The Princess Bride

noreply@blogspirit.com (Kristen Truong) — Wed, 09 Nov 2005 16:50:00 -0500

This reviewer perfectly sums up my feelings about The Princess Bride:

There are very few movies that, after 18 years, I react to the same way I did when I first saw it. The Princess Bride is definitely one of those movies. I get exactly the same feeling of giddy delight from watching this that I did back in 1987. As a fantasy, it takes its fairy-tale elements just serious enough that it doesn't feel condescending while still managing a knowing wink at a normally cynical modern audience.

...

The film's two young leads, Cary Elwes and Robin Wright, are perfectly cast, being fresh enough to be convincing as fairy-tale romantic leads while still intelligent enough to be in on the joke. The simple look that Buttercup gives Westley when he remarks that the Fire Swamp "isn't so bad" is just priceless. Elwes has always been good at playing off his looks for comedic effect and he was never better than in The Princess Bride. Robin Wright is, well, Robin Wright, beautiful, sweet and funny.

...

I think better than almost any other film, The Princess Bride disproves the axiom that somehow "escapist" equals dumb. Watching this movie lets you give your brain a couple hours off without having to check it at the door.

Watch it. Again and again.

Inigo Montoya: Fezzik, are there rocks ahead?
Fezzik: If there are, we all be dead.
Vizzini: No more rhymes now, I mean it.
Fezzik: Anybody want a peanut?

Buttercup: You can die too for all I care.
[pushes him down a high hill]
Westley: AS... YOU... WISH.
Buttercup: Oh my sweet Westley what have I done.
[throws herself down the hill]

Westley: Where am I?
The Albino: [raspy voice] The Pit of Despair! Don't even think...
[clears throat]
The Albino: ... don't even think about trying to escape. The chains are far too thick. Don't dream of being rescued, either; the only way in is secret. Only the Prince, the Count, and I know how to get in and out.
Westley: So I'm here till I die?
The Albino: Until they kill you, yeah.

Grandpa: It was ten days to the wedding. The King still lived, but Buttercup's nightmares were growing steadily worse.
The Grandson: See didn't I tell you she'd never marry that rotten Humperdinck.
Grandpa: Yes you're very smart. Shut up.

Miracle Max: Get back, witch.
Valerie: I'm not a witch, I'm your wife. And after what you just said, I'm not even sure I want to be that any more.

Miracle Max: Sonny, true love is the greatest thing, in the world-except for a nice MLT - mutton, lettuce and tomato sandwich, where the mutton is lean and the tomato is ripe
[smacks his lips]
Miracle Max: they're so perky, I love that.

The Impressive Clergyman: Mawage. Mawage is wot bwings us togeder tooday. Mawage, that bwessed awangment, that dweam wifin a dweam...

Prince Humperdinck: I think your bluffing.
Westley: It's possible, Pig, I might be bluffing. It's conceivable, you miserable, vomitous mass, that I'm only lying here because I lack the strength to stand. But, then again... perhaps I have the strength after all.
[slowly rises and points sword directly at the prince]
Westley: DROP... YOUR... SWORD!

DVD Review: Million Dollar Baby

noreply@blogspirit.com (Kristen Truong) — Sat, 23 Jul 2005 00:30:00 -0400

2 1/2 out of 5 bowls of ice cream.

Note: I'm the mom of a toddler. I don't go to the movies. I rent DVDs through Netflix - so all my movie reviews will be for the DVD release!

Ok. Can this movie really be best picture of 2004? Really? I have to say I expected a bit more out of this film. I really like Hillary Swank, I love Morgan Freeman, and Clint has proven himself to be a great director. But this is two different films - poorly pieced together - with an unrealistic plot twist. And neither film is particularly thought-provoking, complete, or compelling.

First, we have the boxing movie. Tough-Girl version of Rocky? Maybe. Except we have to watch too many fights instead of making a few interesting ones. We are supposed to believe that she has some innate boxing talent that Morgan's and Clint's characters notice. But when she first starts at the club, she doesn't even know how to hit a speed bag? Come on - even I've watched Rocky do it!

Then - the plot twist - [spoiler here - do not read on if you really don't want to know] the current world champion is a "dirty fighter" and punches her not once, but twice, after the bell. The second time landing Hillary's neck on her stool, breaking her spine. Come on, Clint, we didn't really need this silliness to get us to your second movie, did we?

Now, we have - oh my gosh - "the real movie." When everyone told you "this isn't a boxing movie" - this is what they are referring. But what is this second movie about? "They" claim about euthanasia - and the moral dilemmas associated. Hillary's character is a fighter, but she doesn't want to live as a quadrepelegic. Does Clint help her die?

What I found so uncompelling about this part of the movie was that this did not really deal with death, dieing and euthanasia. Euthanasia - by definition - is about mercy and ending suffering. A person with quadrepelegia is not in physical pain. And we all know that there are plenty of successful people without the full use of their limbs. Hmmm. Steven Hawking. Christopher Reeves. So, we are supposed to believe Clint was relieving some other kind of suffering? No - she just wanted to die as a boxer, not as a quadrepelegic. That's just pathetic and short sighted.

No, I think they "picked" quadrepelegia as the "suffering" of choice because it's a Hollywood movie. Who wants to watch a movie with someone who can't think for themselves anymore like Terri Schiavo? Or someone in continuous pain like in the end stages of untreatable cancer? But, hey, cute Hillary Swank can still say her smart remarks while pretending she can't move her arms and legs!

So, I had high expectations for this movie, but it was a big let down. I guess you can't expect a Hollywood movie to really take on a controversial issue.

kt moxie - movies

The Princess Bride

DVD Review: Million Dollar Baby