Hello viewers. I am back for a hiatus in Mouthshut after a gap. Nope this time I will be writing on Movies instead of Cars:)
A little long rewind to the past.It is the year 2001. I still remember the occasion when I went to watch one movie called’Shrek’ within a few days after its release. It was a multiplex theatre in Dublin and there was this exitement of a fantastic motion picture called’Shrek’ which was the story about an’wonderful ogre’. It definitely sounded like an oxymoron and I was in no way prepared to spend an hour and an half on some’ugly ogre and a braying donkey’. However I had this friend who insisted(all friends are aren’t they) on going to Shrek. Well against all expectations in the initial frames, It went on to be a exihilarating experience and I almost hurt my hands giving a standing ovation to the movie and the crew at the end.
Fast forward to the present.It is the year 2007 and I am watching the Movie Shrek 3 trying to relive the wonderful expereices of the past and the expectations for the present. The movie begins with the good guys’bullying’ prince charming who goes on to take a vow of vengence. In the next frame shrek makes a royal mess of another visit to the king and ends up with a polite’ someone better be dying’ rant for being disturbed. Then the scene moves on to a dying king who beats saints by raising from the dead three times. Then Shrek goes on in search of’beautiful/majestic Arthur(his wife’s cousin ofcourse) after a’supreme sacrifice’ of the throne. Shrek is confident in his’persuasion skills’ to face all challenges. Arthur the loser, the subject of derision and ridicule turns into a pursuasive and hi-fi speaker’instantly’ as he is ready to accompany Shrek. Meanwhile Prince charming has taken over Far far away after’uniting all the villians of the fairy tales’ . He goes on to capture Princess fiona and the good ladies courtesy the’deceitful traitor’ amongst the good fairies in’rapunzel’. Shrek and team are captured on their magical return(alongwith a meaningless interchange of Donkey and Puss). Arthur and Shrek have a’inexplicable breakup’ and Shrek is jailed. So now we have the fairies having a go at each other inside the prison before uniting in their mission to save the situation. Bras are burnt and biceps are brandished as the fairies turn into charlies angels(oops). Finally Prince charming’s plans are foiled and Shrek humiliates Prince charming with his’obvious intelligence wit and power’. Arthur makes a reentry and talks all the villians into good guys with some’popcorn’ advice. So all ends well as Shrek settles back in his marsh with’shreklings’ and fiona.
Hmmm.Somewhere down the line the movie seems to have lost the innocence of the original, the indecisive and impulsive nature of shrek and the black and white demarcation of good and evil. Shrek II was a glimpse into the future and the’advanced shrek’ in this sequel is very much aware/proud of his powers, intelligence and goodness. Good and bad cross lines becoming one blurry shade of grey.
Why am I feeling this way? Is it because I am since now grown older, married, have kids and generally became more’cynical’. or is it just the case of cinema keeping up with current trends in society as a whole.
Whatever it is, I know I will opt for the first shrek anyday.thank you!