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Comment
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Laura
Registered User
(5/22/01 7:08:51 pm)
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Shrek
Well, I haven't seen it myself -- burp and fart jokes, Eddie Murphy, and Mike Myers just aren't my idea of a good time. However, a friend who saw it called it "a little heavy on potty humour, but it is a brilliant parody of Disney films."
He comments further: "The magic mirror from snow white is in it along with Pinochio, Snow White, Cinderella. Lots of scenes reminiscent of classic Disney (the princess sings with a bird and such) but all with a twist. And the evil king lives in a "perfect" kingdom filled with "perfect" people - all squeeky clean - with roped off queues, singing dolls, and "Ye Olde Souvenir Shoppe." You could read a "Disney is killing the fairy tale" message - the evil king banishes all the fairy tale creatures out of his kingdom to the swamp. I thought you might like it from a academic stand point- the deconstruction of the fairy tale."
Has anyone else here seen the film? Any response to these ideas? I've been on and off tempted to see it, but the off-putting aspects weren't ever sufficiently outweighed.
Laura
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Sharlit
Registered User
(5/23/01 7:31:43 am)
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Re: Shrek
I should probably qualify this saying I can be a HUGE film nazi. I detest fart jokes and think that 90% of what gets made is serious crap. However.
I've seen Shrek twice now; once opening day and again last ngiht... it really *is* brilliant. I can't say much for the parody aspect. The morals really are a little out there on the sleeve. The Disney parodies I think were less for commentary on the negative impact Disney has had on the genre and more for a lark. Shrek was very much of the Disney genre itself; a happily ever after tale with the hero, the heroine and the sidekick...
Okay, I'm not really selling the film very well, am I? It *was* funny. And feel-good. And all other things considered, like the profusion of fart jokes... well, they were well delivered, well timed and for once, funny.
It did play a lot on people's expectation from a fairy tale film. The hero wasn't hansome and the heroine was cheeky. There was a profusion of anacronistic jibes.
It's not much of an insightful film, I guess is what I'm saying, but it *is* still good.
Recommended, even. And this is coming from the girl who's favorite film is Seven Samuri. It's well done. It works.
-charlotte
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Gregor9
Unregistered User
(5/23/01 1:03:31 pm)
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Re: Shrek
I concur with Charlotte--it is a very funny film, and scathing in its sendup of Disney, while hitting on any number of fairy tale tropes in its own fashion. Animation has moved another level beyond "Toy Story", too--there are moments in the film where I forgot I was looking at computer animation.
The script does have some scatalogical bits, but it doesn't thrive on them (as Mike Myers tends to in his own films). And anything that can conflate the prince selecting his princess with "The Dating Game" is wickedly subversive and must be applauded.
GF
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Heidi
Anne Heiner
ezOP
(5/23/01 5:14:43 pm)
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Re: Shrek
My favorite moment was the roped queue 45 minute wait to get into the castle. It defines why I don't like theme parks, Disney or otherwise. And the main street does have a very strong to resemblance to that of Disneyland. The pokes at Disney are very strong, especially Sleeping Beauty.
There were other elements I didn't care for as much, but overall, I was grateful for a fun treatment of fairy tale themes. The animation is well done, too. It will be interesting to see the revenue on it although it will only be able to hit #2 this weekend with Pearl Harbor opening.
Heidi
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