Diversion of the Day: The Ted Pirate Roberts

 

Apparently Sen. Ted Cruz is a fan of The Princess Bride. A really, really big fan. While speaking at a Des Moines church Sunday, the presidential candidate reenacted a scene involving many of the film’s most loved characters:

Pretty good impression, if you’re into that kind of thing. I would have preferred a long riff from the vastly superior Rob Reiner film, This is Spinal Tap. Maybe the Artie Fufkin scene in the record store or a five-minute-long video of Cruz stumbling around backstage, shouting “rock ‘n’ roll!” (It’s such a fine line between stupid and clever.)

Here’s where I need to offer my somewhat controversial opinion of The Princess Bride. Despite it being so adored by so many of my fellow Gen X-ers, I thought the movie was just … okay. Not terrible, not great, just kind of meh.

Of course, any time I say this, I’m pilloried by outraged fans (much like Kat Timpf suffered regarding Star Wars) who try to convince me of the film’s unparalleled brilliance by quoting its most famous lines at me, ad nauseum. Attack me if you must, but Spinal Tap was Reiner’s masterpiece. For anyone to think otherwise is inconceivable.

 

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  1. BrentB67 Inactive
    BrentB67
    @BrentB67

    I was born in ’67, am I Gen-X? If so I think it is meh also. Lots of funny quotable lines, but it’s no Caddyshack.

    • #1
  2. David Foster Member
    David Foster
    @DavidFoster

    It is sad to admit that we have reached this level….but his affinity for this film is probably worth a nontrivial number of votes.

    Popular culture is very, very important to a lot of people.

    • #2
  3. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    Eh, seeing the kid in a Walter Payton jersey always gets me.

    • #3
  4. Songwriter Inactive
    Songwriter
    @user_19450

    Both The Princess Bride and Spinal Tap are among my favorite films.

    Spinal Tap is pretty flawless. The only flaw (imho) with Princess Bride is the cheesy, synth music score .

    • #4
  5. Western Chauvinist Member
    Western Chauvinist
    @WesternChauvinist

    Jon Gabriel, Ed.: For anyone to think otherwise is inconceivable.

    That’s not funny.

    • #5
  6. Douglas Inactive
    Douglas
    @Douglas

    BrentB67:I was born in ’67, am I Gen-X? If so I think it is meh also. Lots of funny quotable lines, but it’s no Caddyshack.

    Princess Bride is to movies what Watchmen is to comics: way overrated. They had their moments. Watchmen wasn’t even the best story Alan Moore ever wrote (that honor would go to the Superman story For the Man Who Has Everything).

    • #6
  7. blank generation member Inactive
    blank generation member
    @blankgenerationmember

    If Cruz turns his rhetoric up to 11, I’m in!

    • #7
  8. Jimmy Carter Member
    Jimmy Carter
    @JimmyCarter

    I’ve never seen The Princess Bride or Spinal Tap.

    After watching the clip, I would like to see, at the next “debate,” each candidate reenact a scene from Their favorite movie, though.

    I can see Trump looking at Bush while doing Judge Smails:

    • #8
  9. The Reticulator Member
    The Reticulator
    @TheReticulator

    A few hours ago I said I had never heard or watched Ted Cruz speak, and didn’t have any plans to.   But now that has changed.  I’ve heard and watched him speak.

    I’m a bit surprised, and I like it.

    I also said I’d be glad to vote for him for President.  That hasn’t changed.

    • #9
  10. Percival Thatcher
    Percival
    @Percival

    Western Chauvinist:

    Jon Gabriel, Ed.: For anyone to think otherwise is inconceivable.

    That’s not funny.

    That was, though.

    • #10
  11. Chris Campion Coolidge
    Chris Campion
    @ChrisCampion

    Ted knowing The Princess Bride to an embarrassing degree is much, much more palatable than watching a milquetoast Hillary Clinton pantomime something akin to dancing while “Don’t Stop Thinkin’ About Tomorrow” plays in the background.

    One person is plastic personified.  The other revels in the slight nerdom that surrounds a pop culture topic that is right in the 40-50 year olds’ cultural wheelhouse.

    Point:  Cruz

    • #11
  12. Chris Campion Coolidge
    Chris Campion
    @ChrisCampion

    Douglas:

    BrentB67:I was born in ’67, am I Gen-X? If so I think it is meh also. Lots of funny quotable lines, but it’s no Caddyshack.

    Princess Bride is to movies what Watchmen is to comics: way overrated. They had their moments. Watchmen wasn’t even the best story Alan Moore ever wrote (that honor would go to the Superman story For the Man Who Has Everything).

    Nerd fight.

    • #12
  13. Bryan G. Stephens Thatcher
    Bryan G. Stephens
    @BryanGStephens

    Everyone keeps saying Cruz seems canned. That was pretty un-canned to me. I just don’t get that vibe off of Cruz.

    • #13
  14. Aaron Miller Inactive
    Aaron Miller
    @AaronMiller

    Even as a lifelong rocker, I have yet to see This is Spinal Tap, so I can’t compare. Parodies are made to be blundered into, not sought out.

    On a related note, The 100-Year-Old Man [….] is laugh-out-loud funny at times, despite an unexpected and gratuitous jab at Ronald Reagan toward the end. Not for kids, but not too vulgar aside from some language. It’s in Swedish, so it requires subtitles throughout.

    • #14
  15. Mark Coolidge
    Mark
    @GumbyMark

    Better than his Homer Simpson imitation.  There’s definitely a goofball side to Cruz.  Princess Bride is a fine movie but Spinal Tap is Reiner’s best and a tribute to what a band can achieve with combustible drummers.  Tonite I’m Gonna Rock You Tonite!

    • #15
  16. Randy Weivoda Moderator
    Randy Weivoda
    @RandyWeivoda

    I think The Princess Bride is Wonderful.  Would I vote for Ted Cruz because he is also a fan?  No.  I would vote for Ted Cruz because John McCain thinks he is a Tea Party Wacko Bird.

    • #16
  17. Mate De Inactive
    Mate De
    @MateDe

    Hey, stop hating on The Princess Bride, I love that movie, mostly because Cary Elwes was dreamy in it

    • #17
  18. Roberto Inactive
    Roberto
    @Roberto

    Jon Gabriel, Ed.:Here’s where I need to offer my somewhat controversial opinion of The Princess Bride. Despite it being so adored by so many of my fellow Gen X-ers, I thought the movie was just … okay. Not terrible, not great, just kind of meh.

    Of course, any time I say this, I’m pilloried by outraged fans (much like Kat Timpf suffered regardingStar Wars)…

    Monster.

    Just getting the ball rolling.

    • #18
  19. Sabrdance Member
    Sabrdance
    @Sabrdance

    I could not get into This is Spinal Tap.  Five minutes in I wanted to beat Nigel with his own guitar.  In general, Christopher Guest is wasted on me.  (Waiting for Guffman had its moments, but I was a theater nerd at one point.  On the other hand, I am also a band geek, so…)

    Cruz should go off script like this more often.  It felt much less demagogic.

    As for Princess Bride -it is not great cinema, but it is a funny movie with good acting, and earnest sincerity for a silly fairy tale.  Not a hint of irony anywhere here.  It lacks the cruelty and cutting of a parody, and yet is fully aware that fairy tales aren’t serious.  And revels in the unseriousness.

    • #19
  20. Mike LaRoche Inactive
    Mike LaRoche
    @MikeLaRoche

    Born in ’75, definitely Gen X, and I love that film.

    • #20
  21. Vicryl Contessa Thatcher
    Vicryl Contessa
    @VicrylContessa

    Jon Gabriel, Ed.:

    Pretty good impression, if you’re into that kind of thing. I would have preferred a long riff from the vastly superior Rob Reiner film, This is Spinal Tap. Maybe the Artie Fufkin scene in the record store or a five-minute-long video of Cruz stumbling around backstage, shouting “rock ‘n’ roll!” (It’s such a fine line between stupid and clever.)

    Heresy! I will see you at dawn by the old oak with your man and your best rapier, sirrah! Good night, sleep well, I’ll most likely kill you in the morning.

    • #21
  22. Eustace C. Scrubb Member
    Eustace C. Scrubb
    @EustaceCScrubb

    Love both Princess Bride and Spinal Tap. I can see Hillary enacting scenes from Misery.

    • #22
  23. Vicryl Contessa Thatcher
    Vicryl Contessa
    @VicrylContessa

    Mate De:Hey, stop hating on The Princess Bride, I love that movie, mostly because Cary Elwes was dreamy in it.

    Word! The only blond I’ve ever found attractive.

    • #23
  24. Douglas Inactive
    Douglas
    @Douglas

    Vicryl Contessa:

    Jon Gabriel, Ed.:

    Pretty good impression, if you’re into that kind of thing. I would have preferred a long riff from the vastly superior Rob Reiner film, This is Spinal Tap. Maybe the Artie Fufkin scene in the record store or a five-minute-long video of Cruz stumbling around backstage, shouting “rock ‘n’ roll!” (It’s such a fine line between stupid and clever.)

    Heresy! I will see you at dawn by the old oak with your man and your best rapier, sirrah! Good night, sleep well, I’ll most likely kill you in the morning.

    To the pain?

    • #24
  25. Vicryl Contessa Thatcher
    Vicryl Contessa
    @VicrylContessa

    Douglas:

    Vicryl Contessa:

    Jon Gabriel, Ed.:

    Pretty good impression, if you’re into that kind of thing. I would have preferred a long riff from the vastly superior Rob Reiner film, This is Spinal Tap. Maybe the Artie Fufkin scene in the record store or a five-minute-long video of Cruz stumbling around backstage, shouting “rock ‘n’ roll!” (It’s such a fine line between stupid and clever.)

    Heresy! I will see you at dawn by the old oak with your man and your best rapier, sirrah! Good night, sleep well, I’ll most likely kill you in the morning.

    To the pain?

    As you wish.

    • #25
  26. Carey J. Inactive
    Carey J.
    @CareyJ

    Jon Gabriel, Ed.: Attack me if you must, but Spinal Tap was Reiner’s masterpiece. For anyone to think otherwise is inconceivable.

    You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.

    • #26
  27. Brandon Phelps Member
    Brandon Phelps
    @

    People always neglect to say the obvious: Princess Bride (along with Star Wars) is a kids movie, more or less. You can compare it to This Is Spinal Tap, etc, but you’re comparing apples to oranges; it’s just not that useful.

    • #27
  28. Hartmann von Aue Member
    Hartmann von Aue
    @HartmannvonAue

    Holy smoke that was good! He had the dialogue down to the syllable. A bit more of this and his (presidential) prospects will improve significantly.

    Oh, and the best comic story Alan Moore ever wrote was the “Sunderland” story arc that transformed Swamp Thing from a cheesey hold over from the hay-day of horror comics to a title worth reading. Just my contribution to the *Nerd Fight*.

    • #28
  29. Annefy Member
    Annefy
    @Annefy

    Brandon Phelps:People always neglect to say the obvious: Princess Bride (along with Star Wars) is a kids movie, more or less. You can compare it to This Is Spinal Tap, etc, but you’re comparing apples to oranges; it’s just not that useful.

    I was just getting ready to say something like this. Princess Bride can be watched and enjoyed with your kids. Or anyone’s kids. Had the joy of watching my nephew say, “You killed my father. Prepare to Die” a thousand times. And it was funny every single time.

    Don’t make that mistake with This Is Spinal Tap. I guarantee “Lick My Love Pump” will be heard … it won’t be funny the first time and will get less funny with each hearing.

    Call me a bad parent, but son #3’s impersonation of just about everyone in The Life of Brian is always remembered fondly. “What are you going to do? Keep it in a box?”

    • #29
  30. Douglas Inactive
    Douglas
    @Douglas

    Brandon Phelps:People always neglect to say the obvious: Princess Bride (along with Star Wars) is a kids movie, more or less. You can compare it to This Is Spinal Tap, etc, but you’re comparing apples to oranges; it’s just not that useful.

    Carey J.:

    Jon Gabriel, Ed.: Attack me if you must, but Spinal Tap was Reiner’s masterpiece. For anyone to think otherwise is inconceivable.

    You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.

    The sheer quotability of the movie was the best thing about it.

    • #30
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