Shrek [2001]

On the DVD: DVD could have been invented to showcase Shrek's stunning computer animation--admirably served here by 16:9 anamorphic widescreen presentation--while the exuberant soundtrack comes alive in 5.1 Dolby Digital.

There are plenty of extras to choose from on this DVD, from The Tech of Shrek and fake Character Interviews to the amusing Swamp Karaoke Dance Party featuring the whole cast. However, none of these features have much depth, nor do they last long and it would be easy to feel slightly disappointed--were it not for the excellent Shrek's ReVoice Studio. This first-of-its-kind feature requires a computer running Microsoft Windows 98SE or higher, Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0 or higher, an Internet connection and a DVD-ROM drive. However, once the DVD-ROM is up and running, the instructions could not be clearer and within minutes the whole family will be dubbing their voices over favourite characters and scenes--rendering the other extras almost irrelevant.--Helen Baker

Antz was the last animated film from Dreamworks, and despite being very cleverly scripted and appealing to audiences on many levels, Disney's A Bugs Life was possibly the better film. Shrek has turned the tables on Disney though, both technically and in sheer viewing pleasure.

The film is just outstanding. It's fun to watch for kids, because it's a fairytale about rescuing a princess from a castle and a fierce dragon; it's fun to watch for adults because of the clever script - much of which thankfully passes over the heads of my kids. There are lots of opportunities to poke fun at Uncle Walt - why does Lord Farquaad's castle have turnstiles on the door, I wonder?

The animation is wonderfully detailed. It's not photo-realistic (the animators explain in one of the 'featurettes' that they had to pull back from making the human characters too realistic, so that they fitted into the fairytale visual ambiance), but it is immensely detailed - to the degree that individual pores are detailed on Shrek's face, and droplets of water are individually animated.

There are a couple of witty extras on the DVD - the animated characters talk (in the manner of film actors everywhere) of how pleased they were to work on the film, and of their future plans, and there's a karaoke montage of the characters singing disco hits. Robin Hood and his Merry Men singing Y.M.C.A. is a sight not soon to be forgotten.


Shrek - he's ugly 24/7   May 8, 2002
13 out of 13 found this review helpful

This is a 'fairytale' with all the traditional ingredients - a princess locked in a tower, a hero on a quest to save her, a scheming villain, true love leading to a happy (if somewhat unexpected) ending, and a supporting cast including everyone from a delightfully French Robin Hood to the gingerbread man. However, Shrek is certainly not a traditional fairytale.
For a start, the hero is, by his own admission, a big, smelly, ugly ogre. Secondly, this is not only a movie for kids - much of the humour will only be fully appreciated by adults. And Shrek will have *everyone* smiling, giggling and laughing out loud. All of the characters have their funny and memorable quotes and scenes, but the best lines come from Donkey (although occasionally he seems to be trying just a little too hard for comic effect).
The computer animation is stunning and with a just a little imagination you can see that the characters somewhat resemble the actors who provide their voices. There is definitely a bit of Eddie Murphy in Donkey anyway. It is perhaps the attention to detail that is most impressive - the facial expressions are just fabulous.
Shrek is a must-see film, because almost everyone will find something to like about it (although perhaps not those who like their fairy tales to be predictable and perfect). But as Princess Fiona ultimately learns, 'perfect' is an illusion and only once you accept who you are, can you live happily ever after.


***** MYERS & MURPHY EXCEL *****   October 18, 2002
Mr. N. Carnegie (Kirkcaldy, Scotland, UK.)
11 out of 11 found this review helpful

First of all let me start by saying, I'm 32 years old and I don't like Disney or any other kids movies much (with the exception of The Iron Giant, although I also enjoyed Toy Story 2). I took my nephews to see Shrek at the theater last summer and they absolutely loved it but much to my surprise I loved it too.

This is the movie that has made $472 m at the box office and has made $420 m in two months of DVD and video sales. This is the gift that everybody got for Christmas. This is the gift I gave everybody for Christmas. This is the DVD I got for Christmas and this is the movie I've seen about six times so far BUT it doesn't matter how many times you watch Shrek, it still amuses, it still entertains and it doesn't ever disappoint. It has that rare quality of appealing to both children and adults, which is extremely beneficial if you have kids who liked to watch movies over and over and over again.

It is a beautifully written send up of Disney films, fairytales, and other movies, with so many clever visual and verbal jokes; only some of which (thankfully) kids will understand. All of which adults (with a sense of humour) will love. It is a perfectly cast movie with Mike Myers voicing the mild-mannered ogre Shrek and Eddie Murphy in his best form for many a year as his sidekick donkey. John Lithgow stars as the villain Lord Farquaad and Cameron Diaz voices the feisty Princess Fiona. They are all magnificent but it was a stroke of genius to cast Myers and Murphy together as they spark off each other and excel with comic ad-libs.

Whats more the extras on this DVD are just magnificent. There are games, deleted scenes, behind the scenes stuff, hilarious fake interviews etc. etc. and with reported sales of the DVD worldwide, at 10m and rising, Dreamworks have put together a fantastic package and really hit the jackpot. I don't know anybody, young or old who doesn't like this movie and for once I'm pretty happy to be in the majority.


Witty, clever and highly entertaining.   October 6, 2001
20 out of 21 found this review helpful

Shrek is not your usual prototype hero character and, in fact, the story line is quite the opposite of what we are now all too well used to. Indeed, the plot makes very clever references to other famous scenes in all too familiar 'fairy' storeys, starting with the concept that not all ends well and finishing on the unlikely note of a reversed 'Beauty and the Beast'. The graphics are phenomenal and truly make you believe you are looking at a 'real' world. The jokes are extremely witty and for my boy the highlight must have been the slow-motion scene. On the whole the film gives a different outlook which teases the brain of both youngsters and grown-ups and is very refreshing.


One hell of a film!   April 21, 2003
17 out of 18 found this review helpful

Shrek is a film for all ages and the humour will have both adults and children laughing out loud from the beginning to end. It is wonderously witty and very funny. The characters in the film are unique and very different.The voices very much suite the characters.The animation is very realistic and is supreme.

One of the best parts of this DVD is the Shrek ReVoice studio where you can record your voice over the characters in the film in any scene. This brings bundells of joy!

I could not understand how anyone could ever dislike this film.