The Princess Bride

[10.0/10] A practically perfect film, one that mixes humor, heart, adventure, and character into one delightful package. The performances are superb, the jokes are hilarious, and despite the frame story that might otherwise create some distance between the audience and the story, it proves to be a wonderful lens to both poking fun at the nature of storytelling but also telling a simple but sweet story about a grandfather and grandson. Nearly every scene of this film is a delight, which is no small feat, and few films anywhere can deliver as much comic fun, thrilling adventure, and compelling heart as *The Princess Bride* does. It's in a class all its own.

Charming, witty and beautiful, a short saga which wears fairy tale inspirations on one sleeve and fantasy inspirations on the other. And, if there were a third sleeve, there we'd see traces of swashbuckling, too. This one hits all the right notes, from the gently-plucked musical score (provided by Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits) to the familiar-yet-surprising twists and turns of the plot to the positively irreplaceable casting decisions.

That last one really stuck with me on this viewing, the realization that every single part was filled by the perfect actor. Cary Elwes and Robin Wright as the smitten, star-crossed lovers; Mandy Patinkin in a vigorously youthful revenge role, complete with a spectacular catchphrase; Andre the Giant as the good-natured, softly-spoken mountain of a man; Wallace Shawn as a smooth-talking Sicilian who might be too smart for his own good; Billy Crystal and Carol Kane effortlessly lightening the mood; Christopher Guest as a cowardly enforcer; Peter Falk and Fred Savage as the story's connection to the modern world. Take away any one of those players and the film suffers.

Rob Reiner, working from novelist William Goldman's screenplay, brings an inherently literary tale to life in ways that must have seemed impossible at the onset. Together, they deliver just the right mix of levity and romance, dramatic tension and comic timing. A few seams show here and there, particularly when scenes aren't shot on-location or monsters threaten the key players, but somehow that just adds to the bemusing magic of it all. Tough to think of a better love letter to the not-so-innocent myths of old, or a more timeless rendition of their common themes.

If there ever was a perfect movie, this is it.

In my opinion, the greatest film ever made. Amazingly well cast with an amusing, eminently quotable script, thrilling action sequences, and a fun story. What vaults this above other films is its replay value. Years later, the jokes still land. I recently introduced my tween to this (to initial eyerolls) and they kept exclaiming through the movie how great it was. Rarely does a film provide such a complete experience. Should we watch it again? As you wish.

THIS MOVIE IS ABSOLUTELY AWESOME AMAZING AND SOMETHING VERY VERY SPECIAL INDEED. TRULY PHENOMENAL AND CHARMING AND VERY VERY HEART FELT.
WOW...JUST..WOW
TIMELESS AND IS ONE OF THE BEST LOVE STORIES EVER EVER TOLD.
I LOVE IT 3000
AND CAN WATCH IT OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
WHAT A SPECIAL ONCE IN A LIFETIME MOVIE THIS IS AND ALWAYS WILL BE.
10/10+
THE GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING AND MORE....

The Princess Bride may be the best fairytale told in the most fairytale way. The characters are magnificent and expertly cast, the humor is creative and intelligent, and the pacing is perfect. I don't know that I've ever seen cheesy work so well.

**T**_heme_- 10/10
**R**_ewatchibility_- 9.5/10
**A**_cting_- 10/10
**K**_inematography_- 10/10
**T**_ime_- 10/10
**Total** - 49.5/5 = ==9.9==

I hadn't seen this masterpiece in over a decade, so of course I jumped at the opportunity to re-watch it when a friend told me they had never seen it. Before we started the movie, I was surprised to see its length: less than 100 minutes! I was incredulous. How could the countless incredible scenes that I remember from my childhood be packed into such a small package. I soon found out the answer. The entire movie is just those incredible scenes. There is no filler. It cuts from one highlight to the next at a breakneck pace that honestly was a bit jarring compared to what I'm used to these days. Some of this is due to editing choices, i.e. establishing shots are short and to the point, we don't linger in scenes, etc.. But the other key factor here is efficiency in story telling. There is not a superfluous scene, dangling plot thread, or wasted line of dialogue in the entire film. As my friend put it, "had this film been done in the style of Avatar Way of the Water, the opening love story with Westley and Buttercup on the farm would have been 30 minutes long instead of 30 seconds".

Now, while the pacing was jarring, the movie as a whole holds up incredibly well. The most impressive thing on display here is the characters. Through a combination of stellar writing and fantastic performances, the heroes, the villains, and everyone in between are all established as memorable, unique, and most importantly, fun. To highlight anyone in particular feels unfair given that everyone is excellent, but Mandy Patinkin and André the Giant are personal favorites, bringing humor and heart in equal measure.

I reserve 10/10 ratings for movies that have everything. Action. Adventure. Comedy. Romance. Just all around crowd pleasers. This movie is usually the first example I point to. Now, re-watching with a modern eye, would I still give it a perfect score? Probably not. But does it still deserve a perfect score? Absolutely.

Hello, my name is J. You killed my ... Never mind.

Who doesn't love a cult classic that is as true to its novelization as one can get? Of course, the fact that the same person wrote the script and the novelization may have something to do with that. I recommend a read-and-watch pairing as each interaction with the story will benefit from the other.

Romantic movie is so pretty I love it