Movie #100 The Princess Bride *1987*

This film holds a very special place in my heart.  It is the first movie I ever watched with my girlfriend.  The first night we met we watched Rob Reiner's best movie.  Little did I know at the time that she and I would still be battling the struggles of a long distance relationship.  I also wouldn't have thought that I would be blogging about every film that I watch. None the less, here we are.  It is 365 days later and I am sitting on the same couch watching the same movie with the same beautiful woman.  I even have the same butterflies in my stomach.

The film is a classic.  It is one of the rare date movies or romantic comedies that it is ok for guys to admit to liking.  Not only that I know several large bruiting men that willingly quote this film.  I suppose having Andre the Giant makes it a little more macho.  The movie is told to a young Fred Savage by his father played by Peter Falk.  The story is a fairytale of epic proportions.  At it's core though it is about true love.  This kind of thing doesn't happen everyday.

The Princess Bride is endless quotable.  Not just the lines in the film, but even the locations (The Cliffs of Insanity and The Fire Swamp) the creatures (The Screeching Eels, The Rodent of Unusual Size) the props (Holocaust Cloak, Iocane Power, The Machine).  Almost every word of this movie is iconic.

The performances are wonderful.  My personal favorite is Mandy Patinkin as Inigo Montoya.  He plays a Spaniard thirsty for revenge for the murder of his father from the 6 fingered man.  His big dramatic line "Hello.  My name is Inigo Montoya.  You killed my father.  Prepare to die" gives me goose bumps every time I hear it.  The afore mentioned Andre the Giant is mega charming as Fezzik the gentle giant with a gift for rhyme.  Robin Wright is wonderful and the love struck Princess Buttercup.  Cary Elwes has never been better than as Westley.  There are great supporting performances from Wallace Shaun as Vizzini, Christopher Guest as the 6 finger man and Billy Crystal and Carol Kane as an old village couple of miracle workers.

You don't even know how hard it is for me not to just type line after line from this movie.  If you want to know how popular it is, watch it and find your favorite quote, then post that quote as the status on your Facebook page.  I would wager that you will get more responses to that then almost anything.

I will spare you me gushing over this film anymore.  It is one that I could watch dozens of times a year and never grow tired of.  Watching it with my girlfriend only makes it that much more special.  She could ask to me watch this with her anytime and all I would say is "As you wish..."

I give The Princess Bride a 5/5 stars.  Check out the Trailer Park to see for yourself.