Rating: 
Summary: Love the FILM, hate the DVD...
Review: With its brilliant combination of childlike wonder and adult sarcasm, The Princess Bride is a marvellous piece of cinematic storytelling featuring an impeccable comedic script (thank you, Mr. Goldman) , and superb direction from the wonderful an often underappreciated, Rob Reiner (who never seems to get the credit he is due). For me, this film sports some of the most easily quotable and instantly recognizable lines in films today. (There are just too many to go into them all, but trust me, you'll know what I mean when you see the movie!) Each actor gives a standout performance: Robin Wright as Buttercup is beautiful inside and out and is so connvincing she'll make you weep (her accent is the best I've heard an american do--for years I thought she was British!); Cary Elwes as the dashing and ever-so-smug "Man in Black"; Mandy Patinkin and Andre The Giant are a surprisingly credible duo as spanish swordsman Inigo Montoya (c'mon on, say the line, you know you want to...) and the lovable rhyme-loving giant, Fezzik ("No more rhyming, I mean it!" "Anybody want a peanut?" "AAAHHH!"). Rounding out the cast are the three evil-to-the-core villains: the viciously arrogant sicilian, Vizzini (Wallace "Inconceivable!" Shawn); the charismatically vain Prince Humperdinck (Chris Sarandon); and the deadpanned six-fingered Count Rugen, played so chillingly cold by Christopher Guest he'll send shivers down your spine.Utterly charming, 'The Princess Bride' combines action, adventure, plenty of swordplay, with a well-written, extremely wry script by the author himself, William Goldman. This funny tale is full of everything -- action, revenge, danger, and of course, true love. I DO, however, have a huge complaint with this DVD version. It is a bare-bones, non-anamorphic release with NO extras. It's a crime that the DVD doesn't offer more -- there's no audio commentary, no "making of..." or deleted scenes ...but before you run out and buy this version, I hear that MGM is currently working on a special edition DVD of this film, with anamorphic widescreen for release NEXT year. So save your pennies and wait if you can. While you wait go read the book it's based on also by William Goldman -- in fact, he offers readers a bonus not even the DVD can provide: Mr Goldman will send you a lost chapter if you write to his address and request it! Now that's service.
Rating:
Summary: Correction
Review: An excellent film! However, I believe a correction may be needed to the information above. The copy that I have is formatted in English, Dolby Digital 5.1 (not 2.0 as listed above). It is also in Spanish (Mono).
Rating: 
Summary: Strong Movie, Cheap Packaging
Review: We don't see too many instances of authors who translate their novels into effective movies--Kosinski's BEING THERE, Irving's CIDER HOUSE RULES, and Goldman's THE PRINCESS BRIDE prove it can be done. While Goldman's novel offers pleasures of its own, this movie will please everyone in the family with its action, sly asides about the conventions of storytelling, and memorable characters. In my view, only Billy Crystal's performance as Miracle Max disrupts the otherwise seamless, flowing narrative. The other actors disappear into their characters, giving the story its due respect. That said, the DVD itself leaves a lot to be desired. There are few extras on this DVD, only scene access and different languages. There has been talk that MGM will release another edition later on, and some folks may want to wait for it. But there are also people who just want a plain copy that the kids can pop into the player and enjoy. If you are looking for a solid, entertaining story that offers plenty to savor with repeated viewings, I recommend this movie. Video connoisseurs might as well pick up a copy, too; when the more pristine version arrives later, pass on the "quicky" version to the nieces and nephews.
Rating:
Summary: Sit back and enjoy the adventure.
Review: The Princess Bride has created a fairytale, with all of the classic ingredients, and yet not nearly as painful to watch as most. The characters in general are excellent, including a surprisingly good performance by the late Andre the Giant as the "gentle giant". There is a fast pace maintained throughout the film and literally a laugh a minute, along with 1000 quotable quotes for those of us who enjoy annoying everyone ceaselessly with that sort of thing. This film really does have something for everyone, and is one of those great films that you can just watch over and over. I bought it on DVD lest I wear out the actual video tape. Get it, watch it and prepare a good laugh.
Rating:
Summary: Wait for the Special Edition!
Review: This is one of the best movies ever made...but one of the weakest DVD transfers I've seen in a while. The video and sound are barely better than the VHS counterpart, and there are no extras to speak of. But rumor has it that they are in the process of preparing a special edition DVD which will solve all of these problems. So even though I highly recommend the movie, don't buy it just yet. Hav more patience than I did, and wait for the special edition.
Rating:
Summary: Where are the extras?
Review: This is a fantastic movie...my husband considers it his all-time favorite, but the DVD came with NOTHING extra. It's not all that expensive if you MUST have a DVD now, but I'd hold off if you were hoping for some extras on the DVD.
Rating:
Summary: The Greatest Movie Ever Made!
Review: I was so excited when my favorite movie was released on DVD! It has been great on video, and even greater and vibrant on DVD. This is a movie for all ages, young and old. If you haven't seen it, you're missing the fasinating world of princes and princesses, pirates and theives, miracle workers and six-fingered men, and most of all, the fairy tale beauty of true love. I've enjoyed this movie since I was younger and, even though I know almost all the words to the film, it takes me away each and every time I watch it. It is beautifully adapted from the book by William Goldman. He truely made the characters in the film exactly as one would picture them while reading the book. I'm glad to see the movie is finally out on DVD and I can enjoy it again and again (especially since I've practically worn out my VHS tape!). This is a must see for everyone.
Rating:
Summary: Great movie for all ages
Review: I've worked with all age groups, from young children through adults, and I've had the opportunity to share The Princess Bride with each. Without fail, before the movie ends people are quoting it, and saying "As You Wish" right along with Westley. Truly a classic that I'm sure will remain my favorite movie for a long, long time.
Rating:
Summary: What can I possibly say that hasn't been said?
Review: This is a movie classic, and it deserves it. For true love and romance, forget Titanic or Julia Roberts movies--this gem has it perfectly. Only partly a "kissing story", as the little boy in the movie protests, this is full of royal intrigue, revenge, betrayal, cold-hearted murderers, swashbuckling and derring-do, plenty of swordfights, and a three-man castle-storming. Robin Wright is exquisite as the lovely Buttercup, a girl who loses her true love to the attack of the Dread Pirate Roberts, and subsequently becomes engaged to Prince (don't laugh) Humperdink (I said don't laugh!). But she is kidnapped by a trio of troublemakers: vengeance-hungry Spaniard Inigo, rhyming giant Fezzik, and the rather annoying Vizzini, who fans of Star Trek Deep Space Nine will recognize as the Grand Nagus. A dark-masked man is following them, with intent to take Buttercup back... Carey Elwes will probably be known forever as Westley, the smart-alecky, know-no-fear hero of this story. Equally precious-and just as important for the story-are Fezzik and Inigo. They make the movie more colorful and interesting, than if it had simply been hero-and-heroine-versus-bad-guy. They are the ketchup and mustard on the burger of this movie. The dialogue is truly inspired. This movie spawned the ever-present "Hello, my name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die". Want something that'll make your head spin? Listen to Vizzini's ramblings to Westley about which glass is poisoned. This is the funniest, wittiest movie ever made for an under-ten audience, but still palatable to adults.
Rating: 
Summary: Don't read the book before you see the movie
Review: This story is William Goldmans classic - A Story of True Love Filled With Swashbuckling Pirates, Bad Guys, Good Guys and Beautiful Woman. I did read the book a long time before ever seeing the movie and I missed one of the most important parts of the story - the wonderful chatty narrators voice. Without this, some of the best humor of the story is lost - the story of all the other best kisses in the world, the other beutiful women, the story of Bella, the wicked stepmother and on and on. However it is understandable that this is difficult to reproduce. On the whole it is a nice adaptation, Cary Elwes does a nice Errol Flynn impression, Robin Wright is suitably lovely and Mandy Patinkin is excellent as Inigo Montoya. Billy Crystal also does a nice turn as Miracle Max. My advice would be to see the film, enjoy it for what it is and then read the book to get the full benefit of William Goldmans voice.
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