Shrek-ing Brilliant!! (Shrek (DVD))

Member Name: jasond

Product:	Shrek (DVD)
Date:	18/06/01 (123 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Stunning animation, Incredibly funny, It's got Eddie Murphy

Disadvantages: A little slow briefly near the end

Shrek is an ogre. And an ugly one at that. He's big, green, smelly and spends his spare time in a swamp putting up signs to scare the villagers away.

Donkey is.....well......a donkey. But not just any donkey, he's a talking donkey of the most irritating and hilarious kind.

And then there's Lord Farquaard (far-kwa-rd) and he's the most perfect ruler of the most perfect land in all the world. Well almost...

And here the story begins. 'Mirror, mirror on the wall, who's the most perfect ruler, of them all?'

'Well....um....er......'

Well, it could be Lord Farquaard, but not quite. He's missing one thing. Having banished all the fairy tale creatures he now has the perfect kingdom over which to rule, but he has no Queen. What use is a King without a Queen? I hear you cry. Well....exactly. (Now hold that thought)

Meanwhile, Shrek, our green, 'scary' and ever so slightly hygenically challenged ogre is trying hard to get on with his life. He's happy in his swamp and like's his peace and quiet. Now, remember those fairy tale creatures I mentioned? Guess where they've been banished to. You've got it. Shrek's swamp, and Shrek ain't too happy about it so of fhe plods to have words with Lord Farquaard.

Well, to cut a short story shorter Lord Farquaard agrees to give Shrek back his swamp if, and only if, Shrek rescues the beautiful Princess Fiona. But, as in all good stories there's a catch. Princess Fiona is being held in a old castle surrounded by a moat of Lava and a nasty fire-breathing dragon. And the rest you'll have to go and see for yourself.

First off this is easily the funniest thing I've seen since 'The Emporers New Groove' which was really very funny. Mike Myers lends his vocal talents to Shrek and despite the worlds worst Scottish accent is hilariously funny. Donkey could only really have been pulled off by
one man, Eddie Murphy, it's as if the part was written for him, fast and whitty. The voice matches the character perfectly and is again incredibly funny. Diaz and Lithgow round up the main cast again both putting in excellent performances.

In terms of comedy don't be fooled into thinking this film was written for children. Of course, children will love it, the characters and storyline alone will almost guarantee that, but there is so much subtle and not-so-subtle adult humour in this film as well. It'll have all ages laughing from start to end.

This isn't a Disney film but it does draw on the classic Disney formula. An oddball hero, a beautiful princess(-type-person), and a good dose of morals. Then it rips that formula apart in hilarious fashion, inserting characters from popular stories and ideas from recent films and turning them into genuinely funny scenes. Just wait for those Merry Men.....

The only very slight niggle is the 'something -for-everyone' and 'hollywood' parts of the film means that towards the end things do slow slightly for a while before picking up again for the big ending. Fortunately though this is over quick enough for it not to be a real problem and leaves the film pretty much intact as a laugh-fest.

Buut before I finish I must say a word or two about the animation in this film. If you were impressed by Toy Story, or A Bugs Life, you ain't seen nothin' yet as the old saying goes. Stunning is the only real way of describing it. I've never seen such detail or realism in animation. The fur of Donkey is detailed and colourful and moves with an ease and natural feel that is incredible. But the crowning glory is the beautiful Princess Fiona (Lara Croft? Pah!). Cameron Diaz's character is simply amazing, with a frame and a movement that is quite simply breathtaking in it's accuracy of real humans. And her hair, her hair is again Wow!

In summary, if you l
ove animation. Go see it. If you love comedy. Go see it. If you love Eddie Murphy. Go see it. If you got even half a brain. Go see it. I think you get my point......

For a sample of the animation vist here:
http://www.shrek.com/igallery/large_images/102 4x768/Fiona1.jpg

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