Shrek

Rating:
Summary: Great Fun, Despite the Hollywood Hypocrisy
Review: "Shrek" has been hailed as the greatest thing in animation since sliced bread, if sliced bread had ever been animated. "Shrek" has been hyped to death and won the first ever Oscar for Best Animated Feature Film.

Make no mistake, this movie is great fun. Mike Myers is great fun as Shrek, the ogre with the Greta Garbo complex, whose quiet existence in his swamp is disrupted by Lord Farquaad, voiced in hissably evil style by John Lithgow, who has evicted all the local fairy-tale creatures and dumped them in Shrek's swamp. Shrek and his unwelcome new side-kick a talking donkey, voiced hysterically Eddie Murphy), reach a deal with Farquaad to fetch the short prince a bride in the form of Princess Fiona, voiced by Cameron Diaz, who they must rescue from a dragon's lair, complete with fire-breathing dragon.

All well and good, and lot's of fun is to be had by all. Parents should be warned that this film has a harder edge than Disney's typical animation, and the "PG" rating is well-deserved.

But there are problems with this film. First, there's the troubling Hollywood hypocrisy. This film's laudable message is not to judge other's on their appearance. Great. Swell. So what do we have? A villian with a Napoleon Complex, and a slew of short jokes.

Also, a great deal of the humor in this film comes from the skewering of Mouse, Inc., not that there's anything wrong with lampooning Mickey & Co. The jokes are great, the problem is that there are so many Disney gags that the film gets sidetracked at times, disrupting the pacing of the film. One get's the feeling that a lot of the praise this film has received has been because there has finally been a legitimate animated film produced by someone other than Disney.

Despite these flaws and cautions, "Shrek" is a whole lot of fun. Eddie Murphy steals the show as Donkey. Mike Myers gives Shreck a Scottish accent, and Cameron Diaz has fun with her role of Princess Fiona. While the Disney bashing detracts from the flow of the film, the jokes are hysterical and the satire is dead-on, and well deserved.

This DVD contains a number of nice goodies, such as the kaoroke number and some storyboards presentations of deleted scenes, and it has a fun and enjoyable soundtrack.

I reccomend this film despite the flaws, as the fun factor for "Shrek" is as big as an ogre.

Rating:
Summary: Wonderfully funny modern-day fairytale
Review: Although marketed as a kids' movie, SHREK is one of those films with layers. (Much like an onion, or an ogre...) Our antihero is a reclusive green scary ogre (Shrek, voiced by the excellent Mike Myers) who lives in a swamp. His sidekick, an enthusiastic talking donkey (Eddie Murphy) who has decided that Shrek is his best friend. Shrek, unused to people trying to befriend him instead of running away in terror, reluctantly lets Donkey stay with him. When his swamp is invaded by an assortment of fairy-tale creatures, a deeply annoyed Shrek is determined to talk to Lord Farquaad (John Lithgow), who has evicted these creatures from Duloc. Unfortunately, the only person who's willing to accompany him on this journey is the ever-eager Donkey, and so they set off, Shrek regretting this decision every time Donkey opens his mouth. ("The trick is getting him to shut up," he laments.)

On arriving in Duloc, Shrek finds himself caught in the middle of a competition of knights to see which one will earn the "right" to rescue a sleeping Princess Fiona from a castle. ("Some of you may die, but it's a sacrifice I'm willing to make," the vertically-challenged Lord Farquaad, who wishes to marry her, tells them.) He ends up being chosen to go on this mission, and in return, he will get his swamp back.

In one of the "awww!" moments of the movie, Shrek manoeuvres Donkey across the rickety bridge to the castle by shaking it until Donkey makes his own way over, rather than turn back. It's a perfect example of how fond Shrek has become of his friend, although he would never admit it. On finding the princess, he unceremoniously drags her out of there. Princess Fiona (Cameron Diaz) is not impressed. She was expecting a more romantic rescue, and is disappointed that the helmeted Shrek won't even recite an epic poem or a sonnet for her. ("A limerick?" she suggests in desperation.)

"You didn't slay the dragon??" she asks in horror as the fire-breathing monster comes after her and Shrek. As it turns out, though, the dragon is female, lonely and looking for love - which she finds in the form of Donkey. He isn't too pleased about this. "I'm an asthmatic!" he pleads.

As the three journey back to Duloc, Fiona grows past her initial horror at Shrek's appearance, while her lack of helplessness is shown as she successfully fights off an attacker. The Merry Men show up, of course, and do a bit of Riverdance. Shrek and Fiona blow up reptiles and hand them to one another, walking along romantically with their animal balloons. Donkey and Shrek's late-night conversations point out Shrek's hidden loneliness and isolation. "They judge me before they even know me," he says sadly. And how could a beautiful princess like Fiona ever love such a hideous beast as him?

But the beauty of this film is that these misfits - the ugly ogre, the lonely dragon, the talking donkey, the cursed princess - suit each other perfectly. It plays with the stereotypical fairy tale characters (lord, ogre, princess) and turns them on their head, while giving us a happy ending that tells us that beauty really is in the eye of the beholder, and that love and friendship are wonderful things to have. So the moral of the story is . . . ogres are really lovely people, talking donkeys are fun to have around, and if you're an evil diminutive ruler of a kingdom, you might just get eaten by a dragon.

Rating:
Summary: This Movie is Great!
Review: Have you ever read the book Shrek by William Steig? This fantastic movie is about his delightfully fractured fairy tale. This movie is the right stuff for this computer-animated adaptation full of verve and wit. Shrek, The Ogre (voiced by Mike Myers) is an agreeable enough ogre who wants to live his days in peace. But when the mean, and evil Lord Farquaad (John Lithgow) evicts local fairy-tale creatures (including the Seven Dwarfs, Pinocchio, and the Gingerbread Man),from there own home, they settle in Shrek's swamp and Shrek wants answers from Farquaad. A quest of freedom starts for Shrek and his new buddy, a talking donkey, who was one of the creatures evicted ( voiced by Eddie Murphy), where battles have to be won and a princess(voiced by Cameron Diaz) must be rescued from a dragon lair. The story is stronger than most animated fare, but it's the humor that makes Shrek a winner. Shrek is never as warm and inspired as both Toy Story films, but the perfect realistic computer animation and an pretty good soundtrack (Smash Mouth, Baha Men) keep the entertainment in fine form. Know I know what you are thinking, "It has to be a famous Disney movie!" But it's not. It's is prouduced by DreamWorks, who does a spectacular job.

Rating:
Summary: A truly fun movie
Review: I highly recommend this movie. It's funny and fun to watch. The quality of digital graphics is simply stunning and makes the movie worthwhile just for that; it really is superior to the Toy Story movies. Fortunately, it's not just a special effects wonder. The movie's story stands up on its own too.

It's about Shrek, who's a gruff on the outside but soft inside ogre played my Mike Meyers, who sets off on a quest to rid his swamp of all the fairy tale creatures that have been exiled there, and as his companion for his adventures he has a donkey, voiced by Eddie Murphy.

I would not exactly call this a kid's movie. It is rated PG and they will love it, but most of the humor is actually aimed at adults, and it hits the mark. I laughed all the way through it - something I haven't done at the movies in some time. There are a lot of clever physical gags (pretty much anything that's bodily and gross) centered around Shrek and then there's Murphy's character of the donkey. Murphy's performance here equals anything else he has done. If you are a fan of Eddie Murphy, you won't be disappointed with his character.

This movie is not just one long comedy though. Remember, this is a fairy tale, so there is a romance story going on as well, but it never takes itself too seriously, keeping the movie's light atmosphere from bogging down.

Cameron Diaz as Princess Fiona and John Lithgow as the rotten Farquaad are simply superb. All the actors were well picked for their characters.

You won't regret going to see this show. In fact, you may consider going a second time. I know I am.

Rating:
Summary: Ogres are like onions...
Review: If you haven't seen Shrek, run out and do so right this minute. I'll wait.

Ok, you've seen it now? Good. Didn't you enjoy yourself? What was your favorite part? I don't know that I can actually pinpoint a favorite moment in the movie. I think the reason I like this movie so much (aside from the gorgeous animation) is how irreverently fun it is. This movie pokes fun at nearly every fairy tale held sacred by our society, and does so with unabashed glee.

Shrek (Mike Meyers) is a big, surly, anti-social, unfriendly ogre. Oh yeah, and he's green. Shrek would like nothing better than to live in peace in his swamp shack, but finds that his routine is shattered by an influx of displaced fairy tale characters, including Donkey (Eddie Murphy), a small, grey, outgoing, talkative, well... donkey. Shrek sets off to find the source of the sudden flood of fairy folk into his realm accompanied (much to his dismay) by Donkey.

As part of a bargain with Lord Farquaad of Duloc (John Lithgow), Shrek is tasked with rescuing Princess Fiona (Cameron Diaz) from the obligatory dragon. Unable to shake his donkey companion, Shrek heads off to fulfill his half of the bargain. All sorts of merriment ensues, and romance and surprises are at every turn.

The phrase "for kids of all ages" may be old and trite, but it describes this movie to a T. There's plenty of overt humor and pratfall silliness (not to mention bright, colorful animation) to fill any youth with glee, but the movie also has much to offer the adult viewer. Subtle (and not-so-subtle) references to other fairy tails, the aforementioned gorgeous animation, and humor abound.

Rating:
Summary: Funny, Insightful
Review: Not unlike "Beauty and the Beast," "Shrek" engages the viewer to know beauty is what is beyond the skin.

The DVD is loaded with extras, but frankly, you might not bother with them. Your kid will play with them, exploring them once or twice, but the movie is the real treat. The mock interviews with the characters are intriguing, and worth watching. The re-voice studio is a hoot, and you'll dig showing it off to your friends, but it loses its novelty soon enough. Because it is a DVD, your kids can watch it into eternity without worry of it wearing out.

Lithgow is very Lithgow, much the same personality as he was on "Third Rock from the Sun."

Cameron Diaz's princess character looks remarkably like her.

Eddie Murphy makes a great sidekick. I was skeptical that he might be too over-the-top, but found his voicings to hit the tone perfectly, with great comedic skill. In short, he's hilarious.

The movie is packed wirth allusions to old great movies and cartoons, mostly Disney, and adults will smile everytime they discover a new line or sequence from a movie they grew up with. Watch for "The Princess Bride," "Robin Hood," "The Sound of Music" and a bevy of other homages.

The ending surprised me, but I'll not spoil it for you.

I fully recommend "Shrek."

Anthony Trendl

Rating:
Summary: Dreamworks computer-animated masterpiece
Review: Quite possibly the best movie of 2001. This 93 minute hell-bent-for-leather fairly tale will make you smile, laugh out loud, maybe shed a tear, and clap your hands together at the end. Mike Myers does the best job of voice since Tom Hanks did "Woody" in "Toy Story". Instantly likable as the ogre "Shrek"... his wit and subtle humor is drawn out by the fast talking donkey (also played to a tee by Eddie Murphy). Cameron Diaz does a good job as the Princess and John Lithgow plays the mean villain Lord Farquaad (Lithgow is exceptional at "bad guy" roles - if you haven't seem him in "Cliffhanger" - that is one to rent or buy). Farquaad's kingdome is a spoof on everything Disney... naturally this film is made by an less than happy ex-Disney employee (Katzenburg). Check out all the Disney characters and listen to the funny remarks that are said about them... one for example regarding Snow White - the Magic Mirror says: "She lives with seven men, but she's not easy." Other memorable lines... Princess: "What kind of knight are you?" Shrek: "One of a kind." Donkey: "I'm a donkey on the edge!" and "Hey, what about Shrek? He's ugly 24/7!" and "I ain't never met someone who didn't like parfait. You never hear someone say, 'Hey, you want some parfait?' 'Hell no, I don't want no parfait!'"... the donkey had so many great lines - great comic relief. Also note a great time had by the entire cartoon cast singing "I'm A Believer" (made famous by the Monkees) at the conclusion. Fact: Chris Farley was slated as the original Shrek. When he died, the lead role was given to his SNL buddy Mike Myers. Myers changed the voice 3/4's the way thru the production - from English to Scotish. Great flick... excellent widescreen visual effects, sound & music. Great extras as well - film featurettes & commentaries, interactive games, karaoke, fun facts and technical goofs.

Rating:
Summary: Literally true: Fun for children of all ages.
Review: The basic plot involves a green ogre (Shrek) who agrees to rescue the beautiful princess Fiona and deliver her to Lord Farquaad inorder to save his home as well as those of familiar fairy tale characters which include Robin Hood, the Big Bad Wolf and the Three Little Pigs, Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, and Three Blind Mice. The rescue is complicated by the fact that Princess Fiona is protected by a female dragon. Unlike Finding Nemo whose creators take a traditional approach when developing the plot, this film is "hip" (at times anachronistic) largely because of dialogue entrusted to Murphy's Donkey and the generous use of popular tunes. At one point, also, Fiona displays martial arts skills worthy of Bruce Lee. But like Finding Nemo, this film offers great entertainment value to those in all age groups.

Co-directed by Andrew Adamson and Vicky Jenson, adapted from a story by William Steig, Shrek's quality of animation is outstanding, earning for it an Academy Award as best animation feature. Sometimes the humor is off the proverbial wall. Sometimes the plot seems unnecessarily complicated (e.g. the brief appearance by Monsieur Hood), if not frantic. Children probably enjoy the mayhem more than do their elders who probably appreciate the witty repartee more than they do. That is quite an admirable achievement. I also appreciate the wealth of special features which accompany this DVD version.

Rating:
Summary: im makin' waffels
Review: why the hell does everyone say that??
good movie dont see shrek 2 looks dumb