The Princess Bride (1987)

The Princess Bride is one of the ultimate comedies of all time.  Anyone who has seen this whimsical tale can tell you there is something magical and brilliant about it.  And something outrageously funny.

For the longest time The Princess Bride was my favorite movie of all time.  The reasons are many; it had tons of fantastic action, it told a great and timeless story, it was immensely quotable, and it was funny beyond all reason.  This movie will forever retain a blessed place in my heart, even if other movies have replaced it on my "best ever" list.

You really don't need to know much about the story.  Basically, there's a grandfather reading a sick grandson a book, and we see the book come to life in his imagination.  It stars Carey Elwes and Robin Wright (who later married Sean Penn and added his name to hers), along with appearances from Andre the Giant and Billy Crystal.  Suffice to say, the greatest-named-movie-princess-ever "Buttercup" needs saving from the evil prince, and the dashing Westley/current Dread Pirate Roberts is up to the task.  Along the way we have adventure, giants, pirates, fencing, iocane powder, torture, true love, and the tormentation of farm boys.

And now, in leu of further exposition on the plot, I will simply quote from the movie, laughing all the while as I type: "Anybody want a peanut?"  "Inconceivable!"  "You keep using that word.  I do not think it means what you think it means."  "Mawage.  Mawage is wot bwings us togeder tooday.  Mawage, that bwessed awangment, that dweem, wifin a dweem..."  "It just so happens that your friend here is only mostly dead."  "Murdered by pirates is good!"  "Veer left!"  "And thank you for bringing up such a painful subject.  While  you're at it why don't you give me a paper cut and pour lemon juice on it?"  "As you wish."  "Is this a kissing book?"  "You wish to surrender to me?  Very well, I accept."  "I am not left handed."  "...My way's not very sportsmanlike."  "To the pain!"  "Have you the wing?"  "Perhaps it's just some local fisherman out for a pleasure cruise at night through eel infested waters."  "Life is pain, highness!  Anyone who tells you otherwise is selling something."  "Goodnight Westley, good work, sleep well, I'll most likely kill you in the morning."  "Am I going mad, or did the word think just escape your lips?" "True love is the greatest thing in the world...except for a nice MLT, a Mutton Lettuce and Tomato sandwich."  "Death cannot stop true love.  All it can do is delay it for a while."  "You rush a miracle man you get rotten miracles."  "When I found you, you were so slobbering drunk you couldn't buy brandy!"  "I wonder if he is using the same wind we are using."  "Truly, you have a dizzying intellect."  "I'm not a witch I'm your wife!"  "'Give us the gate key.'  'I have no gate key.'  'Fezzik, tear his arms off.'  'Oh, you mean this gate key!'"  "No one would surrender to the Dread Pirate Westley."  "I've seen worse."  "Humperdinck!  Humperdinck!"  "Let me explain.  No, there is too much; let me sum up."
And of course, "Hello, my name is Inigo Montoya.  You killed my father.  Prepare to die."

The movie isn't perfect by any stretch of the imagination.  It has very little in the way of great and timeless philosophical themes.  It leaves a bit to be desired in the acting department.  It breaks no ground in any technical category.

But in spite of any problems I could point out, I remain convinced that The Princess Bride could not be more perfect.  Even its defects become endearing features to cherish.  For example, I happen to think it adds to the movie that the ROUS's look like guys in giant rat suits.  Watch it.  Laughter guaranteed, and it will probably succeed in touching you as well.

Entertainment: 9/10
Artistic value: 4/10
Technical merit: 4/10

Overall: 6/10