The Princess Bride (1987) Review

Hello, my name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die”

THE FOLLOWING REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS OF THE DISCUSSED FILM. READERS DISCRETION IS ADVISED.

If you were to ask me what kind of movie defined the term ‘timeless’, one of the few answers I’d give would be 1987’s The Princess Bride.


PLOT


Based on the titular 1973 novel by William Goldman, the film follows a grandfather who visits his sick grandson and chooses to tell him a bedtime story. The said story in the fictional kingdom of Florin and follows a young lady named Buttercup who fell in love with a farmhand named Westley and their love was always professed through the phrase ‘As you wish’. But because he never had the wealth to marry, he left to make that possible. Sadly, he would be presumed dead when word gets out his ship was attacked by the vicious Dread Pirate Roberts. Five years later, Buttercup would be betrothed to the arrogant Prince Humperdinck. Before the wedding however does she get abducted by crafty criminal Vizzini who then gets chased by another man in a black mask. Atop the Cliff of Insanity does that same man defeat a swordsman named Inigo Montoya who vows to avenge his father that was killed by a six fingered man. He then outwits a gentle giant named Fezzik and tricks Vizzini to drink his own poison. As the princess correctly guesses him to be Roberts, she shoves him down a hill but soon realizes he’s also Westley when he says ‘As you wish’ to her again. When passing through the Fire of Swamp does he explain he took the mantle from the previous Roberts who actually retired and let him live out of respect. With enough wealth, he intends to pass the mantle again so he can marry Buttercup as planned. That doesn’t happen yet when Humperdinck finds them out. Rather than let Westley go, he order Count Rugen, Inigo’s six fingered rival, to torture him in the Pit of Despair. With Buttercup planning to kill herself if she’s not freed, the prince admits his intent to start a war with neighboring country Guilder by framing them for her death and her abduction was part of the plan. With Fezzik being assigned to a brute squad, ordered to clear the thieves’ forest, finds Inigo drunk in the forest and sobers him up before revealing Rugen is nearby. Knowing they need Westley’s help, they follow his screams in the Pit of Despair and have him be fully revived by the recently fired folk healer Miracle Max. With him still weak, Fezzik carries him to the castle as the trio interrupt the wedding. Inigo gets his revenge on Rugen and Westley is able to intimidate the prince into surrendering, saving Buttercup’s life in the process. The trio and the princess escape with four horses and after that does Westley offer Montoya the mantle of Dread Pirate Roberts. As the friends part ways does Westley & Buttercup run so far away that they share another kiss knowing no one else will stop them from being together. With the bedtime story, the film ends with the grandpa promising to tell it to his grandson again the next day.

THOUGHTS

This was highly recommended by my friends and I was hesitant about it due to not being sure what to expect until finally giving it a chance. Now that I got around it, I’m glad to have gotten such a blast. Rob Reiner has been one of the most beloved filmmakers of his generation due to having one of the more versatile filmographies out there. Starting with the ’mocku-mentary’ This is Spinal Tap all the way up to the romantic drama The American President, the man was on a roll. This was made in the middle of it and as time goes on, this is the one that has struck people the most with endless energy upon each viewing. Through Goldman’s script, it is the comedy that makes it fun to watch each time. While you get a great improv cameo from Billy Crystal & Carol Kane as Miracle Max & Valerie who steal the show upon each delivery they have on the fly. Besides them, it was really Wallace Shawn and Andre the Giant that made me laugh most during the second act. Shawn made Vizzik so narcissistic that he failed to realize defeat until too late. Plus, each delivery he had shouting ‘Inconceivable’ got to me because it never came off like he ever used it appropriately. And don’t get me started with him using a small knife instead of Inigo’s sword when trying to hold up Westley from following them. As for Andre, I just loved how he made Fezzik the definition of gentle giants due to having solace over the little things like sharing peanuts and finding four horses for the convenience. He’s also a good friend to Inigo in helping him sober up in order to act as fast as they could apart from being immensely strong when stakes demand it. As the production design is very well done with the typical 80s aesthetic for the grandson’s bedroom and the beautiful mystique of Florin, this story has resonated overtime because of how the grandson’s bond with the grandpa. The chemistry between Peter Falk & Fred Savage in their given roles is so dead on to actual bonds in said family relationships and reflects how the audience are digesting the story we’re all experiencing. The way they enjoy each others company thanks to this story proves you don’t know what’ll work until you try it. Henceforth, the the chemistry between Robin Wright & Cary Elwes also makes Buttercup & Westley’s relationship believable to the point that it too teaches the main moral of how true love can conquer anything in its way. Neither of them were looking for love to begin with but it happened as is because she’s never met anyone so loyal and he’s never met anyone so beautiful. Had he not acted such all his life, she never would’ve been able to raise the stakes by trying to take her life to avoid marrying a prince who wasn’t as loving as her first love. Chris Sarandon & Christopher Guest were on point portraying Humperdinck & Rugen as your go-to bad to the bone villains who prefer conquering and enjoy tormenting everyone, thinking power makes them invincible until proven so wrong. Westley did outsmart the prince with all the luck he had left, but the Count bested by a man who waited a long life for vengeance. Last but not least, Mandy Patinkin was the best part of this movie for me due to how Inigo Montoya is the kind of protagonist who acts simple minded but is good hearted to others who treat him equally. He already got along well with Fezzik off of playful rhyming, but he instantly hit it off with Westley as they relate to passion is what drives them for what they wanted and their unison is what led to their well deserved happy endings. Every time he reminded Rugen who he was as he fought him before finishing him was satisfying because we all know what it’s like for fulfilling a big promise like so. And the fact he was passed on the mantle of Dread Pirate Roberts goes a long way because he didn’t know what else to do after over-focusing on revenge, thus further teaching how priceless friendship will always be. With everyone finding their happy endings here, it then expresses it ain’t too late for any of us to get one of our own if we set our mind to it and that’s a good thought if you ask me. I will continue to enjoy this film dearly but there are still some things that I’ve scratched my head over upon rewatching. From the top, you know it’s dumb of Vizzik to think no one would hear Buttercup scream when she was a giddyup away from retreating. He’s lucky she didn’t act fast enough to do so. If you ask me, he jinxed it anyway since Westley still found her. Heck, he’s not insulting anyone saying Greenland is a bad place when it’s in fact a beautiful country for tourism. Then again, I’m more impressed the open flame candles remained lit when the boat was sailing as long as they did at night. If it’s wind powered, it should’ve been out by sunset. Then again, I’m surprised not seeing what happened to it by the time Westley catches up because it vanished like it didn’t exist. And there was no point of him leaving out apples if he wasn’t gonna use them for poison. Also, I know five years can go by fast but Buttercup should’ve recognized Westley’s voice let alone the mustache since it ain’t covered up from the mask. And if I’m gonna get into continuity errors, I don’t think the fire was close enough to strike her dress. Even near the climax, it was annoying Westley would lean his forward in one take only to lean back in the next. If you can still ignore these issues however, then you can still identify The Princess Bride as a timeless family adventure you’ll never stop enjoying to get a taste of. If that’s your top preference, there’s no real reason to not see it at this point.