Over the Christmas / New Year holiday time the New Zealand Herald
newspaper ran this series of articles with journalists giving their
suggestions for New Zealand's favourite family film for The Great
Family Film Poll ...


*The* *Princess* *Bride*
Never has there been a greater collision of fairytales,
swashbuckling action-adventure, and comedy in one film
then The Princess Bride. There really is something for
everyone in this hilarious masterpiece from Rob Reiner
(who also directed This is Spinal Tap). There is a
beautiful young girl named Buttercup in line to become
a princess, a Sicilian crime boss, a Spanish fencing
master, a kind of wizard called Miracle Max, pirates,
giants, "rodents of unusual size", locations such as
the "Fire Swamp", "Pit of Despair" and "Cliffs of
Insanity". And of course a masked man in black, who
may or may not be out to save the princess, and may or
may not really be a farmhand called Westley.

As a kid, it all seemed simply like jolly good
entertainment, but it was only when I rediscovered the
film in my university years that I realised just how
bonkersly brilliant the whole tale was.

Buttercup (Robin Wright) and Westley (Carey Elwes)
might not actually be that interesting, but when you've
got Billy Crystal and Mandy Patinkin involved, there
are laughs guaranteed.

Patinkin's frequently rehearsed revenge mantra "Hello,
my name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare
to die." remains one of my favourite cinematic lines,
and Crystal's "Inconceivable!" exclamation became a
catchphrase during my flatting years.

The fact that Dire Straits' Mark Knopfler composed the
soundtrack only makes this gently mocking, post-modern
fairytale even more brilliant, and the overt goofs and
stunt mistakes in the filming (there's all sorts of
visible equipment during the duel on top of the Cliffs
of Insanity) are a joy for trainspotters.

I haven't yet actually watched the film with a new
generation of kids, but given its timeless storyline,
effortless comedy, and impressive costuming, I'm sure
they'd find as much joy in it as I do.

- Lydia Jenkin, New Zealand Herald Entertainment Writer
1 January, 2016

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