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List Price: $14.98 | | Label: MGM (Video & DVD)
Salesrank: 285
Released: November 13, 2007 |
| Our Price: $6.98 |
| Used Price: $6.26 |
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MPAA Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
From celebrated director Rob Reiner (When Harry Met Sally) and OscarÂ(r)-winning* screenwriter William Goldman (Chaplin) comes "an enchanting fantasy" (Time) filled with adventure, romance and plenty of "good-hearted fun" (Roger Ebert)! Featuring a spectacular cast thatincludes Robin Wright (Forrest Gump), Cary Elwes (Liar, Liar), Mandy Patinkin (Dick Tracy) and Billy Crystal (City Slickers), this wonderful fairy tale about a Princess named Buttercup and her beloved is "a real dream of a movie" (People)! *1969: OriginalScreenplay, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid 1976: Adapted Screenplay, All the President's Men
Description of The Princess Bride (20th Anniversary Edition):
Screenwriter William Goldman's novel The Princess Bride earned its own loyal audience on the strength of its narrative voice and its gently satirical, hyperbolic spin on swashbuckled adventure that seemed almost purely literary. For all its derring-do and vivid over-the-top characters, the book's joy was dictated as much by the deadpan tone of its narrator and a winking acknowledgement of the clichés being sent up. Miraculously, director Rob Reiner and Goldman himself managed to visualize this romantic fable while keeping that external voice largely intact: using a storytelling framework, avuncular Grandpa (Peter Falk) gradually seduces his skeptical grandson (Fred Savage) into the absurd, irresistible melodrama of the title story.
And what a story: a lowly stable boy, Westley (Cary Elwes), pledges his love to the beautiful Buttercup (Robin Wright), only to be abducted and reportedly killed by pirates while Buttercup is betrothed to the evil Prince Humperdinck. Even as Buttercup herself is kidnapped by a giant, a scheming criminal mastermind, and a master Spanish swordsman, a mysterious masked pirate (could it be Westley?) follows in pursuit. As they sail toward the Cliffs of Insanity...
The wild and woolly arcs of the story, the sudden twists of fate, and, above all, the cartoon-scaled characters all work because of Goldman's very funny script, Reiner's confident direction, and a terrific cast. Elwes and Wright, both sporting their best English accents, juggle romantic fervor and physical slapstick effortlessly, while supporting roles boast Mandy Patinkin (the swordsman Inigo Montoya), Wallace Shawn (the incredulous schemer Vizzini), and Christopher Guest (evil Count Rugen) with brief but funny cameos from Billy Crystal, Carol Kane, and Peter Cook. --Sam Sutherland
The Princess Bride (20th Anniversary Edition) Reviews:
Great movie! 
2009-11-05 -
Great movie for the whole family. A classic. Intelligently entertaining with lots of lines you'll never forget.
Classic fairy tale
2009-10-24 - The Princess Bride is a timeless classic. Filled with "fencing, fighting, torture, revenge, giants, monsters, chases, escapes, true love, miracles" - who couldn't be entertained by such a movie? It's funny and quotable, easily enjoyed by adults and kids. The Princess Bride is one of my favorite movies from growing up.
Inconceivable!
2009-10-14 - One of the best movies to share with your kids or family. What makes this movie great is the fact that there is something in it for everyone. True love, sword fights, deception, revenge and all without blood and cursing.
The Princess Bride
2009-10-06 - This movie is timeless. 20 years later it still holds up perfectly. Was excited to view it with my 9 year old son and 7 year old daughter, and they LOVED it. Has become their current favorite movie. Good times for everyone.
Come, Grandson! I'll Tell You A Tale....
2009-09-26 - Courtesy of Rob Reiner's skillful direction, and novelist and screenplay writer William Goldman, the world has been presented with a fabulous screen adaptation of the story of an adventurer(Cary Elwes), and his ladylove( Robin Wright), who is very reluctantly about to become a Princess Bride to the Crown Prince of Florin, the evil Prince Humperdinck(Chris Sarandon).
The film adds the element of narration not featured in "The'Good Parts' Version" of S. Morgenstern's "The Princess Bride", by way of an elderly gentleman (Peter Falk) reading a story to his bedridden grandson (Fred Savage), whose apprehension over some of the story's content--specifically the kissing scenes--gradually fades.
We are regaled with story story of the fictional country of Florin, where Buttercup (Wright) the most beautiful woman in the world, torments the farm boy, Wesley(Elwes), whom she eventually comes to love. He goes away to seek his fortune to provide a comfortable life for them when they marry, and Buttercup learns he has been killed by the dread pirate Roberts. She is devastated, but five years later, is betrothed to Prince Humperdinck.
The lonely bride-to-be finds consolation in her daily solitary ride on horseback. But on one such occassion, she is kidnapped by three men, the cunning leader of the group, Vizzini( Wallace Shawn), the Turkish giant, Fezzik (Andre the Giant), and the Spanish swordsman, Inigo Montoya(Mandy Patinkin), who were actually hired by Humperdinck to murder her, frame the enemy country of Guilder for the deed, and start a war. But a mysterious pirate ship thwarts these plans. After besting Montoya (who is on his own personal quest for vengeance) and Fezzik, and engaging in a battle of wits with mastermind Vizzini that results in his death, the mysterious, pirate, believed to be Roberts, lays claim to Buttercup, who initially fails to recognize him as her beloved Wesley. But when she does, their reunion is poignant, and Wesley's words, reassuring and gentle.
They survive the fireswamp, only to encounter Humperdinck and his entourage on the other side. Buttercup surrenders herself to the prince in the hope that Wesley will be spared. Wesley notices that the prince's henchman, Count Rugen (Christopher Guest)fits the description of the man Montoya was looking for.
The old adage, "The course of true love never ran smoothly" is reaffirmed in this tale. But traveling this course, we encounter many colorful characters, including Mel Smith's Albino, who helps Count Rugen carry out his torture of Wesley (as the Count makes inquiries about Wesley's feelings in calm, intellectual tones), Billy Crystal's Miracle Max, once fired by Humperdick, but whom with the encouragement of his wife, Valerie (Carol Kane), helps tip the balance in Wesley's favor, the Impressive Clegyman (Peter Cook), who is charged with performing the marriage ceremony, and Malcolm Storry's Yellin, the head of the Palace Guard who fits the book's description of that character. Anne Dyson and Willoughby Gray are the King and Queen whose kindness is once of Buttercup's few consolations in her life at the palace.
Amid an alliance formed by former foes, and a bit of humor along the way, the story is brought to its highly favorable conclusion.Striking just the right amount of humor, heart, and intelligence, this 1987 favorite has justly earned the title of "classic", and it will undoubtedly continue to withstand the test of time.
