The Princess Bride
For those of you paying attention, I hinted what this weeks cult classic maybe; The Princess Bride. One again, I delve into the world of fantasy, childlike adventure, damsels in distress and swash buckling heroes. And somehow, yet again, I’m unintentional writing a film that stars Colombo aka Peter Falk (the other one was German masterpiece Wings of Desire.) If you have never heard of The Princess Bride then I order you to go to your nearest movie shop (or The Prince Charles Cinema as they constantly show it) and give your inner child a feast of movie bliss.
The Princess Bride starring Cary Elwes and Mandy Patinkin is a mystical adventure set in the medieval era. Princess Buttercup has an obedient farm hand named Westley who “as you wishes” her every command. When she finally admits she loves him, he goes off to seek his fortune so they can be wed. However, upon hearing the news that he has died, Buttercup (after five years because she is not that heartless) reluctantly agrees to marry Prince Humperdink. When she is captured by three outlaws, it is up to Westley to get her back. The film is set as a story between Grandfather (Falk) and Grandson (Fred “The Wonder Years” Savage) and is a heart racing adventure.
The Princess Bride is one of those movies that is great for the whole family, it has daring escapes, some brilliant sword fights, wrestling matches and a challenge of wits. In that aspect, The Princess Bride will keep your children vastly entertained by its adventure. For the adults, there is no need to despair (or fall into a pit of it,) because the humour and the comic cameos are vastly entertaining. The Princess Bride is tongue in cheek and it intends to be. The exaggerated theatricality of the movie that is much akin to movies such as The Holy Grail push this fantasy epic beyond your run of the mill family movies. It is a quote fest which still holds up now as it is vastly enjoyed by the cult following who continue to say “My name is Ingio Montoya, you killed my father. Prepare to die. There is suspense, romance and intrigue and pleases everyone.
With many fantasy films before hand, The Princess Bride isn’t a shiny gleaming perfect film. The sets contrasting the rolling hills of British countryside, feel fake and two dimensional. And some scenes which are meant to be heart racing often feel flat or passes the point of being over the tip. But written by William Goldman (who wrote Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid) this movie has enough to keep your eyes glued to the screen. It breaks the fourth wall and captures are hearts as Westley battles to save his precious buttercup. With a few Rodents of Unusual Size thrown in.
TTFN
Cookie.