The Princess Bride (1987)
The Princess Bride
“Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.” Coming in as the 39th perfect movie in Berry History, this is one that is a staple of my childhood. I’ve seen it just about a billion times and it’s never gotten old once. Almost every time I watch it, it feels like I’m seeing it again for the first time. I just have so many memories packed into this movie. Upon each viewing, I just love it more and more. Of course, I can definitely think of a few tiny moments that I could nitpick, but I refuse to give this less than a 100%. The entire story is just so well adapted, even though I haven't even read the book. Rob Reiner is brilliant with screenplays, and he doesn’t disappoint with this one. Each scene moves in a subtle yet significant way into the next, which keeps the movie going at a steady pace. There aren’t any scenes of just boring dialogue that takes too long, which is nice for this type of movie. It definitely has its slower moments that help provide context, but they are quick and keep the point of the movie right in front of you. It’s what helps keep it lively. Plus, the movie isn’t super long. The acting is awesome, and though sometimes a little corny, it’s exactly what it needs to be. You have to remember that the main storyline of the film is just a story being read from a book. Therefore, the acting and dialogue needs to be exaggerated and a little cheesy, so it reminds you that it's all fictional. That’s one of many ways that the cast and crew succeeded greatly. Robin Wright and Cary Elwes are perfectly cast, along with Wallace Shawn, Mandy Patinkin, and everybody’s favorite, Andre the Giant. Both physically and emotionally, everyone fits the needs for their roles. The effects and setting were great, with a couple fun little creatures, a great big castle, and some authentic looking costumes. The score is also very medieval and sounds so much like a fairytale, which is perfect. Overall, this movie is perfect in every way, and it’s a great movie for anyone who likes fantasy, knights, monsters, swordplay, true love, and basically all of the above in that category. This film is officially Berry Approved, so go watch it now!