# I'm not really feeling the love the for "The Princess Bride." **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 8, 2014, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-really-feeling-the-love-the-for-the-princess-bride/704046 "2014-11-08T05:04:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2014, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-really-feeling-the-love-the-for-the-princess-bride/704046/41 "2014-11-09T01:02:06Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > [I don’t mean to be rude, but this is not as easy as it looks, so I’d appreciate it if you wouldn’t distract me.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=385113) 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heffalump_and_roo/32/7691_2.png) [@Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heffalump_and_Roo)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2014, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-really-feeling-the-love-the-for-the-princess-bride/704046/42 "2014-11-09T01:07:14Z")
I tried watching it several times and could not get through it. I kept thinking that I must be missing something. Maybe not. ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2014, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-really-feeling-the-love-the-for-the-princess-bride/704046/43 "2014-11-09T01:11:32Z")
> [@Frylock](#): > > ETA [here’s a wikipedia article](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Princess_Bride_(album)) about the soundtrack which confirms it’s performed by two people on keyboards. Possibly some of the guitar is real, it’s hard to say for sure from the wording of the article. The article is actually very clear about the soundtrack being performed by an acoustic guitarist and a keyboardist. Both of the reviews quoted by the Wikipedia article refer to the acoustic guitar on the soundtrack, and the article credits Mark Knopfler (also the composer) as the guitarist. Knopfler is of course better known as the lead guitarist and vocalist for Dire Straits. The keyboard player was Guy Fletcher, also a member of Dire Straits. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2014, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-really-feeling-the-love-the-for-the-princess-bride/704046/44 "2014-11-09T01:22:41Z")
> [@Idle\_Thoughts](#): > > I hate everything Monty Python. I do not find it funny at all. In fact, I find it all extremely unfunny. I can’t even bear to watch anything having to do with Monty Python. > That all being said, The Princess Bride is one of my favorite movies. They’re not the same, as far as I can tell, so if that’s what’s stopping you, don’t let it. OK. Maybe I’ll give it a shot. But this thread has helped me to see that if I do find it disappointing, at least I won’t be alone. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heffalump_and_roo/32/7691_2.png) [@Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heffalump_and_Roo)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2014, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-really-feeling-the-love-the-for-the-princess-bride/704046/45 "2014-11-09T01:29:16Z")
> [@Idle\_Thoughts](#): > > That all being said, The Princess Bride is one of my favorite movies. They’re not the same, as far as I can tell, so if that’s what’s stopping you, don’t let it. There are probably better threads for this, and maybe someone can point me to one of them. But maybe if someone shared the hilarity of it, I might be able to “get” what everyone is raving about. Is there a theme or frame of reference that needs to be known? Is it just pure silliness? ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2014, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-really-feeling-the-love-the-for-the-princess-bride/704046/46 "2014-11-09T01:31:42Z")
> [@Lamia](#): > > The article is actually very clear about the soundtrack being performed by an acoustic guitarist and a keyboardist. Both of the reviews quoted by the Wikipedia article refer to the acoustic guitar on the soundtrack, and the article credits Mark Knopfler (also the composer) as the guitarist. Knopfler is of course better known as the lead guitarist and vocalist for Dire Straits. The keyboard player was Guy Fletcher, also a member of Dire Straits. I stopped short of the credits, so thanks for pointing that out. ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2014, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-really-feeling-the-love-the-for-the-princess-bride/704046/47 "2014-11-09T02:02:37Z")
> [@Heffalump\_and\_Roo](#): > > There are probably better threads for this, and maybe someone can point me to one of them. But maybe if someone shared the hilarity of it, I might be able to “get” what everyone is raving about. Is there a theme or frame of reference that needs to be known? Is it just pure silliness? If you didn’t like it, you didn’t like it. This is a movie that’s been loved by plenty of young children, so it’s not like it requires a lot of sophistication to find it enjoyable. There are some jokes and subtleties in _The Princess Bride_ that I didn’t pick up on as a child, but not “getting” these didn’t interfere with my enjoyment of the movie. I think [Roger Ebert’s review of the movie](http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-princess-bride-1987) from the time it was released sums things up pretty well: > [@](#): > > While younger viewers will sit spellbound at the thrilling events on the screen, adults, I think, will be laughing a lot. In its own peculiar way, “The Princess Bride” resembles “This Is Spinal Tap,” an earlier film by the same director, Rob Reiner. Both films are funny not only because they contain comedy, but because Reiner does justice to the underlying form of his story. “Spinal Tap” looked and felt like a rock documentary - and then it was funny. “The Princess Bride” looks and feels like “Legend” or any of those other quasi-heroic epic fantasies - and then it goes for the laughs. Again though, if you didn’t like it I’m not sure there’s anything to be done about that. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2014, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-really-feeling-the-love-the-for-the-princess-bride/704046/48 "2014-11-09T02:10:11Z")
> [@Heffalump\_and\_Roo](#): > > There are probably better threads for this, and maybe someone can point me to one of them. But maybe if someone shared the hilarity of it, I might be able to “get” what everyone is raving about. Is there a theme or frame of reference that needs to be known? Is it just pure silliness? The mention of bantering humor earlier is a good description: much of the humor is in what people say. The initial swordfight between Inigo Montoya and the Man in Black is a great example. Here you have two protagonists trying to kill each other, but while they’re doing it, they’re complimenting one another–totally in character as two gentlemen. And then it gets hard for one swordsman, so he reveals he’s intentionally been holding back–and then the other one reveals he’s been holding back. Throughout, they remain polite and complimentary, until the final moment. It’s not played for absurdism–this is no King Arthur vs. the Black Knight scene-but the incongruity of the excellent screen fencing (it was choreographed by probably the greatest of all screen swordfight choreographers) with the civil banter is a great source of humor. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2014, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-really-feeling-the-love-the-for-the-princess-bride/704046/49 "2014-11-09T02:10:58Z")
I love _The Princess Bride_, but I agree on the cheesiness of the score. Another favorite, _The Pirates of Penzance_ is similarly hampered by a crap synth score. I wish both films could be re-scored with a proper orchestra - or at least by someone with a modern keyboard and a good set of orchestra samples. ---
**Author:** ![lorene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/65b543/32.png) [@lorene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lorene)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2014, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-really-feeling-the-love-the-for-the-princess-bride/704046/50 "2014-11-09T02:33:04Z")
Not liking _The Princess Bride_ was my contribution to the “why would Dopers hate you?” thread. I’m glad to see I have company. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2014, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-really-feeling-the-love-the-for-the-princess-bride/704046/51 "2014-11-09T02:36:39Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > It’s not played for absurdism–this is no King Arthur vs. the Black Knight scene-but the incongruity of the excellent screen fencing (it was choreographed by probably the greatest of all screen swordfight choreographers) with the civil banter is a great source of humor. I think you hit on why I dislike this movie so much. The whole “civil banter” thing is just not funny to me. And this movie has a whole lot of it. It’s pretty much the schtick of the whole thing. Everyone being polite while fighting or arguing. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2014, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-really-feeling-the-love-the-for-the-princess-bride/704046/52 "2014-11-09T02:59:45Z")
Whereas to me, that is the best part of the movie. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2014, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-really-feeling-the-love-the-for-the-princess-bride/704046/53 "2014-11-09T03:17:51Z")
Leaffan: I like your threads/posts, but what’s with all the “I don’t like popular thing. Period. Please futilely convince me to like it (or not)” threads? You don’t expect to like something, and then don’t like it? I don’t mind it, but I understand if people don’t like the Savage/Falk parts. Also, I don’t have any objection to the credits as a whole, but I cringe as soon as the credits hit I **cringe** to the “my love is like a storybook story.” I didn’t read the book until maybe 15 years after watching it. Not one’s favorite movie? Great. Think it’s overrated? Fine. Is my enjoyment increased or decreased by people repeating the lines? Of course not, and that stuff can be annoying. Objectively bad? You seriously think that? Plus I recognize the influence on Monkey Island, and that part is pretty alright. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2014, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-really-feeling-the-love-the-for-the-princess-bride/704046/54 "2014-11-09T03:25:54Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > Leaffan: I like your threads/posts, but what’s with all the “I don’t like popular thing. Period. Please futilely convince me to like it (or not)” threads? … Duly noted. And I kinda self-recognized this myself a day or two ago. I’m not a trying to be a downer. I am however going through a very tough point in my personal life, and maybe that makes it more natural to bitch and complain about things I don’t like. I apologize. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2014, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-really-feeling-the-love-the-for-the-princess-bride/704046/55 "2014-11-09T03:30:16Z")
> [@lorene](#): > > Not liking _The Princess Bride_ was my contribution to the “why would Dopers hate you?” thread. > > I’m glad to see I have company. Et tu, lorene? ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2014, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-really-feeling-the-love-the-for-the-princess-bride/704046/56 "2014-11-09T03:53:38Z")
It is a nearly perfect movie, sorry it doesn’t work for you. It works for adventure, quotability and humor. But even perfect movies have detractors. My kids can’t understand the \*Godfather \*or _Casablanca_. Probably the most perfect movies. Though my daughter loves _Princess Bride_ above all other movies. ---
**Author:** ![sinjin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@sinjin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sinjin)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2014, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-really-feeling-the-love-the-for-the-princess-bride/704046/57 "2014-11-09T04:48:47Z")
> [@Penfeather](#): > > The book wasn’t all that, either. 😛 Yes it was, so there. At least to me 🙂 YMMV. ---
**Author:** ![sinjin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@sinjin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sinjin)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2014, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-really-feeling-the-love-the-for-the-princess-bride/704046/58 "2014-11-09T04:58:56Z")
> [@lorene](#): > > Not liking _The Princess Bride_ was my contribution to the “why would Dopers hate you?” thread. > > I’m glad to see I have company. I don’t hate you. I like PB you do not, who cares. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2014, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-really-feeling-the-love-the-for-the-princess-bride/704046/59 "2014-11-09T05:04:55Z")
\ ***Porthos:** You know, it strikes me that we would be better employed wringing Milady’s pretty neck than shooting these poor devils of Protestants. I mean, what are we killing them for? Because they sing psalms in French and we sing them in Latin? **Aramis:** Porthos, have you no education? What do you think religious wars are all about?\* ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2014, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-really-feeling-the-love-the-for-the-princess-bride/704046/60 "2014-11-09T05:46:48Z")
I think of TPB as an homage to Swashbuckler/Damsel in Distress movies and I find it entertaining. I think the cast had fun making it and that shows in the film. IIRC, it didn’t burn up the box office when it was first released, it became the cult hit it’s become on VHS/DVD. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-really-feeling-the-love-the-for-the-princess-bride/704046.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-really-feeling-the-love-the-for-the-princess-bride/704046.md?page=4)