Book & Movie Review: The Princess Bride

Author: William Goldman

Published: 1973

Number of Pages: 283

Genre: Fairytale

Movie Rating: PG

Movie Released: 1987

Stand Alone/Series: Stand Alone

Why This Book/Movie: It's a classic! It says so on the book cover! ^_^ "Hot Fairy-Tale Classic" to be exact.

Book Blurb: What happens when the most beautiful girl in the world marries the handsomest prince in the world and he turns out to be a son of a bitch? (How can you NOT read a book with a blurb like that!?)

Hero: Westley. He's dashing, heroic and great at everything. What more do we want in a hero?

Heroine: Buttercup. As a heroine she really is too stupid to live and really there's not much to say about her other than she's the most beautiful girl in the world at the time our story opens. But its a fairytale and we have to have the beautiful princess in for this story to work. She's basically the window dressing to the for the story.

Review: A great read. The book is written as if it were an adaptation or abridgment of a much older (and more boring) fairy-tale/history written by one Simon Morgenstern. It has many funny asides by the author/editor of the story about the boring parts that are left out as well as some parts that his publisher thought were not relevant or thing that could cause trouble with the historians of the original book. I love his reminiscences of when his father read him this book.

Its a story of true love and revenge. On the true love side we have Buttercup and Westley as lovers torn apart by fate and now find a way to be together. On the revenge side we have Inigo Montoya's search of the six fingered man who killed his father so that he can have his vengeance. It has kidnappings, pirates, death duels, and miracles. Everything you could possibly want in a fairytale.

What I liked best: There are so many good parts it's really quite hard to choose. But I think I would have to go with Fezzik, the kind-hearted giant and his love of rhyming. He's strong enough to kill a man with a single blow bare handed but he would much rather spend his life in peace making rhymes. And really Prince Humperdinck! What a name!

What I least liked: The part where the man in black slaps Buttercup. Thankfully that didn't make it into the movie.

Keeper?: Yes

Movie Trailer: Here

Review: The movie a perfect adaptation of the book. But that is to be expected as William Goldman is also a screen writer. Much of the dialog is verbatim and even the breaks in the book where the author reminiscences about when his father read the book to him made it into the movie.

The movie is perfectly cast. Mandy Patinkin as Inigo Montoya and Andre the Giant as Fezzik are great. But Cary Elwes as Westley is perfect. His dry wit and wonderful comedic timing is great fun. And he's resemblance to the dashing Errol Flynn doesn't hurt either.

The movie is fast pace and keeps you entertained right up to the end. Its wonderfully funny and heart warming. Its the perfect pick-me-up whenever you are down for whatever the reason.

What I liked best: All whole chase between the kidnappers (Inigo, Fezzik and Vizzini) and the Man in Black. Though in particular I love the sword fight at the top of the Cliffs of Insanity (that name alone has me in giggles) and Inigo's impatience to get the fight started. And the Wedding is too funny to miss!

What I least liked: Oh there is nothing about the movie I don't like. The casting and the chemistry of the cast is perfect.

Recommendation: Everyone should see the movie! The book is great but movie is absolutely perfect!

Book Rating: A
Movie Rating: A+++++ It's the best movie ever!