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"Once upon a time there was a lovely princess."
This absolutely gorgeous piece of animation begins with setting up Shrek's idyllic life in his swamp. He seems happy as Shrek goes about
eating and bathing in his muddy swamp. He even delights in the attempts of the village people trying to threaten him into leaving. Mike Myers
voice for Shrek is reminiscent of that of his infamous character from The Spy Who Shagged Me". You know that big fat guy, called
Big Fat Bastard. Only Myers has stated he modelled the Scottish sounding voice after his grandmother.
"This is the part where you run away."
Meanwhile the attempting to be evil, Lord Farquaad, annoyed by fairy tale folk has put out a bounty on all fairy tale characters living in his
kingdom. Once they are all registered he exiles all of them from his kingdom forcing them to go into the swamps. One of the creatures
captured is the wise cracking, motor mouthed talking Donkey. He escapes and bumps into Shrek who unwittingly rescues the Donkey
from the Lord's men.
"Sure it's big enough, but look at the location."
A grateful Donkey decides to stay with the ogre above the green guy's objections. Even though Shrek can not abide company, somehow,
he begrudgingly becomes friends with Donkey, whom admires Shrek as his mean, green fighting machine. Shrek's peace is soon
shattered by an invasion of fairy tale characters who were exiled
to Shrek's swamp. It seem's that all his "BEWARE THE OGRE" signs, meant to protect his privacy did not work. Not only do they invade
his swamp but soon they are crawling all over his cottage. The only way to get them to leave
is to go and try to convince Lord Farquaad to allow all these characters back home. With the Donkey at Shrek's side they begin their
journey to Duloc the walled city castle and home of Lord Farquaad.
"Mirror, mirror on the wall, isn't this the perfect kingdom of them all?"
While the two adventurers head off to the castle the nasty Farquaad tortures a gingerbread man in really funny sequence. Of course this
is meant to show us that Farquaad really is a despicable little man. This torture leads to the aquisition of a magic mirror that after much
coericion tells Farquaad how to become a King. He has to find a princess to rescue and marry so that he will become a King. The mirror
shows him some candidates in a parody of THE DATING GAME. Farquaad is smitten by a certain sleeping beauty, Princess
Fiona.
"Do you think he's compensating for something?"
Farquaad has started a tornament to find a champion to recue his Queen to be. Once Shrek arrives he is set upon by the Lord's men and
is soon involved in a wild tag team wrestling match with hysterical consequences. I'm sure th laughter at these scenes will be plentiful.
Since he wins the match, Lord Farquaad agrees to allow the fairy tale characters to return home if Shrek is willing to be his champion and
go on a mission to rescue his Princess.
"You know what? Maybe there is a good reason why donkeys shouldn't talk."
Now, of course we all know he would have to take up the crusade, right? So, Shrek and his wise ass Donkey head off on the journey to
rescue a princess. Along the way we learn much about both characters, especially about Shrek. The big green guy is much more lonely ]
than he lets on.
"You didn't slay the dragon?"
"It's on my to do list."
Once they reach the mountain top castle they have to get across a bridge to perform the rescue. Here they meet up with the fierce dragon
who guards the castle and it's prisoner. After a really interesting battle the guys rescue the princess and begin their journey of discovery
as they make their way to Duloc. Much happens on the way. Shrek falls in love, Fiona falls in love, the dragon falls in love and Donkey
discovers Fiona's secret. So let us leave the story at this point so you can enjoy all the surprises in this absolutely wonderful film.
"It talks?"
"Yeah, getting him to shut up is the real trick."
Filled with wonderful graphics and superb writing, this film will becoma a timeless classic. Do yourself a big favour and head off to your
favourite cinema or drive-in and see this film. Oh, and do not forget to take the kids they will enjoy it as well.
"She called me a steed. She thinks I'm a steed."
The story is written, smartly to appeal to both adults and children by setting up jokes and situations that are understood in different ways by
the older crowd and in another way by the children. I believe you will understand what I'm saying when you see the movie
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One priceless scene is paying homage to both THE MATRIX and CROUNCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON as we see
Fiona's true character.
"This marriage is binding; I'm King."
One thing I found out is that his movie will be the main children's film for 2001. Disney's Atlantis, The Lost Empire is really not for
children as it is filled with subtitles and the most violence I have seen in a supposedly children's film. It is a really good film but it does not
even come close to entertaining children like will. So, don't sit back waiting for Disney to entertain your children, instead make
sure to take the entire family out for some great entertainment....
Oh yeah, stick around for the ending because they all do a great rendition of the song "I'm A Believer".
"I was hoping this would be a happy ending."
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This "ahem" furious, pink dragon guards the mountain top castle where the beautiful Princess Fiona is held captive waiting to be rescued
by her Prince. The dragon meets her formidable foes in the big green Shrek and his faithful sidekick steed the Donkey. Oh, I did say "she"
didn't I. Well it seems that the dragon has formed a cruch on a certain grey steed, and as in all good fairy tales, the dragon will come to the
rescue, hopefully. So now you've met the four key figures in our "Greatest fairy tale never told", so let's move on to our little story.
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