Can’t remember the last time I was this excited for a movie to come out that lived up to it’s potential for greatness. The Matrix and Menace were probably the last one’s that I really couldn’t wait for, I really like a big kid in a candy store that totally addicted to these rare kinds of movies that just completely work on all levels. I have been looking forward to Shrek for sometime now, with this being one of the first quality movies of the summer.I’m especially privileged to have seen Shrek in DLP of digital light processing.
For those not aware DLP is the film without the film, its shown in a totally digital format. So when you watch it there are no scratches, lines or burn marks just perfect pixels and it’s completely perfect for 3d animation. Dreamworks has given us a masterpiece of animation and story, that once was just assiocated with the mouse house, but now is in a position to compete and raise the standard of animation quality that hopefully here to stay.
OVERALL
Shrek is a very solid and entertaining and is one of the best animated film. The movie is solid because every major element works well together and there really isn’t a single major flaw contained in the feature. The story, characters, screenplay and comedy makes the movie stand out on it’s own without having to relie on just the great animation and backgrounds. The animation is so smooth and graceful and downright breathtaking amazing it looks and feels like your watching real life characters not something made of splines and polygons. The comic timing and sarcastic tone make it one of the more entertaining animated films of not the best entertaining film of the summer.
PLOT
The story revolves around the big green hermit Ogre Shrek who lives his own way in a swamp outside the kingdom of Dulac. Things were going fine till the Lord of Dulac, Prince Farquarrd wants all the fairy tale critters collected and banished into the swamp so his kingdom is rid of these creatures thus making his kingdom a more perfect place to rule. Shrek of course is none to happy as he walks out of his house and sees this invasion of all creatures under the sun from the seven dwarfs to the three blind mice. Shrek goes forth accompanied by his “noble” steed who tags along to see Lord Farquarrd to get his swamp back for himself. Most of the elements of humor are at the expense of the mouse house, as Shrek takes jabs at the studio from the fairy tale creatures to the kingdom of Dulac which is hilarious to watch. It’s especially great to watch because there’s several scenes that are in Shrek that you though you would never see on screen.
CHARACTERS
It’s amazing that for the roles for this movie, you really don’t need any major explanation of the characters because you just need a few seconds to know what they are about. These animated wonders can only really come to life and add the personal touch of emotion by providing them with great voice talent. This definitely has to be one of the best group of voices ever for a animated feature. Mike Myers provides the voice of the grumpy ogre with his Scottish touch that is popular is several of his other films. Cameron Diaz fills the role of Princess Fiona that is really ideal for this part and see gives you a sense of strong will yet vulnerable in a way only a princess can. Eddie Murphy and John Lithgow give strong performances and were that exact perfect choice for the characters they portrayed and have great voices for animated features. Lithgow has the perfect tone of voice for the villainous roles, while Murphy is hilarious and brilliant and really steals the show as the voice of the Donkey as he was voicing the dragon in Mulan.
Graphics
I’m almost speechless in describing the quality seeing this is a totally digital format as well as the superior animation showcased in this feature. I had to watch this twice just to absorb all the wonderful environments and textures that were displayed through out the feature, from a single blade of grass to Shrek’s home with all the details of the wood frame and the ropes. Dreamworks texture artists and animators paid meticulous attention and detail to things from the wind particle systems to make each blade of grass move realistic as well as creating the gorgeous looking fur that was used for the donkey. All these aspects especially when you could see foot prints in the sand around Shrek’s home that brings out the realism and makes everything come alive.
Praise goes to the animation in particular of Shrek and Donkey which was just break taking to watch. Just watching the motion of Shrek walk, where all the weight is distributed throughout his upper body and shoulder gave him a flow of motion that was just amazing to watch because it looked so real in comparison with his body type. Careful attention was paid in animating the main characters very smoothly but not so much was directed toward the human characters , especially the ones carrying the pitch forks and torches in the intro. Most of the run cycles of the village folk looked very jerky and mechanical and there’s wasn’t a even flow to the animation
CONCLUSION
I don’t know what more praise I can give a animated feature such as this. There are several priceless scenes and the comedy especially hits the mark when it involves the fairy tale creatures especially the gingerbread man. Shrek in definitely in my top five movies of the summer and well as for the whole year. The really only downside that prevents me to rating this a perfect five stars is that it needed more of those rib cracking laughs that lasts for a three straight minutes. This may be something that is minor but this would have put Shrek over the top.
Most seem to be concerned that this comedy will hold an adult audience attention, but if certain adults are concern about being bored then they should just say away because there not going to appreciate what’s on the screen anyway. Animation is unique and special because it gives us an ability to create a story that would be impossible to do in a live-action format.
In a direction aspect of these features you have the ability to bend the rules and create worlds and use camera shots that would be too expensive and couldn’t possibly be produced in the real world. Bottom line is Shrek is definitely one of the funniest and most entertaining movies of this summer and it a masterpiece that must been seen and owned on DVD