The Princess Bride is probably one of the first fantasy movies deliberately produced for both adults and children, most famous for the line “You killed my father, prepare to die.” This romantic fantasy can be found on many polls for the best movies to watch on Valentine’s Day. For more than 30 years its blend of off-beat humour and timeless storytelling has been entertaining both adults and children, smitten by a love story which considers plummeting down the side of a mountain romantic.

It feels like a quasi-heroic epic fantasy, and then goes for the laughs, but only in an attempt to articulate the importance of stories with princesses, brides, and perhaps a Dread Pirate Roberts. If you are looking for valentinesgiftsforher.com.au when 14 February comes around, you will not go wrong with choosing this movie as your gift as the movie both deconstructs and pays homage to fairy tales in which a young heroine becomes engaged to a prince, by using a larger story that involves multiple protagonists, exploring the idea of “true love” in modern terms, within a timeless backdrop.

The Princess Bride relies on archetypal heroes like Cary Elwes as sweet farm boy Westley, chosen for the role partly because of his uncanny resemblance to a young Errol Flynn and Robin Wright as Princess Buttercup. Add Mandy Patinkin as the embodiment of vengeful anger and the swashbuckling boldness of Inigo Montoya with an overacted Spanish accent, and Billy Crystal (Miracle Max) with Carol Kane’s contemporary hilarious bickering and you have a guaranteed memorable Valentine’s Day date. There are so many characters that can be your favourite. The leader of three villains, Vizzini played by Wallace Shawn, is one of the others, who with total contempt and arrogance delivers an endless barrage of insults and condemnations including the immortal line “You fell victim to one of the classic blunders; the most famous is never get involved in a land war in Asia. But only slightly less well known is this: never go in against a Sicilian when death is on the line!” and Peter Cook’s clergyman who has trouble pronouncing all his letters.

None of this detracts from the themes about abandoning vengeance and accepting love, as realised by the characters of Westley, Buttercup, and Inigo. By being deliberately contrived and humorous, The Princess Bride is a movie you’ll love.

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The Last Movie of Robert Redford

With deceptively easy charm and grace, Robert Redford’s swansong is based on the true story of an old man named Forrest Tucker (Robert Redford), who spent most of his adult life in jail, escaping from jail 18 times, with a daring escape from San Quentin prison at the age of 70. Between incarcerations, he robbed banks with thievish friends Waller and Teddy (Tom Waits, Danny Glover) known as the Over-the-Hill Gang. Without any physical violence, the likable and gentlemanly gang raid several banks, confounding both the judicial authorities and enthralling the public.

The focus of the film is a string of heists in the 1980s, with the hero a charmer who does what he does for the sheer thrill of it, evoking the classic thieves and crooks Redford has played over the decades, most memorably Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and Johnny Hooker in “The Sting”. The movie even starts with a caption that tells us this story is “also, mostly true”, a nod to the Sundance Kid fifty years ago which states “most of what follows is true”.

Detective Hunt (Casey Affleck), who quietly admires Tucker’s commitment to his craft, is on the trail of the man who has escaped prison so many times. The montage of escapes in the movie is the highlight, yet for all the risks, Tucker doesn’t steal for the money, but because he’s restless and good at it. The final days of the Over the Hill Gang are framed by two supporting characters. By chance, Tucker meets warm-hearted Jewel (Sissy Spacek), who comes to love him in spite of his chosen profession. These scenes are cinematic gold, capturing something timeless, intangible and effortless.

There is no fast-paced action or high suspense in this leisurely. It’s not needed when you have Redford as the star. Despite the passing of time, he remains a skilful actor and a handsome one, even if his character is neither complex or even fully developed. Whilst his behaviour is barely challenged, it does present some of the other damage caused by his choices, with a memorable cameo by Elisabeth Moss.

Ultimately, this is a delightful story from a cinematic icon, yet it is not a flighty movie, there are lines and characters that, like Redford himself, are unforgettable. It is a fitting finale from the legendary Redford.

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Well, except people who didn’t go to university of course.

And people who grew up in Asia or Africa. Or South America. Or one of the Russian states come to think about it. And if you weren’t into films you probably didn’t have it either.

So – I doubt there is a thirty-something who went to university in a westernised country and was a bit of a movie geek in the world who didn’t have this poster on their dorm room wall.

Although come to think about it, I didn’t see it on many girls’ dorm rooms either. But then again I never really got to see the insides of all that many girls dorm rooms anyway (at least not without climbing up ladders and peeking through windows), so I could be wrong on that one.

Anyway, you get my point. Among a certain demographic this was a extremely popular movie poster.

And ultimately that’s no surprise. It’s one of the most iconic posters there is. It’s a masterclass in stylish marketing and embodies the film perfectly without giving too much away. I love the battered and creased corners and the rich lurid almost seedy colours harking back to the pulp magazines of the first half of the 20th century .

And while I’ve personally always felt Uma Thurman’s beauty to be over rated, resembling as she does a bug eyed Grey alien from the X-Files, at least it didn’t have John Travolta on it. And for that I’ll be eternally grateful.

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So like his other films John Carpenter was very hands on for the soundtrack of Big Trouble in Little China and it only adds to the Carpenter feel of the film. I’m not 100% certain but I can’t recall any other films he performed lyrics for the music like he did here:

Yes that’s right, the main singer there is none other than John Carpenter himself!

The CDs are pretty scarce on the ground unfortunately, my impression is that I have an actual copy in my collection somewhere but it’s equally likely that I’m confusing the Escape from New York soundtrack and that the copy I have is borrowed from my cousin Larry. iTunes doesn’t carry the music either except for a couple of tracks on compilations.

Here’s the track listing for those of you keeping score at home, this is of the original soundtrack, not the re-release:

Coup de Villes — “Big Trouble in Little China” 3:13
“Pork Chop Express” 3:40
“The Alley” 2:00
“Here Come the Storms” 2:20
“Lo Pan’s Domain” 4:30
“Escape from Wing Kong” 8:00
“Into the Spirit Path” 7:07
“The Great Arcade” 10:00
“The Final Escape” 4:47
Coup de Villes — “Big Trouble in Little China” -Reprise- (3:08)

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What I find interesting about the Batman Returns poster personally is that when it was released I don’t believe I cared for it. I think it was the third poster to be released for the movie and the main poster was a homage to the original Batman poster featuring just the bat symbol, only this time it was in snow to match the tone of the film. When this poster was released I didn’t really understand why they would bother. It certainly wasn’t very epic.

I’ve since warmed to the poster, over the years I’ve actually come to really like it if only that it stands out in my mind. The poster actually is made up of three posters, kind of, the Catwoman and Penguin poses are off the character posters and whilst there is a Batman standalone character sheet he’s at more of an angle so they must have felt the composite needed him to be face on.

I think all of the Batman Returns posters do a great job of capturing the feel of the film whilst maintaining the simplicity of the first poster that I love. I’ve included some of the other posters below.

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The 1940 movie was an actual adaption of a 1939 Broadway play of the same title. A story of love between a socialite ex-wife and three men, her ex-husband and to add to the cauldron of drama and chaos the insertion of tabloid magazine journalist on her heels and a her to be husband, business man.. The 112 minutes film was actually inspired by the life and times of Philadelphia Socialite Helen Hope Montgomery the wife of friend of the play writer Philip Barry.

Philadelphia socialites Tracy Lord marries and divorces the very wealthy high standing C.K.K Dexter Haven. Due to his excessive inebriation and her unforgiving nature of the treatment of this both split and go their separate ways. The films starts off at the point when Tracy is about to remarry rich, business man George Kittredge, a worthy fiancé according to all standards. Spy magazine publisher is eager to cover the wedding of the year and finds himself taking on Dexter to help him to get in Liz, a photographer and Mike, a reporter for Spy under the cover that they were Tracy’s estranged brother Junius old friends into the wedding.

Dexter is welcomed with open arms by Tracy’s teenage sister into their home, much to her annoyance. But with time she is taken with the very attractive and capable Mike. The night before the wedding Tracy gets herself drunk and takes an innocent swim with Mike. George sees this and he thinks the worst. And in the morning of the wedding George demands an explanation for the untoward behaviour. She feels insulted by his lack of trust in her and breaks off their engagements. Guests have arrived and Tracy is thoroughly confused of the two, Mike and Dexter to take down the isle.

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