The Princess Bride: The Book is Way Better Than the Movie

But Not Quite as Good as the Tapestry

So you've watched The Princess Bride on AMC and you think you know all there is to know about the story, eh? Inconceivable!

There's an old saying-older than dishwashing detergent, but not quite as old as rope-that goes something like this: The book is better than the movie. I think the phrase was coined by a novelist; I'm pretty certain it wasn't coined by a screenwriter. But who can ever really know these
 things, right? At any rate, the phrase "the book is better than the movie" certainly applies in the case of The Princess Bride. 

Now, don't go running for the tar and feathers, I'm not saying the movie isn't good. In fact, I believe it to be the best thing that everyone involved in it has ever done; certainly that is the case for Billy Crystal, Cary Elwes, Robin Wright (Penn), Rob Reiner, Andre the Giant, and Mandy Patinkin, who should have won an Oscar. And it certainly ranks in the top three things ever done by the master, Wallace Shawn.

But there is a distinct philosophical difference between the book and movie versions of The Princess Bride. (Philosophy, as you may not know, was discovered almost by accident by Christopher Columbus on his second visit to South America, or as he referred to it New Oldtown.) The philosophy of the movie version of The Princess Bride can be summed up in three words: children's movie. The philosophy of the book version, by William Goldman-the greatest novelist of the 1970s-can be summed up in three words also: Life isn't fair.

Remember the opening of the movie, with that kid from The Wonder Years being visited questioned about a murder by Columbo? Well, that's not in the book. In the novel, the opening section is a modern day-and by modern day I mean post-1850s-recounting of how the author, William Goldman-the greatest novelist of the 1970s-came to translate an edition of S. Morgenstern's Classic Tale of True Love and High Adventure: The Princess Bride. 

Related information
  • The novel is darker and more adult-oriented, but still only contains one scene of outright nudity.
  • The true message of the novel is contained in the final words.
  • The best parts of the novel have nothing to do with the story, but rather Goldman's commentary.
 
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I just finished reading this excellent book and thoroughly enjoyed your article.

Posted on 11/12/2008 at 7:11:41 PM

I totally agree. Usually the book is much better than the movie. However, they are both fantastic! It is my favorite movie and when I realized that it was "based" on the book, I decided to buy it and read it. But I still think that the ending to the book is better. It's not so fairy-talish! The movie has a Disney movie ending, and it can be sickening in high amounts. Thank you so much for saying what we all were thinking!

Posted on 10/03/2008 at 11:10:38 AM

hi

Posted on 03/15/2008 at 6:03:28 PM

I must agree with Jimbob29

Posted on 11/19/2007 at 8:11:00 AM

fine dont talk to me!!! ( by the way love the article!!!)

Posted on 11/19/2007 at 8:11:00 AM

hey what it do?

Posted on 11/19/2007 at 8:11:00 AM

I'm sorry to have to disagree with all of you about the book being better then the movie in this case. I my oppinion the movie was lovely light hearted and fun, unlike the book which read long winded and tedius, epesically due to those interuptions. The narrator came across not smart and philosophical but cynical, egotistical, and whinney. His "dry wit" was little more than sarcasm leaving much of the book with a tone that would be meloncholic were it not for its shallowness. Book are NORMALY better then their movie counterparts as a rule, 'The Princss Bride' however I find to be the exception.

Posted on 10/09/2007 at 12:10:00 AM

Books are usually better than the films. I loved this movie, it's one of my all time favorites.

Posted on 06/27/2007 at 9:06:00 AM

I like this movie a lot. I should read the book sometime. Books are almost always better than the movies.

Posted on 06/26/2007 at 12:06:00 PM

Great article - the book is ALWAYS better than the movie.

Posted on 06/26/2007 at 6:06:00 AM

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