Writer’s workshop prompt: What was it about that movie? Describe a movie you once had memorized.
To this day, I don’t know what it is about The Princess Bride, but a small kernel of my brain has devoted itself to maintaining the movie on constant re-run status. So much so that the hubster suggested (only half kidding) that I donate my brain to science so they can find and study this particularly annoying cluster of cells after I’m dead and gone.
It all comes down to the fact that this movie is just so damn quotable. Anytime I snarkily say “As you wish,” all I can think off is Buttercup hurling herself down the steep hill after Westley when she’s just realized that it really is Westley and not the Dread Pirate Roberts. Likewise, when I’m feeling particularly melodramatic, I tend to drop into Buttercup’s, “You mock my pain!” (I try not to remember The Man in Black’s reply: “Life is pain, Highness. Anyone who says differently is selling something.”)
Every time I think of a wedding, in the back of my head, I can hear my friend Christine from law school, reciting the clergyman’s speech at the beginning of Buttercup’s truncated wedding to Prince Humperdinck. We spent most of our 3L year planning our weddings, and she had this thing down pat. “Mawage. Mawage is wot bwings us togeder tooday. Mawage, that bwessed awangment, that dweam wifin a dweam …”
Seriously, people, this is not the stuff of Citizen Kane, but it is catchy. Who among us didn’t spend a sizable portion of middle and high school Spanish classes muttering in bad accents, “My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.”
Anyone? Bueller? Bueller? Oh, wait, different favorite movie.
Again, TPB is never going to win an Academy Award, or even a Razzie, but how can you not love it for lines like Vizzini’s, “You fool! You fell victim to one of the classic blunders – the most famous of which is ‘Never get involved in a land war in Asia’ – but only slightly less well-known is this: ‘Never go up against a Sicilian when death is on the line!’”
And lastly, a classic from Prince Humperdinck: “Would you at least consider me as an alternative to suicide?”
“Stop that rhythming now I mean it.”
“Anybody want a peanut?”
Thanks for the great reminder. This movie truly is a classic!
Found you at Mama Kat's.
I love that you made a name badge. Excellent. I may have to use that in real life someday.
My husband tells me regularly that he's developed an immunity to iocaine powder. And we call things “inconceivable!” quite regularly. I do not think it means what we think it means. We're both addicted.
But then, this may be because David almost was Fred Savage.
Damn it, Ang! Now I'm going to have to rewatch Princess Bride this weekend.
Also, you know why the movie is so wonderfully quotable? Because William Goldman wrote it, and he's a freaking genius. (No, seriously – look him up on IMDB. He an Oscar winner two times over.)
I love the name badge and, like KLZ, I may have to make one to wear at work one day soon…for the next person who kills my copier…steals my pink mechanical pencil…:)
I do use “As you wish” often. Then again I love Scarlett O'Hara's pride (before her complete fall?)- “With God as my witness I'll never go hungry again!” – yep, mutter that each time I set foot in the grocery store and look at the ever rising prices!
When my husband gives me the look that says I have overscheduled us for the weekend I like to tell him, “I'm not a witch, I'm your wife” and that usually gets a smile.
For me, it is the love stories. Better than romance, which is often fleeting, it is the lasting love – Westley and Buttercup, Inigo and his father, the grandfather and little Fred Savage. How can you not be drawn to a movie that has that many good feelings and timeless one-liners?
Confession time: I didn't make the name badge. Found it on a Google image search. If that's not the sign of a classic movie, I don't know what is!
@Angie, I love all the Fezzik/Inigo rhyming!
@KLZ, the hubster does not find TPB as fascinating as I do. I don't know why. I would LOVE to have him get it when I talk about having developed an immunity to iocaine powder. (FYI, doctors don't tend to get that, either). I also say “inconceivable!” a lot, and it probably doesn't mean what I think it does, either. Hope your hubby's on the mend, btw.
@Anoyn, are you also known as the Toadmuffin? Just a guess.
@Guerrina, I think we should all make name badges. In fact, the next time I'm faced with a blank “Hello, my name is” I'm gonna put this on it. Just for shits and giggles.
@infor10to20 so glad you mentioned the Valerie quote! Love that one. And yes, even though it's a cornfest, I love the love stories. And Westley. And little Fred Savage is soooo cute!
Oh, yes! Sorry – not sure how that posted as Anonymous. Usually it just magically applies my Google ID.
That is a good one. I'm sorry i missed this prompt. Lots of changes happening this week in my house.
For me, it's 16 Candles without a doubt. I'm pretty sure I can recite that whole movie. I've watched it a bazillion times but it still makes me laugh. And it plays to the hopeless romantic in me. sigh…Jake Ryan.
there are some quote-worthy lines for sure. and you gave a shout to FB, so I gotta love this!
I love that movie! I have a tendency to say “As you wish” when someone (my husband) asks me to do something I don't want to do and I picture this movie overtime I say it!
@Whit, I don't care if you comment anon, just thought it was funny that I recognized you.
@SaucyB, it was a fun one. I've only seen 16 Candles once, I think. May be getting it confused with Pretty in Pink. This whole thing makes me think a Brat Pack weekend is in order!
@Liz, glad you liked it. And now I'll think of you as well as Ferris each time I'm looking at my kids going, “Bueller? Bueller?”
@Kasey, that's exactly how I use the phrase. With a healthy dose of snark.
There is a shortage of perfect breasts in the world. 'T wold be a pity to damage yours!
My family used to watch this during dinner regularly. My brother and I ruined this movie for my mother because we could literally quote the ENTIRE movie, start to finish, as it was playing. Drove her batty. Great flick, though!