Art, metaphor and the heart.

Rating: 10/10 (17 March 2001)

may contain spoilers
After a long exhausting mundane day that has my head whirling, nothing brings back my sense of balance as fast as a good film. Curled up on the sofa with a large bowl of popcorn, I start The Princess Bride and immediately gain a partial identification with the grandson in the respect of just not feeling well. Then, the story begins, and I feel transported to a magical realm filled with dream like images, the cottage, the country, the hills. And there, two beautiful people test each other and discover true love. No matter how many times I have seen this film, I am grabbed at this point and the day with all it's stress is totally forgotten. I am immersed in the interaction of these two characters.
As any idyllic moment can never be sustained, thus begins the adventures therein, painted in those same dream like images that speaks louder, perhaps, to the subconscious than the dialogue that pacifies, teases, and delights the discriminating mind. I believe it is the union of these two elements, the visual as well as the verbal, that has activated the alchemical elixir to turn what could otherwise be an average film into one of pure gold.
The Dream unfolds. Sailing past the riverbank shrouded with giant trees transforms into what now appears as a dark blue ocean under what must be a full moon. Light dances on the water. On the ship, is sanctuary, and lamp lit gold light bathes the voyagers. The princess bolts from her present reality, and plunges into this dark watery void, suddenly vulnerable to the unknown monsters that rise from its depths, a nightmare quality that plunges us all into fear. After being plucked from certain fate, dream like again, the boat has instantly arrived at the foot of the cliffs of insanity. The impenetrable barrier of the rock cliffs of despair rise seemingly forever upwards and is only tamed by the dream like image of the characters climbing the rope at an amazing speed, a visual statement that all obstacles can be overcome.
Throughout the whole of the movie, even the poses of the characters remain artistic and true to the form of dreams and imagination. Conjure up an image of a dashing swords man, daunting pirate, regal prince, gentle king, pompous bishop, and they are there. The visual artistry is carried through to the end, whereon our heros ride off on beautiful pure white horses. My heart soars. Pure Magic. And no matter how stressed I was before watching the film, at the end I feel good and can go to bed with a smile on my face.

Many people have commented favorably on the dialogue on which I agree, yet few have touched on the graphical metaphors and artistic imagery which I believe has enhanced The Princess Bride enough to make it one of my all time favorite films. It's a 10 for me.