Film: The princess bride

[liv]

Verdict: The Princess Bride is really one of a kind.

Reasons for watching it: People close to me have been quoting it at me my whole life, and for a long time I was so annoyed with the whole thing that I was reluctant to see it. And then darcydodo and cartesiandaemon ganged up on me and so I had to succumb.

Circumstances of watching it: cartesiandaemon helpfully lent me the DVD. Since I am home sick today, too ill to do anything that requires brainpower, but not ill enough to spend the whole day in bed, I thought I'd give it a try, and it's an appropriate film to pick in the circumstances.

I am not sure it's possible to review The princess bride; it's just what it is. I enjoyed it, even though it makes no sense and the acting is wooden and the special effects are dire. There's something rather sweet about it overall, though. I like the fact that it's so over the top melodramatic and makes no apologies for such, and dead people don't stay dead, and once the world is set up so that cause and effect are broken, just about anything can happen so it's impossible to predict where it's going.

Anyway, now I've seen it so the cultural references will make sense to me. It definitely kept me entertained when I was feeling brainless and besnotted, so that's cool. And the kid from The wonder years is in it, how weird.

Comments

[llennhoff.livejournal.com]

Now read the book, of which the movie is the palest intimation.

[lizzip.livejournal.com]

Agreed!

[cartesiandaemon.livejournal.com]

Demur...

[robhu.livejournal.com]

He wasn't dead, he was mostly dead ;-)

[shreena.livejournal.com]

And mostly dead is slightly alive.

[taimatsu]

It was the first film I ever saw in a cinema. Images from it stayed with me for decades - but I only saw it a second time last Christmas :)

[ewx.livejournal.com]

Fantastic film, was introduced to it by lnr, have seen it many times though not as many as she has.

[rochvelleth.livejournal.com]

This was my favourite film as a child, when the unsubtlety of it didn't matter to me and fancying Inigo Montoya just felt right (possibly because I also grew up watching the High Chapparal and had a thing for hispanic accents). I can't quite imagine coming to it as an adult! I have a very deep and unwavering affection for the Princess Bride, and your postjust reminded me that this is based entirely on a child's reaction to it as a film.

[rysmiel.livejournal.com]

Oh, I forgot to post that one of the odder things that happened in passing over the Farthing party weekend was embryomystic and myself spotting someone in a Metro station who was wearing a t-shirt of Inigo Montoya's head done in iconic black-on-red Che Guevara fashion.

[dampscribbler.livejournal.com]

I would love to see that shirt!

[hairyears.livejournal.com]

Oh dear... This means that I am the only person I know who hasn't seen The Princess Bride. Could someone wrie a bluffers' guide so that I can get the cultural references?

[lizzip.livejournal.com]

I'll lend you the book. :p It doesn't take much reading.

[ravingglory.livejournal.com]

I'm also a fan of the book over the movie. There are things one can do with words that can never be done on film. For example I adore the princess with the hats. The whole set up of the book is just wonderful, and funny. The only thing the movie has going for it is better looking sword fights.