In my recent search for horrible and wonderful DVD covers I could share with all of you, I ran across someone singing the praises of the recent Princess Bride “20th Anniversary Edition” DVD release. There’s no doubt that it is aesthetically pleasing at first glance, if a little dizzying. (Click on the thumbnail for a much larger version). On closer examination, one realizes that the title can be read both right side up and upside down. How very clever!

Unlike many, I did not grow up watching The Princess Bride. But when I was finally exposed to it as a teenager, I loved the wit and wackiness that so many fans have fallen for, and as soon as I could, I convinced my mom to buy the plain ol’ $9.99 DVD while in line at Target. It was several years before the new “Dread Pirate” and “Buttercup” editions came out - identical to each other in everything but the cover art, and, according to critics, pretty much identical to the original release, too. A year later, the 20th Anniversary Edition came out. I didn’t examine the case until recently, and…goodness.

I’ve seen the film a handful of times, and my devotion to it does not even begin to approach that of many lifelong fans. So I really shouldn’t be the one pointing this out, but…

When the 20th Anniversary Edition cover is flipped, the man and woman facing each other are clearly not Westley and Buttercup - or, more accurately, Carey Elwes and Robin Wright Penn. Now, I understand why - Carey is rotting in Jigsaw’s bathroom, and Robin’s lost about 30 pounds since she played the normal-sized, fresh-faced princess. It’s not as if they’re going to drag their stars in, 20 years later, just to have them pose for a mirror-image picture.

But seriously, they could have put a little more effort into it. Even under the mask, that’s not Westley. And Buttercup’s dress isn’t Buttercup’s at all. It’s difficult to tell without flipping it over, but the shape of this faux princess’ body, her face, and her height relative to fake-Westley are all just slightly off. Was that really the best they could do? I noticed all of this while holding the case for about 30 seconds in Wal Mart. Someone during the production might have done the same.

While The Princess Bride is one of the worst offenders, there are plenty of other unnecessary and insulting “special editions” plaguing the DVD industry (The Big Lebowski comes to mind). If you’ve been burned before, please share your story. This has gone on long enough.

(On a somber note, I would like to dedicate this post to my favorite teacher, who passed away suddenly last weekend. After helping me survive the hell that is junior high/high school, she made an effort to keep in touch and encourage me to pursue my dreams. She was thrilled to learn that I was writing for a living, since she knew that it was my goal in life, and I’m sure she read this blog more than once. She was only fifty years old. My thoughts go out to her family, and I will miss her very much. I wish I could tell her that I still have all of the certificates I won in her journalism class, at the newspaper awards ceremony, so many years ago. Never, ever miss an opportunity to tell someone how much they mean to you.)

Tags: life, recreation, trivia

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