.

Note that this review is NOT for the Special Edition DVD, which improves on the initial version greatly.

Rating:
Summary: Amazing!
Review: This movie was wonderful! It was done perfectly, balancing out the fighting sences and the funny ones (which there were many of). The plot was exciting and not hard to understand. There were many plots in one, each character having a problem.It was hilarious, even if it doesn't seem that way at first sight. This movie was great!

Rating:
Summary: A Modern Family Classic with wit, charm and silliness.
Review: Rob Reiner's filmed version of William Goldman's novel and screenplay of The Princess Bride walks that line between farce and fantasy adventure in the great swashbuckling tradition of films like Captain Blood (Errol Flynn) and The Crimson Pirate(that's the classic with Burt Lancaster and if you don't know it... find it and watch it). It's also a film that celebrates the importance and joy of storytelling (like 1984's Neverending Story -another don't miss family film).

At times it gets a little bit too silly and goes right into Monty Python territory-though amusingly so. The film is well cast, well paced, a bit modestly produced, and is deserving of the strong cult following it has.

While for me it will never be on the level of entertainments like Wizard of Oz, I can understand how this film can be almost as endearingly embraced-particularly if the first time you saw Bride was when were 9 or 10.

It's framing device of a grandfather (Peter Falk) reading the story to his grandson (Wonder Years and Working 's Fred Savage) is shot like a t.v. movie, but works wonderfully, keeping the film's perspective sharp and in focus. And because it is Peter Falk immediately the film has a tongue in cheek-campy edge to it. William Goldman created the novel as a bed-time story for his children and the film beautifully retains that feeling throughout.

This was Rob Reiner's fourth movie as a director ( "This Is Spinal Tap," "The Sure Thing" and "Stand by Me") and the critical and box office success of "The Princess Bride" made it seem as if ol' Meathead (All in the Family) could direct almost any movie he wanted and do a great job at it. Eventually he fell onto his face with NORTH and recently of course made something even worse called STORY OF US. But not so very long ago, Reiner made very good films indeed.

As the story begins we meet Princess Buttercup (Robin- Mrs. Sean Penn- Wright in her film debut) who over a brief period of time realizes she really likes the farm boy (Cary Elwes) and realizes although he never says more than : "As you Wish" to her, the way in which he says it, says so very much. They fall in love. . ..

We are suddenly back in Fred Savage's bedroom. "Oh no... does this story have a lot of kissing in it?" He complains to Grandpa Peter Falk.

And so it begins. The farm boy goes off to seek his fortune promising he will return for her and their love will never die, but Buttercup receives word that her love has been killed by Pirate Robert.

A few years go by and Buttercup is about to be married to the Prince, a slimy arrogant coward played by Chris Sarandon. She doesn't love him, but she had agreed to marry him. Then she is kidnapped by a trio of dastardly rogues. "Inconceivable" lisps the trio's supposed ring-leader and brainiac played by the turtle like Wallace Shawn. Mandy Pantinkin plays the master swordsman who hopes someday to meet the six fingered man who killed his father and nearly killed him as a child. Wrestler Andre the Giant plays...Fezzik the Giant, a not-so-scary brute of a man.

These would be kidnappers aren't very good at their task, and in fact when they are distracted by a boat they notice is following them, Buttercup leaps from their boat and into the water. None of them are good swimmers. But not to fear, the scary screaming Eels, force Buttercup to quickly return to the boat.

I will tell you that Buttercup is rescued from her kidnappers and she and her rescuer are pursued by the Prince Chris Sarandon and his head henchman Christopher Guest. As they try to avoid the Prince, and the would be kidnappers (who wind up being their allies) they meet a variety of interesting folks which include ostracized Sorcerer and Witch played by Billy Crystal and Carol Kane.

For the rest of the twists and turns the delightful tale takes you'll just have to watch the film.

Please note there is a planned special edition DVD that will be coming out (supposedly later this year). You may want to wait for it as this DVD has no extras and only a good, not excellent transfer of the film.

Chris Jarmick Author of The Glass Cocoon with Serena F. Holder - A steamy cyber thriller available January 2001. Please order it today. Thank You

Rating:
Summary: A Modern Day Classic!
Review: Elwes and Co. are absolutely fantastic in this modern fairy tale of love and loss; and then love again and loss again. . . not to mention the inclusion of the Fire Swamp, Rodents of Unusual Size, and Captian of the Brute Squad himself, Andre the Giant! The terrific casting job aids in giving the characters quite a bit of growing space throughout the course of the film, and it is equally impressive how the film wavers through differing themes at great ease. In result, the veiwer is able to absorb the several subplots layered throughout the movie.

"The Princess Bride" is a beautiful, finely presented film for the whole family. Mild language and violence may make it unappropriate for younger viewers, but it's okay for the most part. For DVD-lovers, there is a disappointing lack of extras, but the digital transfer is perfect. Highly recommended.

Rating:
Summary: A Must-Have
Review: I first saw this movie when I was a kid. I loved it - and I still love it. It's a great movie to watch with my husband just for some warm fuzzies! It's funny at times, and romanitc at the same time. One of my favorite things about this movie it how light the tone is.

Rating:
Summary: One of the best movies for a family to watch
Review: I cannot recommend this movie enough. I bought this on DVD for my 11 year old daughter and she has worn out the disc. It is great movie for family entertainment. A great story line from William Goldman, as well as, Rob Reiner continuing to flex his comedic muscle immediately coming of the set of "This is Spinal Tap". This movie is excellent for any age group, however, it makes the perfect gift for a 10-15 old girl.

Rating:
Summary: THE BEST MOVIE EVER
Review: This movie is the best. It's great for kids and adults alike and has great actors and actresses. It's funny, exciting, adventuresome, and with Cary Elwes, Robin Wright, and many others you can't go wrong. It's great!

Rating:
Summary: Belongs in every collection
Review: This movies is destined to become and remain a classic. Contrary to some other posts, this movie is not just for children. It has all of the components that make entertainment. The acting is fantastic, and there is something for everyone. It is a complete story, with a good guy, a bad guy, a princess, magician, Giant, sowrdfights. In all, very predictable, but delightful each time you watch it. It doesn't have the profanity, sex, and violence of mainstream movies, but you can watch it 10 times and enjoy it every time.