As You Wish : The Perfection Of The Princess Bride

 With the unfortunate passing of Rob Reiner, I wanted to explore some of his filmography, and I wanted to start with my personal favorites of his movies. The Princess Bride isn't just my personal favorite from his catalogue; it is either my favorite or second-favorite film of all time. We all know the characters, stories, and especially the lines from this movie, iconic lines that have spanned decades, from " Hello, my name is Inigo Montoya.. You killed my father, prepare to die" and "Inconceivable!", so I just wanted to revisit why this movie is so special to me and to so many others. 

I rewatched this movie with a friend recently, and even though I have watched this movie many times over, I found myself quoting some of the lines, laughing at the jokes, and smiling ear to ear. This movie, taking place within a story being read to a sick child by his grandfather, has action, comedy, romance, and so much more, all within a fairy tale-like setting. The world this story creates feels timeless, every actor and the script itself committing to this fictional world, which feels welcoming to the viewer. 

The music and presentation also fit into the world, the music sounding unique yet not distracting the audience, adding to that feeling. The set and look, the costumes included, make every location look grand, and every character feel like they belong in this story. The movie has a set identity that it never strays from, every piece of the movie creating this fairy tale and bringing it to life. 

This movie has so much merchandise, has been spoofed and parodied, and has been paid homage to because it is that iconic. I have never met someone who doesn't love this movie; everything is simply wonderful. The pacing of the movie in terms of the writing and the run time of the movie. No scene overstay its welcome, and no scene feels out of place or random. This movie is as close to it as what would be called "a perfect movie". 

The characters are memorable, and the actors who portrayed them make every character fit into this fantasy world. As mentioned, the lines in this movie are perfect; many of the jokes, both physical slapstick or spoken, are still hilarious. I can hear some of the lines in this movie without watching the film and know exactly where they take place, and how they are delivered, visualizing them even. These moments have lived on because they are just that funny, and are delivered so perfectly that the punchlines land, and even lines that are meant to be heartfelt land as well. 

The line " as you wish" has been something that someone can just say to a loved one, and if they know, they know. The line is even used comedically and works in that regard, too; it is that layered. The movie ending on this line leaves such a heartfelt, wonderful feeling left over that this is a movie I have to watch at least once every year or every couple of years, reminding myself why I love it so much. Every single time I finish the movie, I am reminded why it is so great, why it works on so many levels, wrapping me up in a blanket of cozy nostalgia and grand adventures that never grow stale even on repeat viewings.

A family movie that has moments that are fun for viewers young and old, a timeless story that, even as I write this post, makes me want to put the movie on again, and I probably will soon. A line as simple as "as you wish" that has spanned generations, jokes that are as funny now as they were when this movie hit the big screen, fun action, and a presentation that stays with the viewer. A story that invokes those nostalgic feelings about spending time with loved ones, and hearing stories that we didn't know we'd like but would be hooked by the end of them. 

When someone asks me if I want to watch this movie, all I have to say is "as you wish".