So I have a question for all of you.What does a farm boy, a beautiful girl, a giant and a bloodthirsty Spaniard all have in common with one another?
Well, the answer to this question is the following: when all of these lovely of people are combined the end result is an extremely funny and entertaining novel called The Princess Bride by William Goldman. the Novel begins with William Goldman explaining his connection to the book (that he assures was written by a fictional man known as S. Morganstern). He also explains how it was his favorite book from childhood because his father read it to him when he had pneumonia. Then following his somewhat lengthy but never the less necessary personal anecdote of the story’s importance in his own life he finally tells us the story of Buttercup and her dear Westley. Set in the fictional country of Florin the novel tells the story of Buttercup a beautiful farm girl turned princess who falls madly in love with her hired hand by the name of Westley. Their love was discovered over a course of time in which Westley repeatedly told her “as you wish” to every command she gave him until the day she realized that when translated the phrase meant I love you and that she returned his feelings. However, as the two make plans to marry they realize that they don’t have the money and so Westley leaves Buttercup by ship in order to come up with the funds to finance their wedding. While he is away through news come to Buttercup that he was tragically captured and killed by the Dread Pirate Roberts. This sets into motion a rather action packed and laugh out loud adventure that is worth anyone’s time of day.
Before I write on, however, I feel that I need to write a little bit of a disclaimer because I personally have a connection with both the book and its film adaptation, which I will write about later in this post. The personal connection I have with work comes in the form of the nickname Haleycup (based on Buttercup) which I affectionately received from an uncle of mine because of his love for the film adaptation of the story. This being said both the book and movie hold a special place in my heart and I will try my best to refrain from being biased. But anyway let’s get back to the actual review.
After Buttercup recovers from her mourning period, she had set aside for Westley she decides to do what any woman in her situation would do. She decides to become engaged to the power obsessed Prince Humperdinck whose father’s health is quickly fading although he never seems to actually die. But seriously on a quick side note whose parents in their right mind would actually name their son Humperdinck, I’m just wondering. So anyway once Buttercup agrees to marry the prince her only real joy in the world is her daily horse rides. Now on one of those rides, she comes across three men named Vizzini, the giant Fezzik and the Spaniard Indigo Montoya who kidnap her in an attempt to start a war with the next country over called Guilder.
While all of this is happening we also find out that the whole entire reason that Indigo is on this trip is so he can hunt down his father’s murder known as the six-fingered man and it has been his entire life’s work. Fezzik, on the other hand, is on this trip for exactly one purpose and that is to provide the majority of the physical strength of the group. While Vizzini is the group leader and claims to be the brains of the operation.However, they are each met by a man known as the “Man in Black” who is for whatever reason determined to rescue Buttercup and he is eventually successful. It is also eventually revealed that he is The Dread Pirate Roberts as well as Westley alive and well in the flesh, and after an implied joyous reunion they decide to attempt to run away together through the fire swamp.But unfortunately, their efforts are unsuccessful only to be apprehended by Prince Humperdinck who has been looking for Buttercup all this time. Therefore, Humperdinck believing that Westley is responsible for Buttercup’s kidnapping threatens to kill him in the woods only to be prevented from doing so when Buttercup promises to go home with Humperdinck if he promises not to hurt her true love. This he agrees to make her happy but he ends up torturing him anyway with the help of one of his friends.
But fear not, because having survived his challenge with The Man and Black Indigo with the help of Fezzzik decides to hunt down the Man in Black thinking that he can somehow help him finally get revenge for his father murder. When they finally find Westley in the zoo of death where he was being tortured and revive him with some help from Miracle Max, recommend reading the three of them devise a plan to rescue Buttercup from Humperdinck…..
Now, before I do any comparisons between the book and the movie please let me say that nine times out of ten before I write anything I recommend reading the book before seeing the film but that’s just my opinion.
This being said what do I like about the book the Princess Bride?…
Well for starters its longer then the movie so over all there is a lot more content. For example, the book went into a lot more of the back stories of some of the characters like Fezzik and Indigo
The book also had little interjections of the author throughout the story in italics expressing his thoughts which were at times funny to read and added to the reading experience as a whole.
The book was laugh out loud funny at times and was truly an entertaining read.
What do l like about the 1987 film adaptation of the Princess Bride?
It may be one of the most faithful book to movie adaptations I have ever seen because as far as I can tell they didn’t add anything to the film that wasn’t already there and they still in some way made mention of the back stories in the book.
The acting talent in this film is great and entertaining
Every character has its place in the film.That is to say that everyone has a particular reason for being there no one is there just for the sake of being there.
It is just as equally funny as the book and it really comes across well on-screen.
Drawbacks about the film?.
I will say that there are a few special effects that go on during the movie and they are good but they aren’t great. The movie was made in 1987 so the special effects weren’t as technologically advanced as they are today. But hopefully that won’t prevent you from enjoying the movie in any way.
The Princess Bride regardless of what format it is shared in is able to ask how far is a person truthfully willing to go in the name of love. What is a person willing to sacrifice on behalf of another and what effect does that have on their lives. It asks all this of its audience and is able to so with humor which is extremely cool because it is done well.