Grandfather: "That's right-- when I was your age television was called books. And this is a special book; it was the book my father used to read to me when I was sick and I used to read it to your father, and today I'm gonna read it to you."
Grandson: "Does it have any sports in it?"
Last night it was just my father and I (and our dog) for dinner. We prepared our feast and then settled down for a movie. Which movie should we watch-- The Princess Bride? The Avengers? The Princess Bride. It's our classic go-to movie. It came out nine years before I was born, and it's my Dad's favorite movie. And, once I grew out of my fear of the R.O.U.S.'s, it has become one of my favorite movies too. We can recite virtually recite the whole movie on the spot. I know, Inconceivable!, right?
Before The Princess Bride became a classic '80's movie, it was a book by S. Morgenstern, and then it was abridged by William Goldman. The movie is based on the William Goldman version, where Goldman talks about his grandfather reading the beloved story to him. This beloved story has survived generations, and why not? It is the quintessential fairytale: it has "fencing, fighting, torture, revenge, giants, monsters, chases, escapes, true love, miracles".
After the movie, Daddy and I delved into the special features, and watched how Billy Crystal turned into Miracle Max, how dry Christopher Guest's humor really is, and how different extremely educated people interpret the Princess Bride as a fairytale.
One mentioned how fairy tales deal heavily with magic: the wizard, the witch, the fairy godmother, and in this fairytale, Miracle max and his pill to bring Westley back to life. One mentioned that in most fairy tales there are three helpers, but in this story there are three bad guys. I believe that she was referring to Viccini, Fezzik, and Inigo, who kidnap Princess Buttercup when we see them the first time. However, by the end of the movie/book, those two end up being the "good guys". However, the story does have three bad guys by the end: Vicinni, Prince Humperdink, and Count Rugen. One mentioned how this story not only has true love, but the separation of true love. Westley and Buttercup fall in love, then he goes away to earn money for marriage, and then he is murdered by the Dread Pirate Roberts. *SPOILER ALERT* Then, when the two lovers reunite, they are separated once again as they exit the fire swamp and Buttercup volunteers to go with Prince Humperdink in exchange for Westley's safety. They mentioned how this story has elements of many fairy tales rolled into one, and that is what makes The Princess Bride beautiful.
The Princess Bride has damsels in distress, heroes, plot twists, sword fighting, giants, traveling, quests, true love, jealousy, power-hungry royalty, magic, and heck-- it even has a secret lair hidden whose secret entrance is hidden in a tree (this lair is named "The Pit of Despair", isn't that great?). The princess Bride manages to take cliche's and make them so lovable, so exciting,that they never get old. This fairytale has true love not only between a man and a woman but between a father and son, two friends, and unfortunately, and man and his power. Gosh I love this story. I love the costumes, the fencing, Inigo and Westley, the funny quotable lines (which is like, the whole movie), and the world it creates. This story stands the test of time because it is that awesome and developed. You connect to the characters, you even love to hate the bad guys. The book was a little long-winded for me but the movie will always live on in my heart.
The cast mentioned how they are amazed at how generations of people have come to love this movie; it's timeless. The story of the Princes Bride transcends father, daughter, athlete, romantic, you name it. This fairytale has captured the hearts of so many people because of its many plots, excellent character development, and wittiness. The Princess Bride is the ultimate fairytale.
Grandson: "Grandpa? Maybe you can come by and read it to me tomorrow."
Grandfather: "As you wish."
