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Princess Bride

9/21/2015

16 Comments

 
Picture
Reviewer: Phil

“The Princess Bride” is a movie that almost completely eluded my cognizance until college.  I don’t know why that is, as when I told my Mom that I lost a bet forcing me to watch it, she said that she loved it.  You think she would have convinced me and my brother to pop it into the VCR as opposed to watching Surf Ninjas for the 27th time.  However, I could see myself at that age reacting a bit like the grandson, hearing the title and scoffing at it.  I, much like the grandson, would have been sadly mistaken to do such.  I was a little hesitant going in, assuming that this was one of those movies that was bolstered moreso by nostalgia than anything else, but I was pleasantly surprised by smart, solid take on a tired story structure.

The story is pretty standard fare here – damsel in distress, true love saves said damsel from evil prince, everyone lives happily ever after.  Great.  The plot that connects all of it is what impresses me.  I like when we have a set of characters where everyone has clear motivations that at least make sense to them and would be a thought a rational person had.  No one here is 100% crazy or evil, something you rarely see in movies like these.  Everyone is also striving toward some sort of goal, and all those goals fall into place and interconnect in a smart way.  We understand why Westley is going through all this trouble, why Inigo feels it necessary to rescue Westley, & why Humperdinck is agreeing to marry a common girl.  Every important plot-driving decision has compelling evidence for why it is happening.  In fact, the smart plotting actually forced me to hold the movie up to a bit too high of a standard, as it did become even more grating when things did not make sense.  How did Inigo know that Westley was being held for trying to rescue his true love from the prince?  What was Fezzik’s deal?  How did the prince go about choosing Buttercup?  Why did Rugen and Inigo’s father fight in the first place and he’s now just coincidentally a count for the prince?  I don’t think the movie needs to be that much longer to explain a lot of this.  A handful of throwaway lines clears up most of it.  If there is anything to really complain about, it would be the portrayal of the princess bride herself, who is a boring damsel through and through, not even given a real name in the credits.  She takes zero initiative and her entire being is completely consumed by Westley.  It’s too bad too, because Robin Wright is actually really good in the role.

Speaking of Wright, in terms of performances, everyone brought their A game.  Cary Elwes as Westley and Mandy Patinkin as Inigo stood out big time.  Elwes played the self-assured hero extremely well – his performance made me think that I probably could revisit Robin Hood: Men In Tights and still find it enjoyable.  Patinkin as Inigo was a fun character who got to do quite a few different things, and he did them all well.

Several scenes within the movie were also highly enjoyable.  Westley’s trials to best Inigo, Fezzik, and Vizzini were all fantastic scenes.  The duel between Westley and Inigo might be one of my all-time favorite fight scenes now – it actually made the Inigo/Rugen duel feel very anticlimactic unfortunately.  There are several solid gags as well, much better than I’ve come to expect from 80’s movies, as so many movies from that decade have aged poorly based off our usual picks.

Before ending the review, one minor pet peeve I have to bring up – what world is this taking place in?  There’s clearly a magical quality to it, yet Inigo is from Spain and the poison is from Australia.  Is this some sort of parallel earth with magic?  Is it our world yet magic existed?  It doesn’t detract from the experience, but I found it odd.

The Princess Bride deserves its “classic” status.  It’s an old story told impressively.  It’s understandable after one viewing why it’s quotable and in the zeitgeist.  It’s definitely not a perfect movie by any stretch of the imagination, but it is highly enjoyable and rewatchable for sure.  I’m glad it’s in my movie vocabulary now.

+ Well-done version of an old story

+ Lot of great scenes

+ Performances were all spot-on

- Princess Bride is a boring character

- Needed more explanation to be fully realized

Grade: A-


16 Comments
Drew
9/21/2015 02:56:34 pm

I am really glad you enjoyed the film and also call it a classic. It is part of my top twenty of all time films or at least part of the top ten discussion. There are, however, a few things you mentioned with which I take issue.

"Why did Rugen and Inigo’s father fight in the first place...?"

Inigo stated how it happened. When Westley and Inigo exchanged dialogue before their iconic duel, Inigo confides in Westley some family information. He stated how his father made that stunning sword for the "Six Fingered Man" and would not pay his father's price. Rugen killed him when Inigo's father demanded full payment.

"What was Fezzik’s deal?"

What do you mean by this? Vizzini needed some muscle and probably heard about him in Greenland. He was a gentle giant and loyal to his friends. What more did you need?

"How did Inigo know that Westley was being held for trying to rescue his true love from the prince?"

Inigo and Fezzik took Westley to Miracle Max's and Max asked him why he needed to live. He said "true love." Fairly straightforward.

What did you make of the "Impressive Clergymen" and "The Albino?" Do you have a favorite minor character? While I am at it, why did Princess Buttercup need more depth? Her story is wrapped up with the love theme. Not to mention that she was dedicated to Westley and her best scene came when she "battles" the Dread Pirate Roberts. I understand that she is the damsel in the distress but why do you need more than that?

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Phil
9/21/2015 03:52:05 pm

Rugen & Inigo's father - answered. I blanked on that while writing.

Fezzik - I suppose just "loyalty" is enough of a reason to stick with Inigo.

How Inigo knew why Westley was locked up - Nope. Everything with Max occurs after Inigo & Fezzik break Westley out. Inigo mentions it while hearing Westley's scream. Inigo should not know anything about the scream other than the extreme pain. This honestly didn't affect my grade a whole lot, but there it is.

Minor characters - I did like Max. "The Albino" gets on good gag (the voice change) but that's about it - he's a net-zero for me. The "Impressive Clergymen" annoyed me more than anything else.

The Princess - She didn't "need" more depth as the plot works fine as is, but for a movie that took the time to develop other characters, to not develop its titular character or give her any sense of self-worth outside of being with Westley is disappointing. She's a prize at the end of the journey and that's it.

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Corrections Department
9/21/2015 03:52:55 pm

"The Albino" gets ONE good gag

Bobby
9/21/2015 07:34:33 pm

What magic are you on about? The only thing sresembling magic would be Inigo and his failed attempt at getting his dad to guide his sword, and the pill that Miracle Max made... and he even says "it'll take a miracle" for that to work (placebo effect!). But Westley coming back is more a satire on the power of true love, than it is about a not so magic pill.

I think Inigo knowing about Westley is some of the same. When Fezzik gets Inigo sobered up, he says he wants the Man in Black.. he even says "you don't know where he is!" and Inigo responds with, "don't bother me with trifles." Leading to the "sound of ultimate suffering", recognizing that it's got to be the man in black since his true love is marrying another. True Love and ultimate suffering guide the way!

As for Fezzik... it was clear he wasn't the brightest of people, and wasn't a social butterfly... but we also see early on that he makes a connection with Inigo... and his only friend is more important than the Brute Squad... so why not stick with him? Fezzik rhymes even more in the book... it's wonderful.

I can get that take on Buttercup... And this certainly doesn't pass the Bechdel Test. But I suppose it'd also be fair to argue that Westley's entire survival, motivation, and worth was tied to Buttercup and their love. Also, she thought Westley was dead for five years, and found joy in her daily rides. That said, I agree that she deserved to be fleshed out more and not mostly presented as simply just a damsel to be rescued.

As for Humperdinck choosing Buttercup, it's touched on in the books, but that, of course, doesn't help the movie audience! But anyway, she was the most beautiful, and he essentially just picked her to kill her, resulting in war because the common people wold love her so much.

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Phil
9/21/2015 08:35:21 pm

Regarding magic - I think you've done a lot of convincing yourself and drawing lines from Point A to Point D while making B & C up.

Regarding the scream - see previous statement.

Regarding Westley existing only for Buttercup - fine, but at least he DOES something and has actions.

Bobby
9/21/2015 08:42:18 pm

So those two things I mentioned are the only magical elements? When neither actually shows, or even implies, any actual magic going on...

Max doesn't even believe in his own 'magic', and Inigo's action is essentially akin to praying and asking a saint... or a dead relative, for guidance.

Bobby
9/21/2015 08:51:06 pm

Also, curious what I made up there...?

Drew
9/21/2015 10:04:10 pm

Phil has his opinion about the scream and nothing will change it and that is fine. Bobby has his opinion about the scream and nothing will change it and that is also fine.

To be fair, Phil, there are connections between A and B but if you do not like them that is entirely your prerogative. To ignore them, however, is a bit simplistic.

Furthermore, the "magical" aspects can be easily dismissed. The "prayer," the "mostly dead," his ability to "quickly heal," etc. They, however, do not hurt the story.

The Princess Bride is a fantastic love story that can be used in college to show one's sensitive side to get laid. To me, it is a romantic reminder how a love story can be funny while endearing.

To reiterate, I am glad you liked it and these small aspects you did not like is merely up for discussion. Bobby and I will come to the film's defense because we really like it - Bobby more so than I. That does not, however, change the fact that we hold differing opinions on the smaller digs of a pretty good film. That is something with which I am perfectly fine.

Bobby
9/22/2015 12:10:08 am

Well, Phil asked questions, so I was trying to answer the ones you didn't, and not strictly defending the movie. And i'm just not sure what Bs and Cs I made up, when what I explained came straight from the movie.

If Phil sees the mentioned elements aas magic, (or others that he hasn't mentioned) that's his perception and it's fine... I just don't think they were meant to be actually magical in any supernatural way, especially with the characters' reactions to them.

Phil
9/22/2015 07:52:55 pm

Drew partially brought up my points, but Bobby, in terms of what you made up, I thought there were a couple of assumptions that you made to get to your point. For instance, can a placebo effect occur if you're given medicine while unconscious or barely conscious? And your point about the scream...

"Leading to the "sound of ultimate suffering", recognizing that it's got to be the man in black since his true love is marrying another. True Love and ultimate suffering guide the way!"

It felt to me like a long walk from ultimate suffering the true love marrying another. Inigo knows maybe that the prince is getting married and that's it. He never runs across the prince. The "ultimate suffering" is more than likely the extreme torture. That's my point there.

Again, we're picking nits at something that ultimately didn't affect my grade at all. I brought it up merely for discussion, and discussion it got. Drew's story about getting laid... Uh, kudos sir.

Bobby
9/22/2015 09:55:37 pm

Yeah, I don't expect you to change your grade because of any of this... and like I said, A- is a totally fair grade. I think it's a movie you might appreciate more on future viewings as well... as it holds up (although, Bryan may disagree)

The (placebo effect!) was said like that for a lil sarcasm... but still, I thought it was clear there was no magic involved by Max's reactions. It was likely more medicinal luck than anything. But I can get where you're coming from.

As for Inigo, he literally says "That is the sound of ultimate suffering... I made that sound the day my father was murdered, the Man in Black makes it now. His true love marries another tonight, who else has cause for ultimate suffering"... I think it's just part of the satire that it's so easy for Inigo to figure it out like that, but he definitely explains himself, so i was using his words, not making anything up. I guess that was me defending myself, more than defending the movie.

Phil
9/23/2015 12:01:05 am

Comedic effect I'd sort of buy for Inigo knowing what's going on. It's the best reasoning I can think of now that you say it.

Sean
9/22/2015 07:37:10 pm

He gave it an A- what do you people want from him

Reply
Drew
9/22/2015 08:26:40 pm

When Phil picked the documentary Dear Zachary, I gave it an A- and Phil asked me several questions as to why it was not an A. My questions, however, are just part of the discussion. Nothing more than that.

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Phil
9/22/2015 11:59:38 pm

Sounds right. I always ask a ton of questions when a review doesn't match with the grade at first blush.

Bobby
9/22/2015 09:57:50 pm

We want the discussion he asked for with his questions and comments. And we got it! Yay, Phil.

I would have thought this was in your A- or A range, too... but see a B+ from you.

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