# Inigo Montoya or Westley? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 1, 2010, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inigo-montoya-or-westley/534531 "2010-04-01T03:19:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2010, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inigo-montoya-or-westley/534531/41 "2010-04-02T19:54:03Z")
> [@Mosier](#): > > The battle of wits makes Westley the coolest character by a mile. His closest competitor is Jack Bauer. Not even the Dread Pirate Roberts has an always working cell phone. ---
**Author:** ![Nocturne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/9fc348/32.png) [@Nocturne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nocturne)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2010, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inigo-montoya-or-westley/534531/42 "2010-04-04T04:37:36Z")
Why isn’t Fezzik a choice? 😉 I voted for Inigo, simply for the scene with Count Rugen. ---
**Author:** ![whiterabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/cab0a1/32.png) [@whiterabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whiterabbit)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2010, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inigo-montoya-or-westley/534531/43 "2010-04-04T05:09:58Z")
Westley is gorgeous. And I don’t usually like blond guys. But…yow. And he is cool. But Inigo is cooler. The movie scene with Count Rugen seals that for me, because I feel exactly the same way. I too want my father back, you son of a bitch. Though my dad wasn’t killed by a six-fingered man. For me, unexpected death is the SOB. But I feel his pain. Seriously. ---
**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2010, 7:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inigo-montoya-or-westley/534531/44 "2010-04-04T07:19:57Z")
I voted Westley, the less popular. Sure, Inigo has the cool catchphrase and backstory (and some Spanish Fly), BUT! Westley started out as a completely inept stable boy and ended up as awesome! whereas Inigo ended up a WHINY BIOTCH who other than having L33T sword fighting skills is relegated to drinking himself into a stupor, sword fighting random strangers for money, and whining about his Dad until he finds the six fingered man for revenge… ---
**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2010, 7:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inigo-montoya-or-westley/534531/45 "2010-04-04T07:22:01Z")
ETA I guess Inigo is “cooler” in some sense, but Westley is definitely more “bad-ass”, at least until Inigo becomes the new DPR… So if we had a new pool with “bad-assery” Westley would win but I might choose Inigo for mere “coolness”… ---
**Author:** ![Frostillicus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Frostillicus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frostillicus)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2010, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inigo-montoya-or-westley/534531/46 "2010-04-05T02:46:15Z")
Inigo Montoya in a landslide. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2010, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inigo-montoya-or-westley/534531/47 "2010-04-05T03:23:08Z")
> [@Lynn\_Bodoni](#): > > Inigo is cool, no doubt about it. However, Westley BEAT Inigo, and refused to kill him out of deep respect. And how did Westley make it up that cliff to fight Inigo in the first place? And, for that matter: > [@](#): > > I prefer Mandy to Cary as an actor. But Westley is smart, strong, brave, and extremely inventive. Inigo is strong and brave, but I don’t think that he’s exceptionally bright. Yeah, but Inigo doesn’t need to be exceptionally bright; he’s clever enough to realize that Westley “must have out-thought Vizzini, and a man who can do that can plan my castle onslaught any day” – and forget “refused to kill him out of deep respect” along with “Westley does NOT give up”; when Inigo casually mentions that “Montoyas have never accepted defeat easily”, it’s because he’s just figured out how to bring the man he esteems back from the _ **dead.** _ I think there’s enough awesome to go around. ---
**Author:** ![Ston\_Col](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Ston\_Col](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ston_Col)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2010, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inigo-montoya-or-westley/534531/48 "2010-04-05T04:56:22Z")
“There’s a shortage of perfect breasts in the world. 'Twould be a pity to damage yours.” Similes could be made comparing Westley to a cucumber, in terms of coolness. ---
**Author:** ![appleciders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85f322/32.png) [@appleciders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/appleciders)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2010, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inigo-montoya-or-westley/534531/49 "2010-04-05T05:20:12Z")
I’m just going to point out that between Mandy Patinkin and Cary Elwes, only _one_ of these two often gives an encore at a concert by simply walking out on stage and shouting “My name is Inigo Montoya! _You killed my father._ PREPARE TO DIE!” Seriously, although Westley probably has more good lines in that movie, not one of them is as memorable as Inigo’s. ---
**Author:** ![melodyharmonius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/melodyharmonius/32/21310_2.png) [@melodyharmonius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/melodyharmonius)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2010, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inigo-montoya-or-westley/534531/50 "2010-04-05T12:53:29Z")
> [@appleciders](#): > > I’m just going to point out that between Mandy Patinkin and Cary Elwes, only _one_ of these two often gives an encore at a concert by simply walking out on stage and shouting “My name is Inigo Montoya! _You killed my father._ PREPARE TO DIE!” > > Seriously, although Westley probably has more good lines in that movie, not one of them is as memorable as Inigo’s. Ooooh - you’ve seen him in concert too? Yay! Was afraid to admit it - but I loved it! It’s hard for me to think of Cary Elwes as cool now after his role in Jim Carrey’s _Liar, Liar_. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2010, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inigo-montoya-or-westley/534531/51 "2010-04-06T00:22:21Z")
> [@appleciders](#): > > Seriously, although Westley probably has more good lines in that movie, not one of them is as memorable as Inigo’s. See posts 29 and 48. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2010, 9:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inigo-montoya-or-westley/534531/52 "2010-04-06T09:52:21Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > And how did Westley make it up that cliff to fight Inigo in the first place? He COULD have made it up that cliff on his own, without any help from Inigo. However, the help was offered, and he could confidently accept it because he was a good judge of character and motives. > [@](#): > > Yeah, but Inigo doesn’t need to be exceptionally bright; he’s clever enough to realize that Westley “must have out-thought Vizzini, and a man who can do that can plan my castle onslaught any day” – and forget “refused to kill him out of deep respect” along with “Westley does NOT give up”; when Inigo casually mentions that “Montoyas have never accepted defeat easily”, it’s because he’s just figured out how to bring the man he esteems back from the _ **dead.** _ > > I think there’s enough awesome to go around. Oh, there’s plenty of awesome. I just think that Westley is cooler, for the reasons that I’ve given. I happen to think that the more intelligent a person is, the likelier that s/he will be cool, once that person has reached adulthood. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2010, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inigo-montoya-or-westley/534531/53 "2010-04-08T21:44:31Z")
I can’t identify with perfection. I think Inigo is the better man because he learned humilty early on and it made him a natural leader. If his previous adventures are any indication, Westley would have tried to storm the castle on his own and failed. Rugen would live on, and Humperdink would have his way with Buttercup. Inigo knew and embraced his own weaknesses and readily admitted the task was impossible without help. So like any successful CEO would do, he hired a project manager to put the plan together, played his role to the letter, and all turned out well. Humility kicks ass on pride any day. W: “Get used to disappointment” I: “Ok.” ---
**Author:** ![Taomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Taomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taomist)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2010, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inigo-montoya-or-westley/534531/54 "2010-04-08T21:45:58Z")
> [@Autolycus](#): > > Westley is sexier; Inigo is cooler. The opposite of this, for me. ---
**Author:** ![Taomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Taomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taomist)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2010, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inigo-montoya-or-westley/534531/55 "2010-04-08T21:49:14Z")
> [@Ston\_Col](#): > > “There’s a shortage of perfect breasts in the world. 'Twould be a pity to damage yours.” > > Similes could be made comparing Westley to a cucumber, in terms of coolness. Yar, he’s rather Bond-ish. And when it comes to cool, it’s hard to beat Bond. \ ---
**Author:** ![appleciders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85f322/32.png) [@appleciders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/appleciders)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2010, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inigo-montoya-or-westley/534531/56 "2010-04-08T22:40:12Z")
> [@melodyharmonius](#): > > Ooooh - you’ve seen him in concert too? Yay! Was afraid to admit it - but I loved it! > > It’s hard for me to think of Cary Elwes as cool now after his role in Jim Carrey’s _Liar, Liar_. I haven’t. I have seen his performances on tape, though, of some stage roles, and those were quite good. > [@carnivorousplant](#): > > See posts 29 and 48. 😉 Nah. Both excellent lines, and both memorable, and both arguably better lines than Inigo’s. But I claimed that “My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die!” is the most _memorable_ line in the movie, and there are way more people who would have to ask for a source for any of Westley’s lines. ---
**Author:** ![bearman217](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a88e4f/32.png) [@bearman217](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bearman217)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2010, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inigo-montoya-or-westley/534531/57 "2010-04-08T23:22:06Z")
Westly is cooler because I can identify with him. His love is in a committed relationship with another person and he would, and does, do anything to get her back. ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2010, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inigo-montoya-or-westley/534531/58 "2010-04-09T00:25:23Z")
> [@bearman217](#): > > Westly is cooler because I can identify with him. His love is in a committed relationship with another person and he would, and does, do anything to get her back. **bearman** , do you have something you’d like to share with the class? 😉 😃 ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2010, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inigo-montoya-or-westley/534531/59 "2010-04-09T01:48:05Z")
> [@Inigo\_Montoya](#): > > I think Inigo is the better man because he learned humilty early on and it made him a natural leader. If his previous adventures are any indication, Westley would have tried to storm the castle on his own and failed. Rugen would live on, and Humperdink would have his way with Buttercup. Inigo knew and embraced his own weaknesses and readily admitted the task was impossible without help. So like any successful CEO would do, he hired a project manager to put the plan together, played his role to the letter, and all turned out well. Humility kicks ass on pride any day. Nah, you’re fan wanking. 🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inigo-montoya-or-westley/534531.md?page=2)