The Princess Bride

Rating:
Summary: The Best Fairytale Movie of all.
Review: A wonderful movie-one of my favorites. The Princess Bride has everything that a great movie needs. A great plot, wonderful acting, well done sets, and a little bit (actually A LOT) of humor to keep things going. I've watched it probably over 20 times.

It's a very nice clean movie. Other than a few scary parts and the part where Inigo Montoya calls the Count a 'son of a bitch', it's even suitable for small kids. Watch it with your friends. You'll be quoting the funny parts for a long time!

And, I truely love the part played by Peter Falk and the grandson (can't remember his name), who introduce and basically narrate the story. Everyone really did a great job with this movie!

Rating:
Summary: Fencing, fighting, torture, revenge, giants....
Review: Light as a feather and utterly charming, 'The Princess Bride' combines action, adventure, plenty of swordplay, with a well-written, extremely wry script that manages to work as straight adventure, and as a commentary on itself. There's a fantastic cast, too, filled exclusively with extremelty talented players who, for whatever reason, aren't huge stars - multi-talented sex god Wallace Shawn (whose gunplay and kung-fu grip enlivened 'My Dinner with Andre') plays a man who uses the word 'inconceivable' incorrectly, and Cary Elwes *is* Han Solo. Elsewhere Robin Wright doesn't do much more than emote whilst being attractive, Mandy Patinkin is chivalry personified, and there are lots of guest stars.

It sticks out like a sore thumb from much of mid-80's Hollywood fantasy cinema - with a minimal emphasis on special effects and a deadpan, self-mocking tone it's the complete flip-side of films such as 'Legend' and 'Krull'. Furthermore, Mark Knopfler's music sounds extremely Enya-ish and avoids being overpowering.

It's a shame that the DVD doesn't offer more, really - a trailer and a 'collectible booklet' which is neither collectible nor much of a booklet (it's a few sheets of folded glossy paper).

Rating:
Summary: What can I say? You can't help but love this tale!
Review: This movie has got to be my absolute favorite, no matter what my other reviews say! The storyline is sweet and full of adventure and all the characters are loveable (except for the ones that aren't supposed to be of course). The story is basically a book that a grandfather is reading to a sick grandson. The 'book' is about a lovely girl named Buttercup and her handsome love Wesley who is assumed to have been killed by pirates whlie going across the sea. Buttercup is then bethored to the awful Prince Humperdink (my friends can't watch this movie without laughing hysterically at his name). But Buttercup is captured by a man with two others with him and this is where the adventure begins. I truly love this movie. It has some of the most memorable characters of all time in it! And the jokes are so funny. The only downside is having to explain all the details to my little sister, but you probably won't have to worry about that. But you can't help but fall in love with a cute story like this. One of my favorites of all time!

Rating:
Summary: Still fabulous after 13 years!
Review: This movie, like the classic fairy tale, has it all: romance, intrigue, adventure! Overall, it doesn't stray much from the traditional form; it has the hero, the 'heroine', the villains, and the arch-nemesis in the form of Prince Humperdink, who threatens to tear asunder the true love that is the basis of this tale.

What the novel and film succeed in accomplishing is a fresh take on the traditional roles played out by the hero and heroine. Although Wesley is the main hero in Buttercup's world, he is successful only with the help of Inigo and Fezzik.

Children will understand that the film is slightly untraditional within a traditional format. We still see the men saving the woman (a woman, no less of unsurpassed beauty), however, we do get to see them suffer minor defeats and pitfalls in the process. One qualm I have about this tale, is that Buttercup fails miserably at saving herself every chance she gets. I'm not advocating the advent of hardcore feminist heroines who bake their own bread and save their own behinds - I do believe that every fairy tale form embodies values that are important to children - yet, it is not healthy to portray a woman struggling to survive even in the smallest ways.

Is a woman helpless without a husky male at her beck and call? No. The only consolation in this kind of film being produced for an audience of children is that it has some competition in the more updated and feminist versions of the fairy tale. Even though "Girl Power" has become a slogan of the century, it still does not ensure that children will not absorb such values about male and female roles.

Great movie, just overlook the sub-text ;)

Rating:
Summary: A Modern Classic
Review: This, in my opinion, is the best movie Hollywood ever made. As the grandfather (Peter Falk) tells his grandson at the beginning of the movie it has a virtual hodgepodege of interests.

The story centers around a girl, Buttercup, played by Robin Wright, who is in love with Westley (Cary Elwes), a farmboy on her father's farm. At the beginning of the movie, Westley goes of to earn his fortune so he can marry Buttercup. It won't ruin the movie to tell you that he isn't really killed by pirates. The rest of the movie centers on the great dialogue (written by William Goldman) and exciting action. On the way to rescue Buttercup from the diabolical Prince Humperdinck, Westley manages to fight and eventually befriend Inigo (Mandy Patinkin) and Fezzik (Andre the Giant). Don't miss one of the greatest repartees of the movie when Inigo and Westley duel on the Cliffs of Insanity.

There is so much to see and hear in this movie that one viewing doesn't do it justice. This is a movie that can be viewed endlessly by all ages.

Rating:
Summary: As you wish...
Review: Could I say anything more than I've already gone through 2 vhs versions of this movie. Something about this castle-age setting, lords and ladies attitude, a bit of evil, a lot of love, and tons of humor makes this my favorite movie of all times. At any time I can sit down and watch it, even after seeing it thousands of times and knowing all the words by heart. This movie is enjoyable to the young and older alike. I highly recommend this for anyone who loves sword fights, duels, true love, and a good dose of humor.

Rating:
Summary: How do you rate the film that has everything?
Review: Everything about this film is simply great. The acting -- of all roles -- is excellent, the scenery terrific, the directing outstanding. I bought this film as soon as I was able to find it for sale, and I can't count the number of times I've seen it. It's a light fantasy, with great comedic scenes; just right for those times when you want to sit down and laugh and be entertained. See the film; you'll probably buy it.

Rating:
Summary: Try it, you'll like it!...
Review: Finding this movie is one of those serendipitous pleasures. It's one of those films where you hear the title and read the description, and it doesn't sound much like something you'd enjoy. Then you watch it.

And if you're like me, then you watch it again, and again, and again.

Featuring some of the wittiest, funnest (is that a word?), funniest dialogue of any movie in any genre, this tongue-in-cheek gem deftly skewers fairy tale cliches and celebrates them at the same time. An added bonus is that this is one of those rare films that are enjoyable whether you're by yourself, with a date, or with your family and kids.

Yes, repeated viewings may be necessary to catch all the dialogue (especially that of mumble-mouthed Andre the Giant), but you will find it to be time well spent.

Rating:
Summary: A Perfect Gift
Review: Looking for a gift for the young at heart. Here's a video which will surprise and delight both children and adults, a difficult trick. From the opening conceit of a tale within a tale, narrated by Peter Falk (Columbo) the story of good versus evil unfolds seamlessly and delightfully. The surprising choices of casting work wonderously. Particularly outstanding are Mandy Patinkin (Che from the Broadway production of Evita) as Ignigo Montoya the left handed swordsman searching for the man who killed his father, Andre the Giant as Fezzik (a real giant playing the giant), Wallace Shawn (an actors actor; My Dinner with Andre) as the conceited and amoral Vizzini, Billy Crystal as the local healer, and the bad guys: Prince Humperdink and Count Rugen; Chris Sarandon and Chistopher Guest. Robin Wright as Buttercup and Gary Elwes as Westley do a good job as the heroine and hero, particularily in the beginning of the movie. What child would not be held spellbound by this tale? I know adults who've viewed this video again and again. I'm one of them. The violence is limited to swordfighting in which some people get stabbed, a poisoning and some wacky but frightening torture. It seems mild compared to the general level of video violence.

Rating:
Summary: A Classic Tale
Review: This funny tale is full of everything -- action, revenge, danger, true love -- but you know that already. It is fun for the whole family. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll watch it a thousand times! The script has a subtle rhythm that will make you want to memorize the lines -- every fan of this movie that I know memorizes lines from this moderately tall tale classic! And get the book while you're at it!