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BROWSE REVIEWS Click on a letter to browse through the reviews on this site: |
SHREK (2001) The voices of: Mike Myers, Cameron Diaz,
Eddie Murphy, and John Lithgow Dreamworks takes on Disney, and if this movie
is Dreamworks battle plan, than I say they have the upper hand. This is without
a doubt one of the most enjoyable experiences I've had all year, this is a
movie for everyone from children to adults. It is fun, it is adventurous, it
is funny and heartwarming, it has everything you need in a film. Shrek (voiced by Mike Myers), is a big, green,
ugly ogre who spends his days living in his swamp and scaring away townsfolk
who run in to run him out, with disappointing results on their part. When a
loud, talkative donkey (Eddie Murphy) crosses path with Shrek after fleeing
soldiers who are collecting (honestly), Disney characters (there is Pinocchio
and the three bears among many others). Shrek is annoyed with the fast
talking jack ass, but Donkey is persistent is tagging along and though Shrek
isn't the most gracious host in the world, brings Donkey home (well, at least
outside of his home). But just when he thought things couldn't get any worst,
all the toon characters have now invaded his swamp, being banned there from
the evil Lord Farquaad (John Lithgow). Irritated Shrek goes into Lord
Farquaad (where Shrek observes if Lord Farguaad rules over such a big
city to make up for, uh, other things), and instead of getting his swamp back
right away, is given an assignment from the Lord to and rescue Princess Fiona
(Cameron Diaz) from a castle guarded by a dragon, whose marriage to him will
make him a King (Shrek gets the job after cleaning up the floor with possible
rescuers). Shrek goes ahead with Donkey in tow and meet eventually meet up
with the Princess, whose under a few delusions of what her rescue from the
castle tower should be like (You've had a lot of time to plan this,
Shrek observes as the Princess whines that her plans have not been carried
out properly). Shrek explains to her that Lord Farguaad has chosen her to be
his Queen (she was chosen over Cinderella and Snow White), but she is upset
that A) the King didn't bother to come himself, and B) his night in shining
armor looks more like a steed. But of course, on the journey back, a Beauty
and the Beauty story erupts with a little twist here and there. Now, I loved the film very much, but my main
problem with it that while its theme of tolerance and how people should
accept others for who they are instead of what they look like, it is
constantly poking fun at the Farguaad character for being incredibly short.
There are several jokes in fact where the character is being put down, and
though he deserves it (come on, a character who tortures a gingerbread man?),
I just felt it was somewhat hypercritical and careless on the filmmakers part.
But aside from that, I thought the movie was an
energetic and fun movie, and no doubt is another stepping stone in
animation (though the humans don't look as impressive as the creatures). Mike
Myers does a superb job voicing Shrek, with a loud, restrained Scottish
accent he gives the character just enough heart and insecurity but never
overdoes it. Who does overdo it, and thankfully so, is Eddie Murphy as
Donkey. The character is just fun, cracking one joke and one-liner after
another, and who knew that he to would find true love in the film (with the
dragon of the castle no less). The jokes are funny, and if you're a little bit
older than you can enjoy the jokes that are meant to go over the kids heads
(though not patronizing them), and the jokes aimed towards little ones. I
think the theme of the movie is wonderfully played out, the characters we
care for and root for them. And the ending, everything is put into a nice
little package, and deservedly so to. If there was any justice in the world,
the screenplay would receive an Oscar nomination. But I doubt that would ever
happen, but the Oscars don't make great movies. I think this is a movie for
everyone, and I enjoyed myself and proud of that. It's a fun movie. My Grade: A |