Film Analysis

Rating: 9/10 (25 June 2014)

I have watched The Princess Bride probably a dozen times, but I have only viewed the film because it is on my top ten of classic movies. I have never had enough knowledge to properly analyze the film and provide an educated review. Thanks to a film class, I know feel as though I can give a proper assessment of the film and my view as to why it is such an amazing film.
In my opinion, the theme of the movie is for pure entertainment that includes comedy, action, sorrow, empathy, imagination, and of course 'true love'. Most of the movie revolves around true love and the battle for the cause.
The Princess Bride is a fairy tale of a farm boy named Westley (Cary Elwes) and his true love Buttercup, played by new actress, Robin Wright. Their love was torn apart for a brief moment when word got back that Westley had been murdered by the Dreaded Pirate Roberts.
Three years pass and Buttercup is now engaged to a conniving, scheming Prince Humperdink (Chris Sarandon). In a plot to start a war with his enemy country Guilder, the Prince has Buttercup kidnapped by three men, the inconceivable Vizzini (Wallace Shawn), a sword dueling revenge seeker Inigo Montoya played by Mandy Patinkin, and the oddly lovable, but not too smart Fezzik played by the late Andre the Giant.
The trio doesn't get too far when they encounter the Man in Black. The Man in Black defeats the kidnappers with skill, strength, and wits, but his encounter with two of the three is not quite over. Buttercup assumes that the Man in Black is the Pirate who killed her true love until she hears him scream, while rolling down a hill, "As you wish". The two lovers are reunited.
Their elated happiness is cut short when the Princess catches up to them and Buttercup offers to return to the kingdom if he returns Westley back to his ship. The cowardly Prince lies to the future princess and has Westley taken to the 'pit of despair'.
In a jealous rage, the Prince kills Westley so he may marry Buttercup. Unfortunately for Humperdink, Indigo and Fezzik find the mostly dead Westley and revive him with a miracle pill from the hilarious Billy Crystal who plays the Witch Doctor.
The new trio devise a plan to break into the castle to stop the wedding so Westley and Buttercup may be reunited once more and so Inigo may have his revenge against the six fingered man who killed his father played by Christopher Guest (Count Tyrone Rugen).
Both Westley and Inigo achieve their goals of reuniting with true love and revenge. The foursome ride away on four white horses into the sunset to live their fairy tale lives.
I enjoy how the director used set back drops, lighting, musical score, and camera angles to provide the viewer with an enjoyable experience. From the very beginning you know the era and country region of the setting for the love story. The rolling country, the wood cabins, and the lack of population allows the viewer to know that it's probably turn of the century time period. The writer, William Goldman hints that the theme is a love story with in the first 10 minutes through narration as well as with visual aesthetics.
The film reaches both the adventure lover, the comedian, as well as the soft hearted with the use of dialogue, action, and images. The film is filled with action scenes from sword fighting, wrestling, battling of wits, and of course a little blood. If you are one that enjoys comedy this movie is for you as well. The screenwriter and director do a fantastic job of adding human into the film with the one liners, the awkward moments, and great characters. If you enjoy fairy tales about true love and happiness, well you will be hooked in the first 10 minutes. All the little details of action, humor, and love are tied together with a magnificent score that will get your heart beating and your emotions running.
One of the aspects that I picked up during the movie while analyzing was the great camera angles and lighting. One scene in particular that stood out was when Inigo was using his father's sword and spirit to guide him to the Man in Black. Before the sword starts leading him, the lighting behind Inigo hints that his father spirit is there and guiding the sword. The light surrounds Inigo and he looks like an angel. I never noticed that before now. I also enjoyed that the director took the objective point of view for most parts of the film. He allowed us to sit back and watch the love story unfold by using wide shots and large backgrounds. I don't think that there were many scenes that had dead screen areas either.
Overall, I loved this movie before I watched with an analytical mind and I still love it. If anything I enjoyed it more for those areas that I have missed in previous viewings. I am glad that this film is for pure entertainment and it is not a struggle to watch. It's one of those films that you can come home from a stressful day at the office or during those rainy weekends, pop a little popcorn and the movie into the DVD player and sit back and laugh, feel, and love every second of it. I love this movie and I think you will truly love the movie as well.
Enjoy!!