Review of Princess Bride, The

Introduction

The Princess Bride has always been something of a cult classic. By cult, I mean that every time there is a greatest movie ever poll, about three people vote for The Princess Bride. There are websites where the merits of the film are discussed, every nuance of the characters endlessly analysed. Generally, this kind of behaviour has the majority of film fans scratching their heads and collectively voicing an incredulous "Huh?" So what`s so great about this movie?

The Princess Bride is a fairy tale, pure and simple. Just look at the cover of the DVD, it boldly announces "Heroes, Giants, Wizards, Villians, True Love" including the spelling mistake. It delivers on all counts. The film begins with a child in his sick bed playing computer games. His grandfather visits and brings a book to read to him, the eponymous Princess Bride and proceeds to relate the tale of passion and intrigue to an initially reluctant grandson. The story concerns the love between Westley and Buttercup, a farm boy and his mistress. Like all good fairy tales, Westley leaves to seek his fortune (no reason necessary) but his ship is waylaid by the Dread Pirate Roberts and he is presumed killed. Five years later, Buttercup overcome by grief has become cold-hearted and has agreed to marry the Prince of Florin, Humperdinck, forsaking her dreams of happiness. A week before the wedding, she is out riding when the wily Sicilian, Vizzini and his henchmen, the giant Fezzik and the Spanish Swordsman, Inigo Montoya, kidnap her. Vizzini has been paid to start a war between the two states of Florin and Guilder and murdering the princess is a good way to start. While the trio are making off with their captive, they find that a mysterious masked man, intent on taking Buttercup for himself, is pursuing them. Yes, the stranger in black is Westley, and his quest to regain his lost love is just beginning.

Video

The DVD is presented with a 1.85 anamorphic transfer and is adequate, if barely.
The picture is well presented; the colours are lush and contrast well defined. However the picture is not as sharp as I would have preferred. I never saw this film in the cinema, so maybe it was originally shot in soft focus but I doubt that. It is barely noticeable, but I have come to expect sharper pictures from DVD. The cinematography itself is gorgeous. Shot in England and Ireland it makes the most of rolling hills and verdant dales, there are several kisses silhouetted in sunset, just what you want from a fairy tale. For a fantasy film, it is remarkably effects light, letting the story and the characters speak for themselves, which is a refreshing change.

Audio

You get a DD 5.1 soundtrack. This is pretty much standard for DVDs nowadays but there aren`t a lot of opportunities for your speakers to get a workout as this film relies more on dialogue than big bangs. The music is composed by Mark Knopfler and is gentle and appropriate to the film. The incidental music is under-orchestrated, but this is deliberately so as to maintain the illusion of a story being read to a child.

Features

Extras are minimal. You get the Trailer and Filmographies. The Filmographies are minimalist to say the least, and are only lists of films with no added material of any kind. That`s your lot. However, I must mention the lack of any subtitles whatsoever. That is really pathetic, you would think by now that subtitles would be standard on any release. A slap on the wrist for Columbia Tristar.

Conclusion

The cast is incomparable. Fred Savage plays the sick grandson and Peter Falk the grandfather who also narrates the film. Cary Elwes plays Westley and looks dashing and brave as the adventurer. Robin Wright appears in her "and introducing" role as Buttercup. Mandy Patinkin is the flamboyant Spaniard, Inigo Montoya in a quest for revenge. WWF superstar Andre the Giant appeared as the gentle Fezzik with a penchant for rhyming. Wallace Shawn plays the devious Vizzini and Chris Sarandon is the prince, Humperdinck. Also appearing in this movie are Christopher Guest as the evil Count Rugen, Billy Crystal as the magician, Miracle Max, Mel Smith as the torturer, The Albino and a cameo from Peter Cook as the impressive clergyman. The performances are top-notch and help make the film riveting from beginning to end.

O.K. This film isn`t simply a fairy tale. William Goldman (Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid) wrote the original novel and he wrote the screenplay as well. The novel is a multi-layered satire and the film is what`s left after a few layers are removed. I must admit that the film in this form is more accessible than the novel and the satire just as biting. Children can watch this film as a pure fairy tale and adults can laugh at the quips about land wars in South East Asia. This is an irreverent look at the fantasy genre and subverts the standards laid down by Tolkien and worshipped by D & D aficionados. In fact this film contains the germ of an idea that has blossomed and grown into a genre dominated by Terry Pratchett, the comedy fantasy.

It`s easy to see why this is a cult film. It`s full of left-field characters and the kind of dialogue that fanatics can quote at each other leaving the general public nonplussed. I`m sure that there are Princess Bride conventions somewhere where people go dressed in holocaust cloaks quoting "Hello, I`m `insert name here`, you killed my father. Prepare to die". Don`t let that put you off. Watch this film and prepare to be charmed by a gentle fantasy with more than a touch of irreverent wit. It is absolutely, and in all other ways inconceivable, that you`ll hate this film.