Review: As You Wish
If I ever had to pick one movie to be my favorite movie of all time, I would immediately blurt out, "The Princess Bride!" I don't remember the first time I saw it, but I know that the VHS came out when I was about nine years old, so I can't imagine it was too long after that. Not only is this story a sweet romance interspersed with treachery and sword-fighting, but it's also a tale about the power of a story. William Goldman's book and the movie it prompted have encouraged multiple generations to write, read, and use their imagination.
When I read that Cary Elwes was releasing a book about the making of The Princess Bride, I was beyond excited. And I have to say that the book lived up with the hype I had created all in my own mind. From the stories of Cary's first nervous reading to the weeks of sword-training, to the behind the scenes views of Miracle Max's hovel and the camaraderie that they actors all shared with each other, this book is a window into what truly made the movie was it is: the people who loved it enough to be a part of its creation.
Woven into Cary's reminiscences of the fifteen weeks of filming are the comments of many of the people involved: the author William Goldman, Director Rob Reiner, and of course the actors and actresses who are still around to share their memories. They provide further depth to the experiences shared as well as a glimpse into the thoughts and emotions of many people I have looked up to for years. Many parts of the story were not new to me, but a lot of the background to WHY something happened was. For example: I knew that Cary Elwes had filmed part of the movie with a broken toe, but I didn't know how he had broken it... or why he ended up in the hospital a second time!
If you're a fan of The Princess Bride, I recommend reading this. It's a heart-warming tale of how a cast and crew managed to make the movie that no one would touch, and it's not just a sweet story... it's a hilarious look into the people who made it and their adventures during the filming.
This movie fueled my desire to live and laugh... and I even walked down the aisle to "Storybook Love" (The Princess Bride theme) at my wedding in 2012. Maybe I am biased when I'm reviewing this book because of my love for the movie, but I don't think so. Even without being able to picture the scenes in my head and quote along with parts of the book, I think I would still love Cary Elwes's As You Wish. Reading this memoir, you can feel Cary's nervousness and excitement, his sadness at the end, and his amazement at how The Princess Bride has become a classic. His desire to share this story comes through the pages and pulls you in to the world he inhabited for just a few short months... a time that he will always remember.
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