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SHREK
Dreamworks studios had a major triumph in box office receipts, the beginning of a major film franchise, and a merchandising dream with a little something from 2001 called Shrek, a sophisticated and outrageously funny fractured fairy tale where Dreamworks actually lampoons a lot of the animated classics that made Disney the defining force in the genre and turns them on their ear in a way that not only pays homage to said classics while giving this story its own sense of originality.
Set in a fairy tale kingdom called Dulac, Lord Farquad (voiced by John Lithgow) learns that he cannot officially become King of Dulac without marrying and has set his sights on Princess Fiona (voiced by Cameron Diaz), who is being held in the tower of an isolated castle guarded by a fire breathing dragon. Farquad blackmails a lonely ogre named Shrek (brilliantly voiced by Mike Myers) into rescuing the Princess. Shrek, accompanied by his new unwanted companion, a very talkative donkey (voiced by Eddie Murphy) embarks on a journey to rescue the Princess, who it turns out has a secret herself.
This movie entertains from start to finish thanks to a brilliant and sophisticated screenplay that does not to pander to the target demographic. The story, characters, and humor presented here are very adult as are some wonderful pop culture references that most children would not have a clue about. There is a scene where Lord Farquad is introduced to three possible brides and it is done completely in the style of the classic game show The Dating Game, even utilizing the theme music, a show which anyone under the age of 45 has most likely never seen and had no idea that the music was not original.
This film also introduces an incredibly sophisticated form of animation that had not been seen prior to this...it's a more sophisticated form of "claymation" that allows the characters facial expressions to convey complex emotions that actually allow the viewer inside the thought process of these characters...this dazzling new animation is often the closest thing to live action movie making that I have ever seen.
The voice work is on the money and I think if they gave Oscars for animated voice work, both Myers and Murphy merit at least a nomination. I have to give a shout out to John Lithgow as Farquad as well, a really funny interpretation of one of animation's most obnoxious villains. This film was an instant classic that has spawned theatrical and direct to video sequels as well as a merchandising empire.
Dreamworks studios had a major triumph in box office receipts, the beginning of a major film franchise, and a merchandising dream with a little something from 2001 called Shrek, a sophisticated and outrageously funny fractured fairy tale where Dreamworks actually lampoons a lot of the animated classics that made Disney the defining force in the genre and turns them on their ear in a way that not only pays homage to said classics while giving this story its own sense of originality.
Set in a fairy tale kingdom called Dulac, Lord Farquad (voiced by John Lithgow) learns that he cannot officially become King of Dulac without marrying and has set his sights on Princess Fiona (voiced by Cameron Diaz), who is being held in the tower of an isolated castle guarded by a fire breathing dragon. Farquad blackmails a lonely ogre named Shrek (brilliantly voiced by Mike Myers) into rescuing the Princess. Shrek, accompanied by his new unwanted companion, a very talkative donkey (voiced by Eddie Murphy) embarks on a journey to rescue the Princess, who it turns out has a secret herself.
This movie entertains from start to finish thanks to a brilliant and sophisticated screenplay that does not to pander to the target demographic. The story, characters, and humor presented here are very adult as are some wonderful pop culture references that most children would not have a clue about. There is a scene where Lord Farquad is introduced to three possible brides and it is done completely in the style of the classic game show The Dating Game, even utilizing the theme music, a show which anyone under the age of 45 has most likely never seen and had no idea that the music was not original.
This film also introduces an incredibly sophisticated form of animation that had not been seen prior to this...it's a more sophisticated form of "claymation" that allows the characters facial expressions to convey complex emotions that actually allow the viewer inside the thought process of these characters...this dazzling new animation is often the closest thing to live action movie making that I have ever seen.
The voice work is on the money and I think if they gave Oscars for animated voice work, both Myers and Murphy merit at least a nomination. I have to give a shout out to John Lithgow as Farquad as well, a really funny interpretation of one of animation's most obnoxious villains. This film was an instant classic that has spawned theatrical and direct to video sequels as well as a merchandising empire.