Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #444 in DVD
• Released on: 2007-09-17
• Rating: Parental Guidance
• Format: PAL
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 94 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
Screenwriter William Goldman's novel The Princess Bride earned its own loyal audience on the strength of its narrative voice and its gently satirical, hyperbolic spin on swashbuckled adventure that seemed almost purely literary. For all its derring-do and vivid over-the-top characters, the book's joy was dictated as much by the deadpan tone of its narrator and a winking acknowledgement of the clichés being sent up. Miraculously, director Rob Reiner and Goldman himself managed to visualize this romantic fable while keeping that external voice largely intact: using a storytelling framework, avuncular Grandpa (Peter Falk) gradually seduces his sceptical grandson (Fred Savage) into the absurd, irresistible melodrama of the title story. And what a story: a lowly stable boy, Westley (Cary Elwes), pledges his love to the beautiful Buttercup (Robin Wright), only to be abducted and reportedly killed by pirates while Buttercup is betrothed to the evil Prince Humperdinck. Even as Buttercup herself is kidnapped by a giant, a scheming criminal mastermind, and a master Spanish swordsman, a mysterious masked pirate (could it be Westley?) follows in pursuit. As they sail toward the Cliffs of Insanity... The wild and woolly arcs of the story, the sudden twists of fate, and, above all, the cartoon-scaled characters all work because of Goldman's very funny script, Reiner's confident direction, and a terrific cast. Elwes and Wright, both sporting their best English accents, juggle romantic fervor and physical slapstick effortlessly, while supporting roles boast Mandy Patinkin (the swordsman Inigo Montoya), Wallace Shawn (the incredulous schemer Vizzini), and Christopher Guest (evil Count Rugen) with brief but funny cameos from Billy Crystal, Carol Kane, and Peter Cook. --Sam Sutherland

Customer Reviews

What a find!
The Princess Bride is a truly great film. I was anticipating a pretty turgid, ageing fantasy weepy; I couldn't have been more wrong. The pace is fast, the characters are great and well cast, and much of the dialogue is wonderful. Cary Elwes (the doctor from the first of the Saw films) is astonishingly good as the main hero. How this film has escaped my attention for so long I don't know, but I do know that I rarely feel the need to be so gushing about a film. It would surely be enjoyed by just about anyone and I can't recommend it highly enough. I'm off to watch it again!

What a disappointment!
I rented this because it got such good reviews, but oh dear.... My eleven-year-old twins wanted to know when the fighting would begin, they found the constant swopping back to the little boy with his grandfather deeply annoying, and their attention definitely wandered. I have to say I found it an incredibly long film. Yes, there were moments of humour - which my twins enjoyed - but that ratty creature.... Talk about naff special effects, and - plot spoiler here - my twins were disgusted that the villain didn't die. Not a film we'd ever want to watch again.

INCREDIBLE AND BEAUTIFUL
Greatest fairy tale story told. This is just pure gold. Starting with Peter Falk telling a story of true love and giants and sword fights. The scripting is amazing and the fight scenes brilliant. One of the best scenes is when Wesley and the Sicilan are debating on who should drink which cup as one contains poison and the other does not and the debate goes on forever but never getting boring. The not quite dead but very almost nearly scene is fantastic. If you want something on a slightly similar reins to a sort of real life Shrek then this is it for kids and adults alike.

Deserves to be watched time and time again.