"Buttercup was raised on a small farm in the country of Florin. Her favourite past times were riding her horse and tormenting the farm boy that worked there. His name was Westley, but she called him that. Isn't that a wonderful beginning?"
Yes, it is. And thus begins one of my all time favourite films, "The Princess Bride". I watched it again the other day. Despite having seen it many times, possibly as much as a hundred, and being able to quote the movie from beginning to end, I hadn't actually watched it in quite some time.
It is a great movie. For those who may not have seen it (and you should) it is kind of hard to describe. It's a fantasy, a romance, a comedy and an adventure movie all rolled into one. Written by William Goldman and directed by Rob Reiner, it follows the love story of Buttercup and Westley as read by a Grandfather to his Grandson.
It is such a fun film to watch so I wanted to share some of my favourite bits. But rather than describe the scenes, I will simply quote the dialogue from that scene. If you have watched the movie you should instantly know what I am talking about and probably smile as you picture what was happenning on screen.
So here we go...
"As you wish"
said many times throughout the film.
"Inconceivable!"
"You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means."
"I am not left handed."
"I'm not left handed either."
"Are there rocks ahead?"
"If there are we'll all be dead."
"I do not envy you the headache you will have when you awake. But in the meantime rest well and dream of large women."
"Let me put it this way. Have you ever heard of Plato, Aristotle, Socrates?"
"Yes."
"Morons"
"Death cannot stop true love. All it can do is delay it for a while."
"Is this a kissing book?"
"We'll never survive."
"Nonsense. You're only saying that because no one ever has."
"What about the R O U Ses?"
"Rodents of unusual size? I don't think they exist."
"We are men of action. Lies do not become us."
"You have six fingers on your right hand. Someone was looking for you."
"Fezzik, jog his memory."
"I'm sorry Inigo, I didn't mean to jog him so hard."
"Why don't you give me a nice paper cut and pour lemon juice on it."
"I'm on the brute squad."
"You are the brute squad!"
"You've been mostly dead all day."
"Let me explain. No there is too much. Let me sum up."
and now my favourite of all...
"Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die."
I actually saw Mandy Patinkin in concert years ago and he closed the performance with that line.
"I want my father back you son of a bitch!"
"There are a shortage of perfect breasts in this world. It would be a pity to damage yours."
"I'll explain and I'll use small words so that you'll be sure to understand, you warthog faced buffoon."
"That may be the first time in my life a man has dared insult me."
"It won't be the last."
So that is a sampling. I hope it made you laugh or smile or bring back fond memories. Now go and watch "The Princess Bride" again or watch it for the first time.
