Ciao, cinemaphiles!
This week on Fansplainers, Ian and Dave wash the taste of The Emoji Movie out of their mouths with an enjoyable re-view of the sparkling and wonderful The Princess Bride – a film that found its legs in home video and thus lives in the rosy glow of childhood nostalgia.
Is it as good as we all remember it? Well, let Ian and Dave fansplain it for you.
Thanks for listening.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Prophetic line: when Fezzik asks why Westley wears a mask, he says: “It’s just that they’re terribly comfortable. I think everyone will be wearing them in the future.”
I think the thing with Westley saying the giant rats don’t exist is that he’s simply trying to comfort Buttercup, who’s already on the point of despair. Westley sees the rats behind Buttercup and makes sure to lead her away before she notices them. He assures her that they can handle the fire and quicksand, but he also makes sure to draw out his sword, which would be fairly useless against either. Presumably he’s guarding himself against the rats even while saying they’re not real. It’s just his bad luck that one still manages to catch him off guard (probably because the rats he saw where behind Buttercup, and this one comes at him from another direction). At least that’s how I see it.
Another Peter Falk movie from 1987 is Wings of Desire, which I’d highly recommend if you haven’t seen it already. It’s about a pair of angels who silently observe people’s thoughts and lives in Berlin, and Peter Falk plays a fictionalized version of himself, visiting Berlin for a film shoot.
This was a staple of our video renting days when I was younger. My dad used to take my brother and I to the video store that had a 7 movies for $7 for 7 days deal and Princess Bride was regularly used to fill out the ranks. One of the rare ones all three of us could agree on. (Our dad felt he had to have input since he had the wallet. RUDE.)
I wonder if that excessive politeness was due to the fact that the grandpa was ad-libbing the lines as he read to his grandson. Like, it was actually quite salty dialogue, but he made it nicer and more pleasant for the 10 year old.
Thanks for revisiting this movie! Those of us who read the book first love to point out we read the book first. We must be special to have recognized its brilliance long before all those Johnny and Jenny Come Lately movie goers. I’m trying to think of another book or movie in a similar vein…a fantasy-comedy but not really a satire or a parody…more of a sincere and affectionate send-up of fairy tales and action adventures. I guess the Pirates of the Caribbean series hits some similar notes of broad comedy combined with romantic adventure. People who liked The Princess Bride might also like Ever After: a Cinderella Story with Drew Barrymore.
I’d enjoy hearing you fansplain The Prestige if that is still on the table.