VickyVickster is Victoria Blisse, published author. victoriablisse.co.uk for details. Now in Print-b...
VickyVickster is Victoria Blisse, published author. victoriablisse.co.uk for details. Now in Print-buy Curvaceous @Amazon.
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“That’ll do Donkey. That’ll do.”
But apparently it didn’t. As soon as I heard tell that Shrek two was on it’s way I got excited. In fact one of the most exciting experiences during my cinema trip to See Sir Harry of Pot was seeing the trailer for Shrek 2. It was a blummin’ good trailer because it set a burning desire in me to see it.
This burning desire wasn’t even doused when my darling daughter decided she liked Shrek. Any one who knows a toddler well knows that once they decide they like something they do it over and over and over again. So even seeing Shrek several billion times in a short space of time didn’t put me off! Was I going to be disappointed? I seemed to be getting myself awfully hyped up…well there is only one way to find out-read on!
So I am assuming most people have at least heard of Shrek so this will be a very short synopsis of the first film for you.
Ogre meets donkey-->Ogre and donkey meet Evil Lord --> Ogre and Donkey rescue Princess--> Ogre falls in love with Princess-->Princess goes off to marry Evil lord--> Donkey, Ogre (and dragon) break up the wedding--> Ogre and Princess (now also an Ogre) go on to their honeymoon and live happily ever after.
Shrek 2 starts as Happily Ever after begins. You see some lovely footage of Shrek (Voiced by Mike Myers) and Fiona (Cameron Diaz) enjoying their honeymoon. Then off home to the swamp they do trot (well waddle really. Ogres only have little legs you know) and who should they find there? Sorry no prizes for guessing that their old pal Donkey (Eddie Murphy) is waiting for them to arrive home. (problems with the dragonly Missus-I wonder if DreamWorks will go any further with that?)
Not only has Donkey been awaiting their arrival a whole host of royal messengers have too. The King and queen of Far, Far Away (John Cleese and Julie Walters) request that Fiona
and her Prince Charming visit them for a Grand Wedding Ball. Just back form Honeymoon and Shrek is off to meet the In-laws. How’s that for reality bites huh?
Of course this is where all the fun and frolics starts. Far, Far away is a cosmopolitan city (rather like a famous American City containing lots of make-believe characters!) and when the whole city sees Shrek and Fiona arrive a stony silence falls. Even Fiona’s mum and Dad don’t recognise them at first and surprisingly enough they’re not too chuffed at having ogres as their future heirs.
Now Fiona was all set up to be rescued by the vain, floaty haired Prince Charming (Rupert Everett) but well Shrek got their first so Charming is not all that chuffed. Prince Charming is the Fairy Godmothers son.The fairy Godmother (Jennifer Saunders) is the fairy that makes things happen, She makes Happily Ever Afters for people. She manages to coerce the king into putting out a “hit” on Shrek. Enter one cute Kitty cat-Antonio Banderas as Puss…… in boots!
So as you can see the scene is set for yet more orgre-tastic fun but the story is only a part of the appeal of this film. It is very apparent from the beginning that technology has moved on since the very first ground breaking Shrek was created and released in 2001.
I actually watched one of those “Making of” programmes on Shrek 2 the other day (see I told you I was looking forward to this film!) and it was fascinating!
Apparently there has been a couple of new technological advances and one is called “global illumination” It works like the big lights you see on the set of any movie. It is also known as the bounce shader because it has the effect of bouncing the light around the scene just like light bounces around of surfaces in real life. This makes the characters and scenes look a lot brighter, a lot sharper and so 3D you might be forgiven for thinking these images are of real actors in suits!
Another one is called “subsurface scattering“ and this emulates how light refracts through our skin. You know how your hand glows when you put a torch up to it? Well a lot of light is refracted and bounced about like this all the time and by implementing this subsurface scattering they make the skin of their characters seem translucent and not opaque; making it look a lot more real and less plasticky than in the first film.
For more fascinating insights like this you should check out www.shrek2.com it is full of behind the scenes information!
So we have an interesting plot, fantastic animation already what else do we need? Oh yes! Believable characters!
Well We all know that one of the massive strengths of the very first Shrek was the characters that played in it. Mike Myers and Eddie Murphy play beautifully off one another and Cameron Diaz seemed to fit into the equation perfectly. We are adding more major characters into the boiling pot in Shrek 2 and in my opinion these actors also add to the blend in a very positive way.
Antonio Banderas has a wonderful time poking fun at his own Zorro role as the cute but deadly Puss In boots and you can hear his delight in every line. Similarly Jennifer Saunders as The Fairy Godmother is fantastic! She really throws herself into the character and brings it to life.
The only one I am not impressed with is Rupert Everett as Prince Charming. Ok so I know he’s supposed to be the airhead pretty boy but he is so insipid he is a complete let down. I am not 100% sure what exactly it is about what it is about the Prince that makes him so Blah but I do not feel that Rupert Everett put as much into him as the other actors obviously had invested in their roles. Surely Prince Charming should have something about him that makes him at least a little bit memorable? He is meant to at least be charming on the surface? Well I just find him a little bit irritating and a lot of a let down.
The other smaller role characters voiced by Cody Cameron who does Pinocchio and the three pigs and Conrad Vernon who voices the gingerbread man, Cedric, the announcer, the Muffin Man and Mongo are amazing. Each character is brought to life in a very believable way with the use of their vocal talents.
So we have a good story, good animation and good characterisation. What else makes a good movie? Kick ass humour often helps hmmmm:
Shrek: Quick tell a lie! Pinocchio: What should I say? Donkey: Say something crazy... like you're wearing ladies underwear. Pinocchio: Um, ok. I'm wearing ladies underwear. Pinocchio: [silence] Shrek: Are you? Pinocchio: I most certainly am not. Pinocchio: [nose extends] . Donkey: It looks like you most certainly am are. Pinocchio: I am not. Pinocchio: [nose extends] Puss-in-Boots: What Kind? Gingerbread Man: IT'S A THONG!
And then there is:
Donkey: You're supposed to say "You have the right to remain silent!". No one said I have the right to remain silent! Shrek: Donkey, you HAVE the right to remain silent. What you lack, is the capacity.
Oh and one more for good luck :
Donkey: [Shrek is depressed because Fiona's father wants to kill him] Oh, don't feel bad, Shrek. Almost everybody who meets you wants to kill you.
So yep…we’ve got some seriously funny humour too. Check. Ok so What else? Story, Characters, Animation aannnnnnnd Soundtrack!
Yes the Shrek 2 soundtrack is fantastic. It sits in the background happily giving you input on how you should be feeling in each scene. You don’t feel it’s taking over the whole film but you also remember that the songs were there because they compliment the action perfectly. With names like the Counting Crows, Eels, Nick Cave and David Bowie you can tell that this soundtrack as a slightly indie sound to it. It works really well as there is a fair bit of angst among the humour in Shrek 2. Shrek himself has a bit of a crisis as he compares himself to the seemingly perfect Prince Charming and even Donkey wants to be something Else!
However good the main soundtrack songs are the crowning glory has to be the cast sung songs. You really will be in stitches when you hear Donkey and Puss in Boots singing Le Vide loca and The fairy Godmother doing Holding out for a hero! This is a soundtrack you’re going to want to purchase and I am sure it’s available in all good record shops right now! (for a sneaky listen visit www.shrek2soundtrack.com )
Oh and one last thing a film should have (especially a childrens movie) a moral. This film has a coulple of very clear morals.
Beauty is what you make it.
and
You shouldn't judge people by looks alone.
There are not pushed down your throat or reiterated over and over till it makes you dizzy but these important morals are weaved into the very fabric of the film and adds a little reality into the fantasy magic.
Ok so What Else would you like to know? What did I think of it? Well have you read this review or not? If you have I think it’s pretty obvious that I LOVED Shrek 2.
It is very difficult to compare it with the original Shrek and in fact I don’t think you should compare the two. I cannot say which I feel is best but I can say they both are 2 of the best animated films of this century!
All I can say is….
“That’ll do donkey. That’ll do.”
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
Production Year: 2002 - Family - Original Language: English - Classification: Universal - Starring: Marisa Tomei, Lacey Chabert, Lynn Redgrave, Flea, Tim Curry, Rupert Everett
We took Jacob to see this on the last day of our holiday and we really enjoyed it. Even 4 month old Jon was mesmerised for the whole 90 minutes. And I was singing along to most of the soundtrack!
Full of verve and witShrekis a computer-animated adaptation of William Steig's ... more
delightfully fractured fairy tale. Our title character (voiced by Mike Myers) is an agreeable enough ogre who wants to live his days in peace. When the diminutive Lord Farqu...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Full of verve and witShrekis a computer-animated adaptation of William Steig's ... more
delightfully fractured fairy tale. Our title character (voiced by Mike Myers) is an agreeable enough ogre who wants to live his days in peace. When the diminutive Lord Farqu...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
Advantages: Fantastic animation, entertaining storyline, great characters, soundtrack Disadvantages: I didn't feel the casting of Shrek and Donkey was quite right
![Shrek [DVD] [2001]](http://picnica.ciao.com/uk/78533830.jpg "Shrek [DVD] [2001]")
Jul 9th, 2004
(Jul 14th, 2004)
very helpful by (100%):
