223 out of 268 people found the following review helpful:

Some ingenuity utterly ruined by misogynist agenda

Rachel George from Brighton, England, 3rd November, 2007

Please don't let your small children watch this film. It has the following life lessons I think we're all familiar with: 1) women are commodities, to be carried around, bickered over and swapped. 2) women are emotionally weak - so destroyed by their loved ones dying that they become willing to become anyone's wife. 3) women are useless in any kind of dire physical situation. 4) men are the only characters who can save any kind of day, utter witticisms, or have any sort of control. 5) it is ok to aim this sort of thing at male and female children. Despite this film having some innovative and enjoyable characters in Inigo Montoya and Wesley, as well as the giant, women are subjugated and controlled so much so that I just couldn't watch it without cringing - how dare they put out this misogynist stereotypical rubbish to young boys and girls and somehow market it as different to any trite Disney cartoon story? In summation; occasionally funny and interesting, largely painful, outdated and women-hating.

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46 out of 46 people found the following review helpful:

To be young again.

Jim78 from from Tooting, 17th May, 2005

For me this is the greatest childrens film of all time. It has everything; pirates, spaniards, giants, sword fights, a beautiful princess and much more. The best thing about this film, is that if you are an adult and rent it for your child, I asure that you will be more than happy to sit and watch it with them.

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32 out of 33 people found the following review helpful:

A classic!

Chris Motley from Sheffield, England, 3rd June, 2004

Ever since seeing this film 12 years ago or so I have been trying to get hold of a copy. Seeing it again all these years later it has lost none of its charm or humour. My little girl of 4 was also transfixed.

The film is a comedy fairytale told by Grandad Peter Falk to his 'Wonder Years' Grandson. There is Swashbuckling swordplay reminiscent of Danny Kaye and Basil Rathbone in 'The court jester'. There are superb cameo appearances by Billy Crystal, Peter cook, Mel Smith etc but you have to look hard thru all the make up. There is a great story of true love with a charming/brave hero and an elegant/beautiful heroine. But perhaps best of all the film takes the mickey out of itself and the fantasy/fairytale genre in general, creating a very funny, warm and captivating film.

They say that everybody chould at some point in their life watch 'Schindler's list'. I say they should also own a copy of this.

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23 out of 24 people found the following review helpful:

Better than "Shrek"

jonke from London, 10th December, 2003

It's now a commonplace for movies aimed at the pre-teen market to secrete a few gags in there for the Mums and Dads so as to broaden the film's appeal. "The Princess Bride" doesn't do that - it works on the assumption that you treat your story and your audience with respect and that the best jokes work right across the age range.

This film sparkles from start to finish as it tracks its heroes through a landscape of castles, wizards, giants and Screaming Eels!

Director Rob Reiner ("This is Spinal Tap") and writer William Goldman (too many to mention but try "Butch Cassidy","The Stepford Wives" and "Marathon Man" for starters) - this team have created a pretty near flawless film that you'll find yourself watching time and time again.

Great cast too, with Peter Falk topping and tailing the story, Wallace Shawn as a particularly irritating, scheming thief and the implausibly named Mandy Patinkin (he's a he!) as the totally indomitable swashbuckler Inigo Montoya.

Sorry DVDSONTAP but this is one to buy not rent!'

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1 out of 1 people found the following review helpful:

Dated but fun! Rent this, but not for your teenagers.

EllieG from , 26th August, 2010

I loved the book and this film's story line is faithful, but oh my, the film is now very dated. I enjoyed the film, with its witty quips, over emphasized characters and rollocking story line coupled with the quest of truest love. but, like i mentioned, the film is dated and will not appeal to all. Teenagers will not like this film - it's too low budget with obviously artificial scenery and a stilted direction makes it compare badly with the fantastic Hollywood blockbusters available now. Younger children and book officianados will enjoy the film, get the humour, enjoy the adventurous farce and have a good hour and a bit viewing. It is vastly different from every other film around so rent with confidence. I say - c'mon Hollywood - grab this story and remake the film. :)

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1 out of 1 people found the following review helpful:

I loved it

gorgeous79 from , 6th June, 2010

I remember this film from when I was a kid and it still doesn't dissapoint, what a feel good family movie.

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0 out of 1 people found the following review helpful:

Don't bother

A Customer from Manchester, 23rd March, 2010

Having now watched this film, I am mystified as to why for so long it has received such high praise from reviewers. It has not just dated very badly but I can't see why it was ever considered anything more than average. The acting - particularly from Cary Elwes - is awful; Billy Crystal does his cliched old Jewish wisecracking comedian schtick yet again (a persona he appears to have regurgitated over and over again in the eighties and nineties - see When Harry Met Sally, City Slickers etc....); the special effects and the sets look cheap and creaky and, as another reviewer mentioned, the pace of the film is snail-like which bodes ill for a film claiming to be a 'swashbuckler'. The film might have seemed less inept in the eighties, pre-CGI era but that does not excuse all its other myriad weaknesses.

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The Princess Bride

A Customer from london, 14th March, 2010

A great family film which my daughter of 11 enjoyed very much. It was nice to see Peter Falk out of his 'Columbo' mac.

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