Directed by:
Rob ReinerScreenplay:
William GoldmanCinematography:
Adrian BiddleComposer:
Mark KnopflerCast:
Robin Wright, Cary Elwes, Mandy Patinkin, Chris Sarandon, Christopher Guest, Wallace Shawn, André the Giant, Fred Savage, Peter Falk, Peter Cook, Mel Smith (more)VOD (4)
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A high-spirited adventure that pits true love against inconceivable odds, The Princess Bride has charmed legions of fans with its irreverent gags, eccentric ensemble, and dazzling swordplay. A kid (Fred Savage), home sick from school, grudgingly allows his grandfather (Peter Falk) to read him a dusty storybook—which is how we meet the innocent Buttercup (Robin Wright, in her breakout role), about to marry the nefarious Prince Humperdinck (Chris Sarandon) though her heart belongs to Westley (Cary Elwes). The wedding plans are interrupted, however, by a mysterious pirate, a vengeful Spaniard, and a good-natured giant, in a tale full of swashbuckling, romance, and outrageously hilarious spoofery. Directed by Rob Reiner from an endlessly quotable script by Oscar winner William Goldman, The Princess Bride reigns as a fairy-tale classic. (Criterion)
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Reviews (9)
Well... I mean... I have to say that compared to the book, The Princess Bride disappointed me. The plot is more or less identical and the dialogue and all the "catchphrases" are the same (Goldman wrote the script himself, so it's not surprising), but somehow I missed the magic that made me read on and on, the funny narrative language, the fiction with the non-existent Morgenstern... And what's worse - most of the things I laughed at in the book, I didn't find funny here at all. Partly it was Cary Elwes, partly it was Knopfler's really ugly music and the cheap-looking production design in general (yes, I know that was probably the intention)... In the end, it amounts to about three stars. If I hadn't read the book, I might add.
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In a story marked by numerous trials and unhealthy fixations on revenge, a character lived, didn’t live, lived, didn’t live, and eventually lived... It was a fairy-tale farce flirting with parody. Set against strange backdrops, featuring the dashing Elwes and humor falling below expectations and potential (with one crystalline exception). It was like a version "The Prince and the Pauper" with a chastity belt. Mrs. Columbo’s grandson enjoyed it, but I didn’t much. Perhaps it was Rob Reiner's role as the reader that affected my enjoyment.
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A wonderfully whimsical fantasy tale. The humor feels like something straight out of Terry Pratchett’s books, though surprisingly, he wasn’t involved. It’s fascinating how, in the 80s, someone crafted such a delightful fantasy with warm, quirky humor. There’s truly nothing else like it. Plus, that 80s vibe just makes it all the more charming.
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Probably one of the best fantasy tales I've seen. Perhaps only Stardust has similarly resonated with me, and it too wasn't afraid to take a slightly different path in its film adaptation than mainstream audiences would expect. The Princess Bride stands out above all for its great characters, who (thank goodness!) are not one-dimensional or cookie-cutter, with very few exceptions. In fact, thanks to their imperfections and flaws, they are much closer to real characters, which often results in unexpectedly funny and touching moments. It's really a very nice fairy tale. [85%]
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The Princess Bride is indisputably enchanting, but it is also treacherous because of that. On the one hand, it’s true that the film’s charm is derived from how it leans into fairy-tale clichés with levity, exaggeration and self-irony. However, its approach to the basic elements of the genre is not revisionist in any case. All of the light-heartedness and self-reflection only conceal a reinforcing of the traditionalist core of classic fairy tales. Despite the fact that the title highlights the main female character, she isn’t in the position of a heroine, instead serving only as an object without her own will. Whereas all of the other characters defy the standard formulas or at least ridicule them, the titular princess is passive in the Disney way and utterly lacks any personality beyond her own beauty. Each of the positive male characters –- Westley, Inigo Montoya and even Fezzik – is defined by his faith in himself and his own abilities, and can use his cleverness and physical skills to defeat more cowardly and less capable opponents. Of course, the princess also has her own indomitable faith, but it is unfortunately only her faith that her beloved will come for her; and when she stops believing at the beginning, she soon gets an earful from her darling. As a result, The Princess Bride remains a work that should be an ideal fairy tale for young boys, as it carries them across the threshold of immaturity and reveals to them the attraction of kissing girls. Fortunately for others who want a truly modern fairy tale that abounds with charm and reflects the clichés of the genre, particularly those connected with female characters, there is Gaiman’s excellent Stardust and its great film adaptation.
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