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The Princess Bride should be in your video library.
Date of Review: May 1, 2000
I believe that anyone who enjoys movies always has one or two favorites films that over a period of years they watch countless times. Well, this review is devoted to my favorite movie "The Princess Bride." No one would ever confuse "The Princess Bride" with "Casablanca" or "Key Largo," the plot is rather simple, effects are minimal, and the dialogue was probably written within a week. What the movie is though is a wonderful fairy tale that leaves the viewer feeling good. Every time I watch the "Princess Bride" it puts me in a better mood. Few movies do that, and the ones that do I think are special. So without further ado, here is my review.
The story begins?.
in rather ordinary settings. A young boy (played by Fred Savage) is at home trying to recover from the flu. His grandfather (played by Peter Falk) comes over that afternoon to cheer him up with a special gift. The gift turns out to be "The Princess Bridge" a special book that has been in his family for generations. The grandfather then proceeds to read to the child and we drift into the story. What is interesting is that throughout the movie we periodically return to the grandfather to give the illusion that he is reading to the son. It is an interesting little device which I feel ads to the overall feel of the story.
The beginning of the movie opens in the make believe country of Guilder. Our protagonist Wesley (played by Cary Elwes) is employed as a farm boy on the estate of Buttercup (played by Robin Wright), a middle- upper class citizen. Wesley and Buttercup quickly realize their love for one and other and plan to spend the rest of their lives together. Unfortunately, finances dictate that Wesley must venture out so that they can be married. While adventuring, Wesley is abducted by the Dread Pirate Roberts and disappears for several years. While gone, Buttercup presumes that Wesley is killed overseas. Soon she is courted by Prince Humperdink (played by Chris Sarandon), future ruler of the Kingdom of Florence. Humperdink falls in love with Buttercup and ask her to become her future Queen. Due to an impractical law, the prince holds the right to choose his bride. Thus, Buttercup seems destined to marry another.
Things do change
One morning when Buttercup is riding through the fields she runs into three curious strangers Vizzini (played by Wallace Shawn), Indigo (played by Mandy Pinkerton), and Fezzick (played by the late Andre the Giant). It is here that we are introduced to the greatness of Wallace Shawn and his wit. He tells us perhaps the most humorous line of the movie "good evening lady, we are but three lost circus performers. Is there a village nearby?" oh well, I like it. Wallace Shawn is one of those actors whose been in hundred of movies, but you would never know his name. He does however, have a timeless face. Anyways, the princess is kidnapped and taken across the sea to Florence. What our three abductors fail to realize however, is that they are being pursued by the man in black. The man in black systematically defeats each of the three strangers in combat (there is a wonderful swordfight in this movie) and eventually frees the princess. After a brief struggle, the man in black reveals his true identity and Buttercup and Wesley are reunited.
All however, is not right in Guilder
For Prince Humperdink does not take kindly to this reunion. He quickly abducts Wesley and throws him into the pit of despair where the six-fingered man (played by Christopher Guest) tortures him for pleasure. Wesley is eventually killed by this machine, but is later resurrected at Miracle Max's healing shop with the help of the curious strangers.
And of course what fairy tale would be complete without a castle raid
In the final part of the movie Wesley, Inigo and Fezzick raid the castle of Prince Humperdink. It's kind of cheesy, but fun to watch. Inigo gets his long-awaited revenge against the six-fingered man for murdering his father twenty-years ago. Wesley frees the princess from the clutches of Prince Humperdink and Fezzick secures four white horses so they can go riding off into the sunset.
If you haven't seen "the Princess Bride" then you are depriving yourself from watching a really wonderful movie. It's a great film for all ages and one that you may consider adding to your home video library.
