Western Courier

Issue date: 9/30/05 Section: The Edge

Depending on your mood, you might want to see movies about true love, revenge, giants, miracles or ultimate swordplay. Usually, you don't think about watching a movie that contains all of these elements and more. Back in the late '80s, Rob Reiner decided to take his favorite book, "The Princess Bride," and turn it into the definitive movie about true love, which happens to contain revenge, giants, miracles and ultimate swordplay.

After learning that his grandson (Fred Savage) is sick, the grandfather (Peter Faulk) visits his room to read him the story of "The Princess Bride." The grandson reluctantly allows his grandfather to read to him a story about fighting, monsters, and, yeah, a little bit of love.

Westley (Cary Elwes), a poor farm boy, falls deeply in love with the beautiful Buttercup (Robin Wright). In order to marry, Westley leaves to find his fortune and is thought to have been killed. After five long years of mourning, Buttercup is announced as the bride to be of Prince Humperdinck (Chris Sarandon).

While horseback riding in the country one day, Buttercup is kidnapped by the smarmy Vizzini (Wallace Shawn) and his two caring henchmen Fezzik (Andre the Giant) and Indigo Montoya (Mandy Patinkin). Montoya notices a ship, manned by the masked man, gaining on them by amazingly using the same wind. Eventually, each man fights the masked man by using his own special talents.

Montoya, who waits for the masked man to catch his breath, demonstrates his excellent swordplay. Fezzik is determined to have a fair man-to-man fight, even though he is a giant and the masked man is not. And Vizzini only wants to cheat his way into winning a death match.

Eventually, Buttercup and Westley find each other again. They are forced to flee into the Fire Swamp, a lovely little place to build a summer home that just happens to have flame spurts, lightning sand, and, of course, rodents of unusual size. After escaping the Fire Swamp, Buttercup and Westley are once again separated.

Will Westley and Buttercup ever be able to be together? Will you ever be able to get the phrase "Hello, my name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die!" out of your head? The only way to find out is to take some time and watch this funny story.

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