As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales From the Making of The Princess Bride

As You Wish: The Perfect Christmas Present from Cary Elwes!

If you are looking for a great Christmas gift this year for someone you love (or for someone to give to you), look no further. I am going to take a wild guess that The Princess Bride is one of your favourite films of all time. So you will definitely want to read As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales From The Making of The Princess Bride.

Grandfather: That day, she was amazed to discover that when he was saying "As you wish" what he meant was "I love you". And even more amazing was the day she discovered that she truly loved him back.

"As you wish"

This film is extra special for me as I saw it in the movie theatre (not many people did!) and it was the first movie date I had with my now husband of 25 years. We have watched it many times since, especially with our 2 now grown sons who love it as much as I do.

Vizzini: HE DIDN'T FALL? INCONCEIVABLE!
Inigo Montoya: You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.

"Inconceivable!"

This is a wonderful little book. You will wish it were longer, however there are lots of great stories about what a magical time it was making it. And how much fun they had. And lots of great pictures!

Inigo Montoya: Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.

Vizzini: No more rhymes now, I mean it!
Fezzik: Anybody want a peanut?

"You rush a miracle man, you get rotten miracles!"

Miracle Max: Have fun stormin' da castle!
Valerie: Think it'll work?
Miracle Max: It would take a miracle.

So when you have read the book, and watched the DVD again with all of the extras (if you don't have a copy with the extras, that would make another great Christmas present!) then you are ready for William Goldman's book. Yes, the book that the film was made from, The Princess Bride- S. Morgenstern's Classic Tale of True Love and High Adventure-The "good parts" version- Abridged by William Goldman. There is a wonderful story in Cary's book about how many people in Hollywood had wanted to turn it into a film and failed (or failed to convince Goldman who was very jaded by 1987). But Rob Reiner loved William Goldman's book. By the way, there is no S. Morgenstern...it is all Goldman and I think as a screen writer, he could see how he wanted it made all along. And so of course he wrote the screenplay himself.

So there. Christmas is sorted for you all!

"When I was your age, television was called books!"

The Grandson: Grandpa, maybe you could come over and read it to me again tomorrow.
Grandpa: As you wish.

The Princess Bride- A True Classic!

The Princess Bride Movie Poster

I was on a roll last month with my sentimental favourites, so here is my next one.  The Princess Bride was the first movie I saw with my husband in 1987.  Much better than our second date movie, Fatal Attraction!  The Squire, as I call him in my blog, wondered what kind of a movie I had taken him to, as it seemed to be a children's flick at first.  He also ate an enormous amount of popcorn, as I recall.
But this has turned into a film which I have to pop in the DVD player at least once a year, and if it comes on TV, I have to leave it on and watch it.  Twenty-three years later, it holds up beautifully, with only a few special effects looking a bit cheesy (the rodents of unusual size for example).

"Is this a kissing book?"

The Grandson: A book?
Grandpa: That's right. When I was your age, television was called books. And this is a special book. It was the book my father used to read to me when I was sick, and I used to read it to your father. And today I'm gonna read it to you.
The Grandson: Has it got any sports in it?
Grandpa: Are you kidding? Fencing, fighting, torture, revenge, giants, monsters, chases, escapes, true love, miracles...
The Grandson: Doesn't sound too bad. I'll try to stay awake.
Grandpa: Oh, well, thank you very much, very nice of you. Your vote of confidence is overwhelming.

This film appeals to men and women (despite the girly title) and young and old alike.   It is a light-hearted fantasy, an adaptation of the tongue in cheek book of the same name, and directed by the fantastic Rob Reiner, whose comic sense is perfect for this.

"Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die"

So many wonderful actors in this.  Mandy Patinkin as Inigo Montoya, the revenge crazed swordsman, Carey Elwes as young Westley, Robin Wright as Buttercup/The Princess Bride, Chris Sarandon (Susan's ex) as Prince Humperdinck, and Christopher Guest (husband of Jamie Lee Curtis) as the Count Rugen, the six-fingered man.

"You rush a miracle man, you get rotten miracles."

Billy Crystal had one of his best roles ever as Miracle Max.  Wallace Shawn also shone as the lisping Vizzini and Andre the Giant was a lovely gentle giant in his role as Fezzik.

That day, she was amazed to discover that when he was saying "As you wish", what he meant was, "I love you."

Fencing Scene
Inigo Montoya: You are wonderful.
Man in Black: Thank you; I've worked hard to become so.
Inigo Montoya: I admit it, you are better than I am.
Man in Black: Then why are you smiling?
Inigo Montoya: Because I know something you don't know.
Man in Black: And what is that?
Inigo Montoya: I... am not left-handed.
[Moves his sword to his right hand and gains an advantage]
Man in Black: You are amazing.
Inigo Montoya: I ought to be, after 20 years.
Man in Black: Oh, there's something I ought to tell you.
Inigo Montoya: Tell me.
Man in Black: I'm not left-handed either.
[Moves his sword to his right hand and regains his advantage]

"As you wish..."

So if you haven't seen this, buy it!  It's cheap and you'll watch it a lot.  And for the rest of you who are already fans of The Princess Bride...

"Have fun stormin' the castle!"