“An instant classic. The goodtime movie of the year.” — Peter Travers, People Magazine.
“One of the funniest and most charming comedies I’ve seen in a long time. Two big thumbs up!” – Roger Ebert. SISKEL & EBERT & THE MOVIES.
These two quotes on the VHS jacket for “The Princess Bride” (1987 – PG) proved enticing enough to cause me to revisit the movie. I’m glad that I did!
Fairy tale is right!
There is a beautiful princess named Buttercup (Robin Wright in her introductory screen role); a sword fighter named Ingio Montoya (Mandy Patinkin) who has been waiting for 20 years to find the six-fingered man who killed his father; a giant (wrestling star Andre the Giant); and even a kvetching miracle man (Billy Crystal).
It begins with a book being read to a young sick boy (Fred Savage) by his grandfather (Peter Falk). The fantasy scenes are interrupted occasionally by a return to the book reading, and then the plot resumes where the fairy tale journey has left off. Peter Falk plays his role in a manner reminiscent of his Lieutenant Colombo role on the TV series “Columbo.”
Buttercup and farm boy Westley (Cary Elwes) are in love. Westley leaves by ship to seek his fortune so that he can marry his true love; later he is believed dead because pirates attacked the ship. The plot advances five years, when Buttercup has been chosen to marry the prince Humperdinck (Chris Sarandon). She, of course, has never gotten over her love for Westley but has no choice but to marry the prince. She is kidnapped – and therein lies the adventure part of the movie.
The kidnappers (and Buttercup) are pursued by a man in black; there is a journey through the Fire Swamps, with quicksand and a giant rodent; chases; some primitive torture on a cobbled-up torture machine; a visit to a miracle man; skirmishes at a castle; a sword fight between Montoya and the six-fingered man, and, you guessed it, a fairy tale ending.
In conclusion:
I did find “The Princess Bride” to be both charming and funny. Robin Wright was perfectly cast as the princess, other actors seemed suitably cast, and I especially enjoyed Andre the Giant who brought humor and comedy to his role.
I’ll place my humble “two thumbs up” next to that offered by the famous Roger Ebert!
The rating is PG. The scenes are funny and charming, so tweens and up, and even adults would probably like this movie. There are a few scenes (a death by sword, the cobbled-together torture machine, and the Fire Swamp journey) that have probably earned the movie a PG rating. As always, it is up to the parents to decide age suitability.
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Other movie reviews by R.C. Johnson: The Mission; Top Gun; Crocodile Dundee; Maid to Order; Beaches; The Indian in the Cupboard; O Brother, Where Art Thou?; Witness; The Gods Must Be Crazy; Flywheel, Facing the Giants and Fireproof.
Sources for updates on the major stars of the movies:
wikipedia.org,The Princess Bride (film)
wikipedia.org, Robin Wright Penn
wikipedia.org, Cary Elwes
wikipedia.org, Mandy Patinkin
wikipedia.org, Chris Sarandon
wikipedia.org, Andre the Giant
wikipedia.org, Billy Crystal
wikipedia.org, Peter Falk
wikipedia.org, Fred Savage
