 | |
List Price: $14.98 | | Label: MGM (Video & DVD)
Salesrank: 4413
Released: September 4, 2001 |
| Our Price: $5.93 |
| Used Price: $2.50 |
|
MPAA Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Media: DVD |
|
Editorial Review:
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
Description of The Princess Bride (Special 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
Beyond The Princess Bride on DVD
Watch Once on DVD | 
Check out an old favorite, Willow on DVD | 
See the new classic Under the Same Moon on DVD |
Stills from The Princess Bride (Click for larger image) The Princess Bride (Special Edition) Reviews:
Fantabulist Movie 
2008-08-05 - This movie has everything - love, death, duels, a giant, a magic man,an evil prince, and a miracle. What more could you ask for in a movie? The stars are excellent, the story is fantabulous! Don't miss this one. It may be an older movie, but it lives forever in your imagination.
For children of all ages
2008-07-27 - This is a movie for children. However, the adult audience will find the satirical humour not to mention parodies of the cliche entertaining. It has something for everyone, dashing heroes, giants, swashbuckling spaniards, six-fingered men, canniving princes, mysterious masked men, innocent farmboys, swooning princesses, tongue-tied priests, cynical miracle workers, cunning sicillians, not to mention, rodents of unusual size.
Throughout all the comic relief, strong typecast performances, a general optimism pervades the whole movie, and few will come away, in fact it would be "inconceivable" to see the movie without remembering a few quotable lines.
Great script, great cast, great pacing.
No collection complete without it
2008-07-25 - This movie, in my opinion, is essential to any collection. I will have to see the movie a dozen times, I think, to tease out all the hidden social comments. The DVD is excellent quality.
You know a movie is a classic when...
2008-07-16 - ...you watch it again 21 years later and it's even better than you remember it. The depth of the characters, the haunting music, the HUMOR!!! Truly one of the most endearing movies I have ever seen.
- Lauri Loewenberg
Author of Cracking The Dream Code
sweet movie
2008-07-12 - have this in VHS, just updateing. its all worn out. we can all quote this movie for road trips...so sweet.
