The Shrek of the Eighties

Rating: 9/10 (5 August 2002)

THE PRINCESS BRIDE (1987) (4/5 STARS)(slight plot spoilers) DIRECTED by ROB REINER STARRING: CARY ELWES ROBIN WRIGHT CHRIS SARANDON CHRISTOPHER GUEST MANDY PATINKIN WALLACE SHAWN PETER FALK CAROL KANE FRED SAVAGE ANDRE THE GIANT and BILLY CRYSTAL

Notice any names above? If not, I don't know where you're coming from. Some of the most famous acting talents came together to form THE PRINCESS BRIDE, and 1 great director.
Rob Reiner directs this all-star cast, in you not-so-average fairytale adventure. Filled with swashbuckling sword fights, tremendous thrills, incredible romance, excellent actors and cameos, a very original comedic look at fairytales, and so much more, THE PRINCESS BRIDE is the SHREK of the eighties.
The acting itself is flawless. Robin Wright plays Buttercup who falls in love with her servant boy Westley (Cary Elwes). After he sets off to sea to find fortunes, she is told the dread pirate Robinson killed him. She immediately becomes a recluse, and mutters the words, `I will never love again' Some years later, she is engaged to Prince Humperdink, who is marrying her just to kill her and blame it on a distant land---the result of which starting a war. Unaware of his plans, a trio comprised of a short man (Wallace Shawn), a revenge sought swordsman (Mandy Patinkin) and an 8-foot giant (Andre the Giant) set out to do THE SAME thing, by kidnapping her, killing her, and placing her on the distant land. In this process, the dread pirate Robinson, who turns out to be none other than her long lost servant boy, rescues her. Now they have the Prince chasing them, and the plot only continues to grow as they go through the dreaded fire swamp, and are caught up with by the Prince, who takes the servant to be tortured, eventually being rescued by the giant and the swordsman of the trio, of whom want to help him save the Princess Buttercup before it's too late.
The Princess Bride is wonderfully acted, filmed, and has just a good fantasy feel to it. Like I said before, it's the SHREK of the eighties. After seeing this film, you just know it's destined to become a classic, of which it has become. Just the sheer original genius of this film earns it 4 stars, much less the rest of the film. 4/5 stars
JOHN ULMER