Yes, class, today we will be discussing the nuances of “The Princess Bride.” I speak specifically of the movie, directed by Rob Reiner and produced by Norman Lear.
It seems that each time I see this movie (yes, I own the video), which is now approaching 16 years old, I find something new. It never ceases to entertain me, though I suppose I’m a simpleton to some extent. Normally, I just follow along with the story and don’t pay a whole lot of attention to the minutiae, but this time, I saw something specific:
At the end of the movie, Peter Falk, the grandfather, responds to his grandson’s request to come back tomorrow and read the story again. His reply, “As you wish.”
Is it just me, or did this hark back to the beginning of the movie, when he was reading to the grandson that every time “Farm Boy” said, “As you wish” he was really saying “I love you?” If so, this was such a subtle nuance, that the grandfather was actually saying to the grandson, “I love you!” What simple complexity! What depth of dimension to add that one tiny detail.
So, class, am I the only one to observe this nuance? Am I reading too much into this? Are there other subtleties in this movie that add layer upon layer to the depth of this story that I have missed, and perhaps you have noticed?
No you aren’t the only one to detect this nuance. I (who also own a copy of TPB that’s about 20 years old) noticed this from the first.
I really enjoyed this movie and found it very closely followed the book by William Goldman (or is Golding???),which is very, very funny. I also really liked Princess Buttercup,even though she was supposed to be the epitome of a stuck up yuppy girl who gets everything she wants and then is horrified when she finds out what she THOUGHT she wanted she didn’t want in the first place( i.e. Prince Humperdink).
IDBB
“I will say to the six fingered man,“Halo!My name is Inigo Montoya.You killed my father.Prepare to die.””
First let me say… I agree. I never fail to be entertained by some movies. This is one of them.
That being said, I always caught the last line of the movie. I always realized it referred to the beginning of the movie. (The line “As You Wish” being an important plot point to the movie, as thats how Buttercup recognizes Dread Pirate Roberts is actually Westlie) I guess I never found it that subtle. But I can certainly see how this could be overlooked.
One thing that I actually just noticed in the movie the other day is that when Vesini finally gets revenge on the 6 fingered man… all the wounds that he gives him were the ones that the 6 fingered man had given him previously.
More to the point… I realized when Vesini slashed the 6 fingered mans cheeks, it was because the 6 fingered man had than that to Vesini. But what I just got, was that when Vesini stabbed him in each arm and then killed him, he was also returning the wounds he had just received in that very fight moments earlier.
Although this film has a storyline complicated enough for maybe two viewings, I don’t think it’s terribly nuanced. Having said that, it has amazing rewatch value, because, in my opinion, the story fits together so perfectly, with brilliant use of many fantasy elements. Storming the castle, secret passages, and so on.
What always impresses/excites me about the Inigo/Rugen duel is the precise moment when you know Inigo is going to win.
He weakly repeats his mantra a couple of times, just to keep himself going, gaining a little strength each time, until there comes a point where something clicks, his body becomes stronger, his movements more forceful, and his voice triumphant. I get a thrill every time I hear that “Hallo!” A fine acting moment for Patinkin.
This is made all the more poignant if you watch the commentary on the DVD (which my daughter received this Christmas). Mandy Patinkin’s father died of cancer only a year or two (IIRC) before the film was made. He used Inigo’s quest to vanquish the disease which had taken his father. Let me tell you, that knowledge makes his line, “I want my father back, you son of a bitch” absolutely chilling to me now.
I adore this movie. I’ve caught the last “as you wish” as long as I can remember. But I’ve been watching this movie since I was 6 or 7, and I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t’ve noticed it that early.
I grew up absolutely adoring Inigo Montoya. He was the best character of that movie. My mom thought it was funny, since I was always a big fan of princess-y things; she thought I’d like Buttercup the best. But I loved Inigo, I think a big part of it was what Bubba Ray said, about honour. I had so much respect for a fictional character. Plus, I love his swordfighting!
I liked it, especially Vizzini, but there’s something about hopelessly convoluted logic I’ve always enjoyed.
I do wish the movie had included more of Morgenstern’s social satire, but I guess there wasn’t much of a mood for a comedy of manners when the movie came out.
Just watched this last night w/ my wife. Great movie. She also asked if Peter Falk was really Westley.
I think Rugen realizes the same thing at that same point, which is why he screams “Stop saying that!”
My favorite was always Fezzik. Here was this enourmous, well, giant. Your expectations are totally thrown out the window by a funny, sweet, intelligent man. The “As You Wish” documentary on the Special Edition DVD makes it clear that Andre was really the same way.
We gave this DVD to my brother for Christmas…now I wish I had kept it, or asked for it, for myself!! I watched it then with him, but now I want to watch it again!
