MovieChat Forums > The Princess Bride (1987) Discussion > What is so special about this film?

What is so special about this film?

posted 9 years ago by rker-07724
51 replies | jump to latest

I did not like this movie. I understand that the movie is satiric and is poking fun at fairy tales and what not, but it's just so bad, boring, and predictable. I have a friend that said this was his favorite movie. And i absolutely don't understand how. I'm frankly gobsmacked on how overrated this film is. Anyone else feel this way?

[–] 0versoul 9 years ago

I did not like this movie. I understand that the movie is satiric and is poking fun at fairy tales and what not, but it's just so bad, boring, and predictable. I have a friend that said this was his favorite movie. And i absolutely don't understand how. I'm frankly gobsmacked on how overrated this film is. Anyone else feel this way?

I will never change OP's mind, and frankly I balk at the effort to even make an attempt.

But I can hijack this thread to talk about rewatching one of my favorite childhood movies as a 35yo.

My impressions and memories from childhood are of a pure adventure tale.

As an adult, to set this in perfect tone, as I got about 15 minutes into the story, I had noticed so much nuance that I thought I should be taking notes! The first little thing I noticed was the boy (Savage) tightly clutching his comforter during the shrieking eels attack... I had never spotted this. Another small point is the deliberate sparing of Inigo and the Giant, and the equally deliberate slaying of Vizzini. After all, Wesley was simply carrying each character's alignment to the endpoint: saving the sportsmanlike Giant, helping complete Inigo's quest, and terminating the deceitful, scheming, callous, self-serving manipulator Vizzini. No one forced Vizzini to take a sip; interestingly it was literally his vanity that killed him.

A screen work technique I noticed this time around was the switching from Wesley to the Prince at an increasing rate... subtly ratcheting up the viewers anxiety of the pursuit one notch at a time. There is also an interesting contrast to how Vizzini leads his band and how effective they are compared to Wesley... it's literally a one for one swap. But the first group cannot stop even one man, and the second group defeats overwhelming odds.

The character work of the book is brilliantly realized on screen, something that book-to-film projects consistently fail at.

What better thread to compose these adult observations than a rather child like tantrum. ;)

[–] justwrite3 9 years ago

Nicely done :)

[–] billf-117-68982 9 years ago

Absolutely brilliant contrast! I watched this movie with my kids when they were pre-teens and saw it through their eyes, for the most part. Now, they're 35, 36, & 41 and were I to view it right now, I dare say that I'd view it as described immediately above. An interesting exercise is to read the book, having only seen the movie as a child, and then re-watch it. I think you'll marvel at the number of layers Reiner wove into this fairy tale for kids and adults!

[–] jada-85327 9 years ago

"What is so special about this film?"

As far as I'm concerned.... EVERYTHING!

[–] Darkangel2 9 years ago

Inconceivable!

"If only you could see what I have seen with your eyes"

[–] Scaramanga 9 years ago

... you keep using that word... I do not think it means what you think it means...

[–] Eleo 9 years ago

It's a competent film and above-average, but it just seems like it has widespread adoration, and I never understood that. I watched it because coworkers were constantly quoting it and I was tired of not being in the know. While it's far from a bad movie, I also fail to see what's spectacular about it. As far as 80s fantasy goes, I fail to see how this is better than The Neverending Story or Labyrinth or the Dark Crystal. Those examples I prefer because the have more imaginative fantasy elements in my opinion.

[–] sage2112 9 years ago

Are you ALL moron, or just mostly moron? There's a big difference. Never mind - I know the answer.

[–] 9 years ago

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[–] herbsuperb 9 years ago

I called it my favorite movie for a very long time. Still certainly counts as one of my favorites of all time, even at my age (34).

What's so special about it, you ask?..............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................I don't know. Just is.

[–] theveneficus 9 years ago

I get it. I think this film is way to overrated. I enjoyed it a little. But 8.1? Come on! 7 - 7.5 at best!