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."
First of all, I would just like to say that I ABSOLUTELY love the movie too! Actually, believe it or not, it was one of the first American movie that I have ever watched. I remembered myself being eight years old, sitting about a foot away from the TV, barely catching on to the new English words that were coming toward me at super speed. Some times it can be a little bit too cheesy, but the simple, yet exhilarating, plots keep you in your seats until the end and wanting more after the movie had ended. The comedic ways the movie was created has helped me understand the way American talk (kind of) and act.
ReplyDeletePrince Humperdinck: "Surrender."
Westley: "You mean you wish to surrender to me? Very well, I accept."
:)
Duyen that's FABULOUS! I love that you love this movie! It was perfectly cast and the fact that one of your first tastes of English came from British accents!
DeleteWhat's intersting here is the fact that "The Princess Bride" (a story of stories) is part of Duyen's story. ...That life is made up of stories inside of stories, some real, some fiction, all a part of each other, each shaping the rest. Fascinating.
DeleteAfter reading this, I definitley think that everybody will want to watch/read "The Princess Bride", whether for nostalgic reasons, or whether they just want to see what you're talking about! I think it was interesting how you talked about the tale's transition from a book to a movie. It's interesting that while "The Princess Bride" is originally a book, most people are just familiar with the film--I guess it's kind of like "Alice in Wonderland" or "Peter Pan" in that way--people think of the movie when you mentionn the title to them. I think you did a good job explaining the tale, but I personally would have liked to know more about what made it different from other fairytales--WHY it was so great, why it captured the hearts of so many people. I understood why it captured you and your family's hearts--but how/why did it capture everybody else's heart? I think this post was extremely well-written, it was fun to read and I could feel the energy and enthusiasm in your words. Good job!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much! I think what makes it so great is that is takes elements from all the fairytales: the commoner becomes princess, long lost lovers find themselves in each other's arms again, a Grandfather connects with his Grandson, etc. like you said in your post, everyone finds a character to relate to: Inigo's fight for his father's revenge, Westley's search for love, Miracle Max's hatred of his boss. I think I'll write my next blog in romance in story, and why we love it and new it so much. This story has romance and everything else- it can appeal to a variety of people because it has a variety of plots. I certainly hope people watch/read it again!:)
DeleteThis well-written post reminds me of a Roger Ebert movie review -I wonder what he had to say about "The Princes Bride?"
ReplyDeleteI love Duyen's comment -that she remembers learning English through the film, "sitting about a foot away from the TV."
What's most impressive here is how you identify the elements that make 'Princess Bride' brilliantly cliche -a fairytale fairytale. In order to discuss these things, you have to know a thing or two about story in your own right.
-Well done.