A student's look into the world of cinema and all its elements.



Monday, October 28, 2013

Fred’s Top 50 Films: 35.The Princess Bride (1987)



"As you wish."

“Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die”

-Inigo Montoya


*Spoilers Ahead*


Rob Reiner’s The Princess Bride is the most American Monty Python film ever created. It feels like The Princess Bride is a slightly less wacky (at points), more American humor oriented version of what the famous British troop would have come up with. The result is pure brilliance, a film filled with utter whimsy and a ton of laughs. Not to mention it’s a pop culture juggernaut and one of the most infinitely quotable comedies of all time.


But the largest reason that The Princess Bride is one of the greatest films ever is that buried deep inside the there are some great characters and a large amount of heart to be found. Take for example Inigo Montoya (Mandy Patinkin), who begins as a side character, but ultimately ends up getting the real emotional climax of the film as he gets to standoff with the man who killed his father, and mumble one of the most memorable lines in all of American comedy. It’s sheer brilliance and it’s so hard not to get up and cheer for him during that moment. Best of all that’s only one character out of a formidable cast including Westley (Cary Elwes) who’s personification of the near perfect man had women squealing and men saying “as you wish” more than they should. Plus Andre the Giant gets a great turn as an actor!


Ultimately The Princess Bride is just an amazingly fun adventure, while at the same time having more heart than a film of its type has any right of having. It’s a film that shows that even in this day and age, adventure is not about special effects, it’s about fun; and The Princess Bride is the personification of fun.

-Frederick Cholowski

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