And this week’s (August 9-15) is… The Princess Bride!

Yes, as many have noted, this one was a tough one. I learned something about the top 250 that I hadn’t realized before: there isn’t a huge number of movies from the 80’s on it comparatively (30, compared to 41 of the 90’s and 55 of the 2000’s), but the majority of the ones that made the list are huge blockbusters that we all hold dear. Empire Strikes Back, Terminator, Stand By Me, Aliens, Die Hard, etc. etc. So this is a pretty big win for Meathead’s “storybook story.”

Like so many movies that win, this one is often described as “it’s got it all.” Just as Peter Falk says in the introduction, the story has “fencing, fighting, torture, revenge, giants, monsters, chases, escapes, true love, miracles.” We may not remember when exactly we saw this movie, where or with whom we watched it, but for most of us, we can say that we’ve seen this movie multiple times. Perhaps down deep we all do love traditional, medieval stories with princesses and mystical creatures–I don’t believe in ROUS’s either. Maybe we all truly do love a good romance story, but like Fred Savage’s character, we hate to admit it.

This movie is one that has really made some pretty significant triumphs. Here is a film that has all of the elements of a story that appear to be overdone, but it’s not relegated to the kids’ shelf like Dragonheart, to the “dude movie” shelf like Conan the Barbarian, nor outright forgotten like First Knight. In fact, it seems that children watch it more than once and love it, young men and women do, old men and women do, and just about everyone. I once heard a camp speaker rattle off the “mowidge!” speech without setting it up or referring to the movie at all. He just got up there and spoke the minister’s speech verbatim, and the reaction was the best one all week, which says a lot for a youth camp. They’ll cheer for mouldy scones if you ask them to. To put together a two-hour tale with elements that have been in a zillion others (not just in movies, but in comics, books, etc.) and still be a favourite, you have made a freaking great one.

In fact, it even triumphs with corniness and kooky humour. Corniness is a funny thing. One moment it makes us roll our eyes, the next it makes us laugh out loud and say, “I love it.” I know I wouldn’t want to be in charge of writing a script that tries to get the latter response, but Rob Reiner did. Did he ever.

Let’s also not forget the stellar cast. I mean this movie has both Kevin from Wonder years AND Columbo as narrators. Plus, I think anyone and everyone who saw this movie was thrilled to see that Billy Crystal was in it. Then, when he was followed closely behind by Carol Kane who burst onto the screen with hilarious lines and an even more hilarious voice, it looked like they might just steal the show. They didn’t, though. There were too many great actors fitted to the perfect character. When I imitate Wallace Shawn, hardly a soul recognizes the name. But they sure know his voice, especially when I yell out, “Inconceivable!” I don’t remember seeing the Spaniard in any other movie (His name is Mandy in real life… what the…) but not another actor in the world could have been able to fill the role like he did. He also owns arguably the most quotable line from the movie. “My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.” And Andre the Giant’s it. Andre the freaking Giant!

Aside from all of this, there is one more ingredient that makes this movie such a winner in popular culture, and that is how quotable it is. I thought Dumb and Dumber had so many great quotes (and, of course, it does), but nothing compared to this one. In fact, I better not even get started. It’s an unstoppable train that will not yield until the entire movie has been uttered with smiling heads nodding and hands clapping with amused recognition ready to fire back yet another. So I will stop right here with the quotes. I mean it!

Anybody want a peanut?

Congratulations The Princess Bride. This is your week!

Great competition, though, eh McFly? I’m still harbouring bitter feelings to my parents for letting my older brother go seeBack to the Futurewith his friends while I had to wait until it came out on VHS. And in those days it took 15 years for that to happen. Soon after seeing it I had my mind made up that I wanted a skateboard. I also got myself a vest like Marty had and listened to Huey Lewis like he did. I just didn’t drink Tab like he did. But a great and original story, especially considering that time travel stories are similarly almost overdone. And Raiders of the Lost Ark! Getting chased by the giant rock, falling into the pit of snakes and shooting a man because he was just too darn tired to fight anymore. Just writing about it makes me want to watch it right now. If there is another movie that leads its audience into an amazing and memorable adventure better than this one, I am unable to think of it. Oh, and I have a Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones hat too. I’m kind of pathetic but in a good way.

And the winning quote of the week: Again I really don’t want to get started, so I believe this week’s quote will go to good ol’ Back to the Future “What happens to us in the future? Do we become a**holes or something?”

And the Oscar goes to: Actress: Lea Thompson. She plays two different ages of a single character and does it very well. Are you like me? Do you miss having her around on the big screen? She was great. Actor: Andre the Giant. Andre the freaking Giant!

And if we can end with a bit of a public service announcement, it’s good to read books. It’s also good to read aloud with another person. The little boy in the movie (funny how he’s not named) learned this in spite of himself. We should too. But watch movies more, of course. They’re good for your eyes.