Easily one of the more recognisable and repeated movie quotes (doubtless helped by also being one of the shortest), the word "inconceivable!" will be forever associated with Rob Reiner's 1987 cult classic The Princess Bride, despite - or, rather, due to- it being used incorrectly. As the expression of choice for kidnapper Vizzini (Wallace Shawn), who mistakenly uses it as a synonym for "unbelievable" whenever his plans are thwarted, it doesn't take long for the word to become something of a catchphrase. And so, having already heard Vizzini declare a ship overtaking them, his failure to stop Dread Pirate Roberts and the sight of a mystery man climbing the Cliffs of Insanity all as "inconceivable" (which can't be, of course, as they all just happened), it finally falls to fencer Inigo Montoya to say what we're all thinking and correct Vizzini. ''You keep using that word," he says. ''I don't think it means what you think it means.'' And that, much to the relief of the more pedantic members of the audience, is the end of that.
Yorkshireman (hence the surname). Often spotted sacrificing sleep and sanity for the annual Leeds International Film Festival. For a sample of (fairly) recent film reviews, please visit whatsnottoblog.wordpress.com.
