My only real problem with this movie ...

Rating: 10/10 (8 February 1999)

... is that it is billed first and foremost as a children's movie. I just purchased the movie and it comes in a children's clamshell cover and begins with previews of video tapes that might appeal to a two year old.
Ok, it _is_ in fact, a fairy tale. I buy that. But the ending contains a sword fight which makes one as squirmish as anything in the movie Scream! And the dialog is some of the wittiest I've heard from any movie, children's or not. In fact, minus the bathroom humor, the Naked Gun series is much more child-oriented (and certainly more childish) than The Princess Bride.
So what is The Princess Bride? It's a witty, funny, entertaining fairy tale spoof, which never takes itself too seriously. As most reviewers before me have already pointed out, the movie contains an over-abundance of quotable lines. Unless you're almost dead, or all dead, you can't help but enjoy the dialog.
What makes this film refreshing is that it's a true spoof of the fairy-tale genre, and succeeds as well or better as Airplane succeeds as being a spoof of hero movies, or as Scream succeeds as being a spoof of horror movies, or as Naked Gun (aka Police Squad) succeeds as being a spoof of police detective flicks.
Some more quick points: 1) I don't know if you'll ever see a Cary Elwes performance as good as this. 2) The scenery is magnificent. 3) Robin Wright is a sight for sore eyes. 4) I think we're really due for a Princess Bride II.
Oh know, I'm rhyming!
Westley: You mean you wish to surrender to me? Very well, I accept...