 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
The Princess Bride
- Review Date: May 19, 2003
- PG
- Genre: Fantasy
- 1987
Common Sense Media says
Witty, winsome fairy tale for the whole family.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this quirky, funny fairy tale has quite a bit of action-style violence, including a torture machine, sword fights (one to the death), a death by poisoning, quicksand, fire pits, and ROUSes (rodents of unusual size) and giant shrieking eels that attack main characters. But the movie's skewed humor and its storybook feel lessen some of the impact of the violent scenes. There's also some drinking -- in one scene a drunken character is revived in a barrel of water -- and a bit of kissing.
What's the story?
The most beautiful woman in the world, Buttercup (Robin Wright Penn), gets engaged to the cruel Prince Humperdinck (Chris Sarandon) after she hears that her true love, Westley, was killed by the Dread Pirate Roberts. But before the wedding, she's kidnapped by a huge man with enormous strength (Andre the Giant), a master swordsman (Mandy Patinkin), and an evil genius (Wallace Shawn). A mysterious masked man (Cary Elwes) must defeat them all, and then escape with Buttercup through the treacherous Fire Swamp. When they're both captured by the prince and his six-fingered henchman, Count Rugen (Christopher Guest), they discover that not even death can get in the way of true love.
Is it any good?
THE PRINCESS BRIDE is stuffed full of every element of a classic romantic adventure -- princes, villains and evil geniuses, giants and giant creatures, sword fights, revenge, kidnapping, and a rescue on white horses -- and it coats them all in delicious humor.
This witty modern fairy tale by William Goldman (screenwriter of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and All the President's Men) is resoundingly satisfying. Goldman's book is even better -- and lots of fun to read aloud (though the book's asides are more for adult readers). The motley cast of storybook characters is consistently hilarious, right down to the bit parts featuring the likes of Carol Kane and Billy Crystal as a bickering old witch and wizard, and Peter Cook as the Impressive Clergyman.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about what makes for a really good adventure/love story. Is it sword fights? Scary creatures? Handsome leading men and ladies?
How does this movie poke fun at some of the standard fairy tale elements?
In the end, why didn't the sick boy mind the kissing scene as much as he thought he would?
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AGE
Classic movie but not as clean as CSM claims
I love this movie and always have. However I am not sure how Common Sense Media can say that language is not an issue. There are two expletives son of a b---- and, even worse is when the boy utters Jesus' name in a profane way. The torture scene is a little extreme in my opinion. Also there is a tad more than "just kissing" as far as sexy stuff goes including when Wesley refers to Buttercup's "perfect breasts". It is still a classic movie but I must say that I prefer the movie reviews at Plugged In Online as they seem to be much more acurate.
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AGE
Inconceivable!
Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare for one of THE BEST MOVIES OF ALL TIME!!!!
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AGE
One of my favorites, but it depends on the kid
I have always loved this movie; I can't remember a time when I didn't. When I was a kid, I had a self-imposed tradition of watching it on Christmas Day in the afternoon when I was bored. Recently my stepdaughter (6.75 at the time) was sick in bed and my husband and I decided we'd watch it with her. What a mistake! I hope we didn't ruin it for her forever. I always thought, "what's not to like?" but she's not really used to movies with almost constant fighting, a lot of witty (but often fast-paced and subtle) dialog, and very little overt physical comedy. Most of the jokes went over her head, and she proclaimed it to be "scary" and "boring". The sort of magical parts (Miracle Max, Westley's return) aren't the fantastic and wondrous "Disney-style" magic, either. All in all, a great movie in my opinion, but not really for kids under 8 or 9 unless they have a decent sense of nuance.
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Kid, 12 years old
April 7, 2011
AGE
love it!!!!!!
This is one of my favorite movies!!!!!!!!
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AGE
wow romance
i love this movie it's romantic,funny,and adventurous.i recommend this movie to people who have seen lots of romantic movies.
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AGE
A wonderful movie, which can be watched over and over again
This is one of my favorite books, and the movie was a very good adaptation. I've probably watched it a dozen times. I even watched it with my 6-year-old (after some careful discussions about the story) and we took it in little pieces. She handled it fine, but generally I'd show it to an 8-year-old, not 6.
If you like the movie, give the book a try, but hold off until they are 10 or 11. The author's commentary, which is fictional but sounds real, has a lot of stuff about infidelity, unhappy marriages, and disdain for one's own child. None of that is in the movie, though.
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AGE
Funny and adorable
I love this movie!! Old, but a classic.
There is one scary scene with a torture machine and another with a giant rat. But the other violence is alright.
This movie has some great lines and is sooo funny! My mum and uncle love to quote bits of this to each other.
Nice story of true love and planning...
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AGE
over all a great movie for the family. Nothing that major to mess up the movie.
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Kid, 12 years old
March 16, 2011
AGE
Good for Kids.
I thought this movie was really good. There is a lot of violence, killing and gruesome things. Other than that it is fine. One b-word.
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AGE
One of my absolute favorites
When I think of my all time favorite movies, this is always near the top of the list. Probably the best script ever written. Most of it will go over young children's heads, but the smart ones will love it.
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| Topics: | magic and fantasy, princesses and fairies, adventures, book characters, pirates |
| Studio: | MGM/UA |
| Director: | Rob Reiner |
| Cast: | Cary Elwes, Mandy Patinkin, Robin Wright Penn |
| Genre: | Fantasy |
| Run time: | 98 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | September 25, 1987 |
| DVD release date: | September 4, 2001 |
| MPAA rating: | PG |
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