The Princess Bride Reviews

Some ingenuity utterly ruined by misogynist agenda

Please don't let your small children watch this film. It has the following life lessons I think we're all familiar with:

1) women are commodities, to be carried around, bickered over and swapped.

2) women are emotionally weak - so destroyed by their loved ones dying that they become willing to become anyone's wife.

3) women are useless in any kind of dire physical situation.

4) men are the only characters who can save any kind of day, utter witticisms, or have any sort of control.

5) it is ok to aim this sort of thing at male and female children.

Despite this film having some innovative and enjoyable characters in Inigo Montoya and Wesley, as well as the giant, women are subjugated and controlled so much so that I just couldn't watch it without cringing - how dare they put out this misogynist stereotypical rubbish to young boys and girls and somehow market it as different to any trite Disney cartoon story?

In summation; occasionally funny and interesting, largely painful, outdated and women-hating.

To be young again.

For me this is the greatest childrens film of all time. It has everything; pirates, spaniards, giants, sword fights, a beautiful princess and much more. The best thing about this film, is that if you are an adult and rent it for your child, I asure that you will be more than happy to sit and watch it with them.

A classic!

Ever since seeing this film 12 years ago or so I have been trying to get hold of a copy. Seeing it again all these years later it has lost none of its charm or humour. My little girl of 4 was also transfixed.

The film is a comedy fairytale told by Grandad Peter Falk to his 'Wonder Years' Grandson. There is Swashbuckling swordplay reminiscent of Danny Kaye and Basil Rathbone in 'The court jester'. There are superb cameo appearances by Billy Crystal, Peter cook, Mel Smith etc but you have to look hard thru all the make up. There is a great story of true love with a charming/brave hero and an elegant/beautiful heroine. But perhaps best of all the film takes the mickey out of itself and the fantasy/fairytale genre in general, creating a very funny, warm and captivating film.

They say that everybody chould at some point in their life watch 'Schindler's list'. I say they should also own a copy of this.

Better than "Shrek"

It's now a commonplace for movies aimed at the pre-teen market to secrete a few gags in there for the Mums and Dads so as to broaden the film's appeal. "The Princess Bride" doesn't do that - it works on the assumption that you treat your story and your audience with respect and that the best jokes work right across the age range.

This film sparkles from start to finish as it tracks its heroes through a landscape of castles, wizards, giants and Screaming Eels!

Director Rob Reiner ("This is Spinal Tap") and writer William Goldman (too many to mention but try "Butch Cassidy","The Stepford Wives" and "Marathon Man" for starters) - this team have created a pretty near flawless film that you'll find yourself watching time and time again.

Great cast too, with Peter Falk topping and tailing the story, Wallace Shawn as a particularly irritating, scheming thief and the implausibly named Mandy Patinkin (he's a he!) as the totally indomitable swashbuckler Inigo Montoya.

Sorry DVDSONTAP but this is one to buy not rent!'

[Highly rated reviewer]

NOT a children's film

I'll start by saying this is one of my all time favourite films, certainly in my top 10... maybe higher. It's funny, charming, witty, satirical, romantic, and so much more. The acting is wonderful, plot great, and the movie well shot.

This is a cult classic and much loved movie, I feel for good reason. It seems to have gained especial popularity among the geek/nerd crowd. Anybody that posts on Slashdot comments regularly will know what I mean.

As I mentioned in the first paragraph, this is a wonderful film well deserved of it's status of 'a classic' and I'm pleased to see so many positive reviews for this HOWEVER this is NOT a kids film. No, it dosen't have any swearing, gratuitous sex sense, killings, showers of blood, nudity or drug taking. It's a little sad that people seem to feel that swearing, killing and sex equals 'mature' A light satirical fun romance/action/adventure movie with it's tounge firmly in cheek. So don't be put off by this movie because you think 'it's for kids.' I'm actually really annoyed people keep on refering to it as a kids movie. You might as well say something like Indiana Johns is a kids movie because it lacks full on sex scenes and people being gunned down by drug addled hit men.

Just... Well, just trust me on this one, huh? Watch it, it's one of the best ;-)

Found this film rather silly for adluts. Would suit younger children who enjoy fantisy.

I didn't enjoy this movie at all. I found it boring and kept waiting for something interesting to happen.

Didn't bother watching after the first 20 minutes. Terrible film. Dissappointing for such a great director.

not your everyday ho hum run of the mill fantasy!

The Princess Bride is just one of those very watchable movies. Great fun, great fights, good charactors. All in all a great family movie. Watch it and bring plenty of popcorn!

[Highly rated reviewer]

The Princess Bride

A Grandfather (Peter Falk) visits his ill grandson (Fred Savage) to read him the story of The Princess Bride. As the grandfather reads the story, the action comes alive. The beautiful Buttercup (Wright), betrothed against her will to Prince Humperdink (Sarandon), is kidnapped and Westley (Elwes) (her true love) attempts to save her. On the way he makes unlikely allies of an accomplished swordsman (Patinkin) and a huge, super strong giant (Andre The Giant), both of whom become his companions in his quest. Can true love conquer all?

The Princess Bride is a unique film. Now more than 15 years old it remains both timeless and brilliant.

What is truly remarkable about the film is how long it took to reach the screen, more than 15 years passed between the writing of William Goldman's novel (he also penned the screenplay) and the release of this film. According to Goldman TWO studio bosses who each wanted desperately to make The Princess Bride were fired weeks before they were due to begin the process. But happily the wait for this film was not in vain, in fact I think it helped. Not only did it mean that Goldman had a lot of time to work on his (fabulous) screenplay but also that this project came along at the right time for the perfect cast.

I believe that the genius of The Princess Bride is in the casting. It is rare that you see a film in which there is not a single role you feel could be better cast, The Princess Bride is that rarest of beasts.

Cary Elwes seemed destined to be a leading man after this film, it has not happened for him, but his performance here is wonderful, showing both impeccable comic timing and a gift for serious acting (well, as serious as this film ever gets). It is to Elwes credit that lines like 'Death cannot stop true love, it can only delay it for a while' sound heartfelt, rather than schmaltzy.

Robin Wright is the perfect Buttercup. She’s astonishingly beautiful but more than that she plays the role (her first in cinema) with a nice combination of vulnerability and defiance, she never lets Buttercup become totally helpless, even when Westly is around. That would render her nothing more than the standard damsel in distress we've seen in a million films. Particularly by the end of the film Buttercup is a stronger character than that. Wright is also impressive technically; her English accent is so good that some people don't believe me when I tell them she's from Texas.

I could eulogize the performances of each individual member of the cast at length but that would serve little purpose and bore the pants off anyone reading this let me simply say that each member of the main cast fits their role perfectly and plays it well. Special mention must, however, be made of two cameo performances: Peter Cook as the Bishop and Billy Crystal as Miracle Max. Each is gifted with some wonderful comic moments (though in Crystals case I suspect much was improvised) and in short appearances make a great impact on the film.

Midway through the film there is a swordfight between Westly and Inigo (Patinkin). Even taking into consideration the masterful work in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon this is still, to my mind, the best swordfight ever committed to film. It's inventively choreographed, full of twists and, perhaps most importantly, obviously entirely performed by Elwes and Patinkin.

The special effects of the film (matte paintings etc) are somewhat dated now but this only serves to add to the films abundant charm. It doesn't quite look real, so what? It's a fairy tale, why does it need to look real? The effects never look poorly implemented, it is simply that things have moved on, but it would be a travesty if they were re-done a la ET and Star Wars.

The Princess Bride is the quintessential family film. Kids will love the swashbuckling adventure story. Adults get a touching and believable love story, with a couple you really root for and many laugh out loud moments. It is also quite possibly the most re-watchable film I have ever seen. If you have not seen this film I'd advise that you do so at the first opportunity, I've never met anyone who doesn't like it.