Shrek (2001)

User Rating:

8.0/10   

Directors:

Andrew Adamson
Vicky Jenson

Writers:

William Steig (book)
Ted Elliott (written by) ...

Release Date:

18 May 2001 (USA)

Genre:

Animation | Adventure | Comedy | Family | Fantasy | Romance

Tagline:

The greatest fairy tale never told.

Plot:

An ogre, in order to regain his swamp, travels along with an annoying donkey in order to bring a princess to a scheming lord, wishing himself King.

Plot Keywords:

Shrek | Lord | Ogre | Donkey | Princess

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 29 wins & 44 nominations

Cast

Mike Myers	...	Shrek (voice)
Eddie Murphy	...	Donkey (voice)
Cameron Diaz	...	Princess Fiona (voice)
John Lithgow	...	Lord Farquaad (voice)
Vincent Cassel	...	Monsieur Hood (voice)
Peter Dennis	...	Ogre Hunter (voice)
Clive Pearse	...	Ogre Hunter (voice)
Jim Cummings	...	Captain of Guards (voice)
Bobby Block	...	Baby Bear (voice)
Chris Miller	...	Geppetto / Magic Mirror (voice)
Cody Cameron	...	Pinocchio / Three Pigs (voice)
Kathleen Freeman	...	Old Woman (voice)
Michael Galasso	...	Peter Pan (voice)
Christopher Knights	...	Blind Mouse / Thelonious (voice)
Simon J. Smith	...	Blind Mouse (voice)

MPAA:

Rated PG for mild language and some crude humor.

Runtime:

90 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Malaysia:U (re-rating) | Portugal:M/4 | Iceland:L | South Korea:All | South Africa:A (theatrical rating) | South Africa:PG (DVD rating) | Argentina:Atp | Australia:PG | Brazil:Livre | Chile:TE | Finland:K-7 | France:U | Germany:o.Al. | Hong Kong:I | Ireland:G | Netherlands:MG6 | Peru:PT | Philippines:G | Singapore:G | Spain:T | Sweden:7 | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | UK:U | USA:PG | Greece:K | Norway:7 | Canada:F (Ontario) | Canada:PG (Alberta/Nova Scotia) | Canada:G (British Columbia/Manitoba/Quebec)

Company:

DreamWorks Animation

Trivia:

Chris Farley was originally cast as Shrek and even recorded the dialogue. However, after his death, the role was given to fellow Saturday Night Live performer, Mike Myers. A remnant of Farley remains when Shrek uses "finger quotes" - a trademark of Farley's character Bennett Brower.

Goofs:

Incorrectly regarded as goofs: Near the end of the movie, when Shrek and Donkey are rushing to make the wedding, Shrek climbs up the chain to get on the dragon. Previously, it has been assumed that the dragon then flies off, but if you look closely, the dragon lifts Donkey onto her back with her paw, and Donkey is present at all times.

Quotes:

[first lines]
[Shrek is reading a book in the outside toilet]
Shrek: Once upon a time, there was a lovely princess. But she had an enchantment upon her of a fearful sort which could only be broken by love's first kiss. She was locked away in a castle guarded by a terrible fire-breathing dragon. Many brave knights had attempted to free her from this dreadful prison, but none prevailed. She waited in the dragon's keep, in the highest room of the tallest tower, for her true love, and true love's first kiss.
[tears out a page and laughs]
[...]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Stick It (2006)

Soundtrack:

Whipped Cream

These Animation Movies Of The 21st Century Keep Getting Better

I enjoyed this first and second times I saw it and that was enough. By then, the second film came out and I preferred that one over this. My only complaint about this movie was Eddie Murphy's character yakking incessantly. It gets on your nerves after awhile. Give it a rest, Eddie!

The rest of the characters and the film are strictly fun and combination of kids' innocence and some adult humor (which hopefully goes over the heads of kids). Mike Myers' Scottish accent on the lead character "Shrek" is just right. The characters mouthed by Cameron Diaz and John Lithgow did little for me. This is mainly Myers and Murphy's show.

The colors in this animated film are beautiful, spectacular at times. It's just state- of-the-art artwork. The screen sometimes is filled with so many things - especially when all the fairy tale characters are pictured at once - that it's hard to focus on just one. There are lots of extras on the two-disc DVD set, too.

If you liked this, check out the sequel, because it's even better.