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3.54k reviews for:
As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales from the Making of The Princess Bride
Cary Elwes
4.25 AVERAGE
3.54k reviews for:
As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales from the Making of The Princess Bride
Cary Elwes
4.25 AVERAGE
medium-paced
My first viewing of The Princess Bride was during school. We watched it during drama class, and of course I loved it. So I really wanted to read this when it came out.
Unfortunately, I have to agree with the reviews that say this is a little slow and can be disengaging at times. A lot of the book is Cary talking about the actor/actors, what he knew them from before they worked on the project, how they got along and some memories of the time they spent together. The other actors/directors contributed their own memories. A lot of it was interesting, but I admit I had to force my way through some of it.
My favorite parts were the insights into how the scenes were constructed. For some reason, I never considered that the ROUS was a person in a rat costume. And while I knew Cary broke his toe, I never really connected that with some of his sitting positions. I'll certainly be watching the movie again now that I know more of these little secrets. And I'll be watching Billy Crystal's outtakes! I also liked learning more about Andre, and Wallace's anxieties and Golding's reactions were also really eye-opening.
I wouldn't say this was anything amazing. It was just someone fondly remembering making a movie, one they felt privileged to be in and one that has resonated with so many people.
Unfortunately, I have to agree with the reviews that say this is a little slow and can be disengaging at times. A lot of the book is Cary talking about the actor/actors, what he knew them from before they worked on the project, how they got along and some memories of the time they spent together. The other actors/directors contributed their own memories. A lot of it was interesting, but I admit I had to force my way through some of it.
My favorite parts were the insights into how the scenes were constructed. For some reason, I never considered that the ROUS was a person in a rat costume. And while I knew Cary broke his toe, I never really connected that with some of his sitting positions. I'll certainly be watching the movie again now that I know more of these little secrets. And I'll be watching Billy Crystal's outtakes! I also liked learning more about Andre, and Wallace's anxieties and Golding's reactions were also really eye-opening.
I wouldn't say this was anything amazing. It was just someone fondly remembering making a movie, one they felt privileged to be in and one that has resonated with so many people.
adventurous
funny
informative
fast-paced
As someone who adores “The Princess Bride” move & book (one of my top 5 books), this was very enjoyable! Cary Elwes is a delightful person and it definitely comes through in the book. There were a lot of little tidbits and trivia I didn’t know and it was really fun to see the behind the scenes stories. I loved the little side notes from other actors and the director & writer. But if this isn’t your favorite movie, it might be a bit different. Overall, really glad I read it!!
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Cary Elwes writing about the exploits of the filming of one of my favorite movies ever? Yes please!
Only... this was not fun. Robin Wright is stunningly beautiful. This is mentioned over and over. Plus, she could hang with the guys. She wasn't one of those catty, silly, obnoxious girls. I rolled my eyes constantly at the descriptions of Wright (who I happen to admire and love), because they feel antiquated and don't age well. Also- there is a "funny" story about an actor getting pulled over for drunk driving. Was the issue the wreckless endangerment of innocent people on the roads? No! It was because the scofflaw almost caused a delay in filming, but luckily made it to the set just in the nick of time. Soooo delightful.
Most of this was saccharine adoration of everyone involved in the film. Including Elwes himself, who managed to fit in quotes from directors and costars about how handsome everyone thought he (Elwes) was, and how he was the only man for the part in the entire freaking world.
Mostly, meh. I still have an hour left on the audio version, so if something exciting actually happens, I might change my blurb here.
Utterly inconceivably arrogant and... boring. I would skip this and just watch the movie.
Only... this was not fun. Robin Wright is stunningly beautiful. This is mentioned over and over. Plus, she could hang with the guys. She wasn't one of those catty, silly, obnoxious girls. I rolled my eyes constantly at the descriptions of Wright (who I happen to admire and love), because they feel antiquated and don't age well. Also- there is a "funny" story about an actor getting pulled over for drunk driving. Was the issue the wreckless endangerment of innocent people on the roads? No! It was because the scofflaw almost caused a delay in filming, but luckily made it to the set just in the nick of time. Soooo delightful.
Most of this was saccharine adoration of everyone involved in the film. Including Elwes himself, who managed to fit in quotes from directors and costars about how handsome everyone thought he (Elwes) was, and how he was the only man for the part in the entire freaking world.
Mostly, meh. I still have an hour left on the audio version, so if something exciting actually happens, I might change my blurb here.
Utterly inconceivably arrogant and... boring. I would skip this and just watch the movie.
Honestly a really good little oral history of the making of the movie!
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced