The Princess Bride Blu-ray Review

Criterion's Blu-ray presentation of "The Princess Bride" offers a visually stunning upgrade over prior releases, courtesy of a remarkable new 4K digital restoration. The transfer, encoded in MPEG-4 AVC with a 1080p resolution and presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1, reveals unprecedented levels of clarity and detail. The scenery in exterior shots, particularly the lush green landscapes, exhibits extraordinary vibrancy and depth, highlighting an expanded range of nuanced colors. The film's textures emerge beautifully, from detailed close-ups that make facial features pop to the natural grain structure that retains a filmic quality. This is a sophisticated and delicate balance between sharpness and the intrinsic softness of the film’s original cinematography, ensuring that the essence of Rob Reiner's classic remains intact while offering significant enhancements.

Additionally, the color reproduction is impeccable with brilliantly saturated primaries and a natural color palette that enhances the movie's fantasy elements. Costumes and set pieces now exhibit more vivid yellows, reds, and blues, with flesh tones appearing more lifelike. Notably, both daylight and nighttime scenes benefit from the remastered shadow definition, which vastly improves dynamic range and overall image stability. The absence of digital artifacts like debris or damage marks further promotes an organic and spectacular viewing experience.

However, it’s important to note a slight video stutter observed at the 26:34 mark during a medium shot of Fezzik speaking to Westley, which detracts minimally from the near-perfect presentation. Despite this minor flaw, the Criterion release stands out as a superior visual experience compared to the previous MGM-Fox Blu-ray, showcasing the full beauty of Adrian Biddle’s cinematography for the first time. This new transfer thus underscores the film's visual grandeur, positioning it as an essential upgrade for fans and collectors alike.

The Blu-ray release of "The Princess Bride" features an English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track (48kHz, 24-bit) that is both clear and balanced. Dialogue delivery is crisp and precise, with each iconic line easily discernible. The dynamic range is commendable, particularly during action sequences where sound separation is evident. Key effects such as wood creaking on ships, birds chirping, and flaming explosions in the Fire Swamps are well-rendered, enhancing immersion. Despite the mix being front-oriented, the soundstage offers good directionality, though rear activity is minimal with only sporadic ambient effects and music cues reaching the surrounds.

Fidelity in the audio presentation is noteworthy, maintaining richness in dialogue with minimal age-related degradation. Mark Knopfler's guitar-driven score benefits from this presentation, exhibiting clarity and warmth, especially in the higher treble notes. Although the LFE channel's use is limited to moments like swamp flames and galloping horses, it adds occasional depth to the audio landscape. The Blu-ray's mix, while not cutting-edge by modern standards, faithfully respects the source material. It provides a stable and engaging audio experience that complements the film’s overall charm, ensuring nothing is lost amid the sound elements.

In summary, this Blu-ray audio track remains equivalent to previous releases but still delivers a robust and satisfying auditory experience for "The Princess Bride" aficionados. The track excels in dialogue reproduction and balance across various audio components, preserving the nostalgic purity of the film's original sound design.

Criterion has crafted an exceptional assemblage of bonus features for "The Princess Bride" Blu-ray, blending vintage and newly produced content that sheds comprehensive light on both the film's production and its enduring legacy. Highlighting the diverse range, you'll find full commentaries, making-of documentaries, scholarly analyses, and rare behind-the-scenes footage. This selection provides an invaluable exploration into the creative processes behind this beloved classic, offering a wealth of nostalgic moments and expert insights that will surely delight fans and cinephiles alike.

Extras included in this disc:

• Commentary: Insightful track featuring Rob Reiner, William Goldman, Andrew Scheinman, Billy Crystal, and Peter Falk.
• Audiobook: Excerpts of Rob Reiner reading Goldman's novel synced with the film for comparative insight.
• True Love: A 2012 featurette with interviews from Rob Reiner, Cary Elwes, and Robin Wright.
• Pure Enchantment: Analysis by Loren-Paul Caplin on Goldman's screenplay and writing style.
• The Tapestry: Examination of Carol Burland's commissioned medieval-style tapestries.
• As You Wish: Comprehensive making-of featurette from 2012.
• The Princess Bride: The Untold Story: Cast interviews discussing the film's impact from 2007.
• Fairy-Tale Reality: Art director Richard Holland discusses the film's visual style.
• Miraculous Makeup: A look into Billy Crystal's transformation into Miracle Max.
• Behind the Scenes: Collection of short production videos with commentary.
• Cary Elwes Video Diary: Vintage on-set footage narrated by Elwes and Robin Wright.
• The Art of Fencing: Hollywood sword master Robert Goodwin discusses sword-fighting scenes.
• Fairy Tales & Folklore: Scholar Jack Zipes explores the film’s fairy tale themes.
• Publicity Materials: U.S. and foreign trailers, plus multiple TV spots.

Criterion’s Blu-ray release of “The Princess Bride” showcases Rob Reiner’s 1987 film with a meticulously crafted 4K restoration, originally based on the 1997 laserdisc master supervised by associate producer Steve Nicolaides. This edition contains an extensive array of supplemental features, including insightful audio commentaries, archival interviews with the cast and crew, engaging featurettes, and a 40-page illustrated booklet. This Region-A locked edition ensures that fans can experience the film in its finest form, complete with optional English SDH subtitles.

"The Princess Bride" endures due to its playful and witty spirit, a characteristic that today’s filmmakers strive to capture. Rob Reiner’s whimsical direction allows the film to traverse its narrative unconstrained by modern expectations. Comparing favorably to the works of Monty Python, yet centered on old-fashioned romance, the film harmoniously blends humor, adventure, and enduring love. Its deft balance of self-aware satire and genuine affection for fairy-tale conventions positions it as a timeless classic. Elements such as the charming portrayal of heroes and villains, memorable dialogue, and iconic scenes contribute to its generational appeal, supported by Cary Elwes' and Robin Wright's compelling performances as Westley and Buttercup.

The film’s structure leverages a storytelling device where a grandfather (Peter Falk) reads a book to his sick grandson (Fred Savage), bridging generational gaps and inviting viewers to suspend disbelief joyously. The narrative traverses medieval landscapes filled with comical and formidable characters such as Inigo Montoya (Mandy Patinkin) and Fezzik (Andre the Giant). Goldman’s script artfully deconstructs traditional fantasy tropes while maintaining heartfelt sincerity. The practical effects and handmade aesthetic enhance its fairytale atmosphere. Despite simpler filmmaking techniques compared to today's standards, Reiner’s approach ensures breathtaking sequences without detracting from the film's timeless feel. It’s this blend of narrative ingenuity and technical craftsmanship that makes “The Princess Bride” an enduring favorite among audiences of all ages.

"The Princess Bride" continues to enchant audiences with its timeless blend of humor, romance, and adventure. This new Criterion Collection Blu-ray edition showcases the film in a near-perfect presentation, featuring a 4K-derived transfer that significantly enhances the visual quality. Fans will notice a remarkable improvement over previous releases, making this the definitive version currently available on physical media. The witty dialogue, intelligent scripting, and unforgettable characters that have captivated audiences for decades are presented in the best possible light.

Complementing the superior video quality is a rich array of supplements both new and archival. This thoughtful assemblage includes bonus material not found in other versions, although it notably excludes the MGM-Fox audio commentaries. Despite minor flaws, such as an infrequent video glitch barely noticeable on large screens, these issues do not detract from the overall high-quality presentation. The packaging is meticulously crafted in a storybook style, adding an extra layer of charm to this already irresistible offering.

In conclusion, "The Princess Bride" on Criterion Blu-ray is a highly recommended purchase for fans and new viewers alike. The film's enduring appeal lies in its cheeky irreverence and heartfelt storytelling, elements that have cemented its status as a beloved classic. This edition represents the best transfer to date, coupled with an abundance of extras to delve into the film's enchanting world. Whether a long-time admirer or newcomer, this release is a must-own for anyone who can appreciate the whimsical and timeless magic of “The Princess Bride.”