Review Shrek (2001)

Doctor Omega

Member: Rank 10



Shrek is a 2001 American computer-animated fantasy-comedy film directed by Andrew Adamson and Vicky Jenson in their directorial debut. It features the voices of Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, and John Lithgow. It is loosely based on William Steig's 1990 fairy tale picture book Shrek!, and somewhat serves as a parody film, targeting other films adapted from numerous children's fantasies (mainly animated Disney films). The film's soundtrack includes music by Smash Mouth, Eels, Joan Jett, The Proclaimers, Jason Wade, Baha Men, and John Cale (covering Leonard Cohen).

The rights to Steig's book were originally bought by Steven Spielberg in 1991, before the founding of DreamWorks, when he thought about making a traditionally animated film based on the book. However, John H. Williams convinced him to bring the film to DreamWorks in 1994, the time the studio was founded, and the film was put quickly into active development by Jeffrey Katzenberg after the rights were bought by the studio in 1995.

Shrek
originally cast Chris Farley to do the voice for the title character, recording about 80%–90% of his dialogue. After Farley died in 1997 before he could finish, Mike Myers was brought in to work for the character, who after his first recording decided to record his voice in a Scottish accent. The film was also originally planned to be motion-captured, but after poor results, the studio decided to get Pacific Data Images to help Shrek get its final computer-animated look.

The film grossed $484.4 million at the worldwide box office, and an estimated 47 million tickets were sold in the US. Shrek also received promotion from food chains such as Baskin-Robbins (promoting the film's DVD release) and Burger King. It was acclaimed as an animated film worthy of adult interest, with many adult-oriented jokes and themes but a simple enough plot and humour to appeal to children. Shrek won the first ever Academy Award for Best Animated Feature and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay. The film was also nominated for six British Academy of Film and Television Arts awards, including the BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for Eddie Murphy for his voice-over performance as Donkey, and won the BAFTA Award for Best Adapted Screenplay. The film's main (and title) character was awarded his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in May 2010.

Shrek established DreamWorks Animation as a prime competitor to Pixar in feature film animation, particularly in computer animation. The film's success prompted DreamWorks to create three sequels—Shrek 2 (2004), Shrek the Third (2007), and Shrek Forever After (2010), two holiday specials—Shrek the Halls (2007) and Scared Shrekless (2010), and a spin-off film—Puss in Boots (2011).

A fifth film, planned as the last of the series, was cancelled in 2009 with the announcement that the fourth film would conclude the series. However, the fifth film was revived in 2016, with a planned release for 2019/2020.


Shrek 5 can be found here....


https://www.imdforums.com/threads/shrek-5-2019.2732/


 
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duzit

Member: Rank 6
Thanks Dr, O for all the info. Did not know there would be a fifth. Something else to look forward to.

I love this movie, everything about it. My most fav character to Donkey (Eddie Murphy). The scene
where Shrek is tossing Donkey in the air, in front of the church is genius. The whole movie is genius
because it plays to both kids & adults. There are lines, references, scenes that only adults would
catch and yet the ugly, green monster gets the princess love story is understood by the younger audience.
I rewatch it whenever it's broadcast...
 

filmfan95

Member: Rank 3
The original, and, in my opinion, the best of the franchise. Sometimes I feel as if I should pretend the sequels don't exist, but I do enjoy them, so that wouldn't be right. But the first film is still the best, the cleverest, and the funniest of the franchise, and I could watch it all day. One of my all time favorite movies.
 

Elliot Thomas

Member: Rank 3
Hilarious spoof of (and tribute to) fairy tales with brilliant animation. There are enough gags here to fill a multitude of films. Great vocals too.
 
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