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Adam_S · 05-23-2004, 04:03 AM

(out of four) - great movie

Shrek 2 isn't as good as the first, but that's because it's trying to hard to imitate the first. The moments when the film gets to cut loose and build on the original spirit of the first are the best moments, the moments when they're deliberately trying to imitate the great moments of the first are the most annoying moments. The first of these really occurs in the opening montage, both the little mermaid reference was a bit forced (though funny in the middle of the from here to eternity reference) and especially annoying was the fiona kicks ass moment in the montage. The numerous times sad songs intrude seem to be a pale imitation of Shrek's Hallelujah sequence (which in my opinion is the best non pixar american animation sequence since Iron Giant and one that is comparable to the best moments of the great Disney films and for me is what elevated the film to four stars).

There are a handful of plot inconsistencies such as what happened to dragon when donkey took the potion and how the pals got to the jail so fast (my guess is that a sequence with dragon taking them was dropped for the middle end credits sequence gag).

Spoiler:

Also I've been annoyed since seeing the previews that Donkey is a white stallion. What the F is up with that? why not a black stallion, they could even work in a lot of fun jokes that way. I guess the problem is that our culture subconsciously equates white with beauty, success, purity, desirability etc and so we get it as those representations. Since Donkey is essentially an updated Stepinfetchit character/sidekick, I suppose it seems natural for hollywood writers to have him want to be white as his greatest desire.

BUT, the goods tend to outweigh the bad, the film is almost always as sly and clever as the original was, sometimes it obvious sometimes not, thankfully the phallic jokes are absent, but there's a lot more bodily function humor. What's more is that we already like or love these characters and it's a delight to join them in yet another story, even if the story isn't all that original it is still, ultimately, very fun and definitely enjoyable. I would watch this again, and I will when it comes to DVD.

I think David Poland hit this on the head by saying it takes the "Leathal Weapon" sequel route. but I was disapointed that PussnBoots was never playing a double game--and how on earth did the filmmakers miss an oppurtunity to reference the Princess Bride in his 'debt-repayment' scene?

Adam

05-23-2004, 04:03 AM	#8 of 15
Adam_S *Adam_S* Member Location: Marina del Rey, CA Join Date: Feb 2001 Local Time: 11:03 AM Local Date: 01-08-2009 Posts: 5,075	(out of four) - great movie Shrek 2 isn't as good as the first, but that's because it's trying to hard to imitate the first. The moments when the film gets to cut loose and build on the original spirit of the first are the best moments, the moments when they're deliberately trying to imitate the great moments of the first are the most annoying moments. The first of these really occurs in the opening montage, both the little mermaid reference was a bit forced (though funny in the middle of the from here to eternity reference) and especially annoying was the fiona kicks ass moment in the montage. The numerous times sad songs intrude seem to be a pale imitation of Shrek's Hallelujah sequence (which in my opinion is the best non pixar american animation sequence since Iron Giant and one that is comparable to the best moments of the great Disney films and for me is what elevated the film to four stars). There are a handful of plot inconsistencies such as what happened to dragon when donkey took the potion and how the pals got to the jail so fast (my guess is that a sequence with dragon taking them was dropped for the middle end credits sequence gag). Spoiler: I didn't really care for the plot or the themes, I thought it sorta undermined and then halfheartedly reinforced those of the first one, I think it was a mistake for Shrek to take the potion, as it's not something I really wanted to see, and every moment he was onscreen like that it completely took me out of the film because there was no character to his animation, he's not the same when he's not green Also I've been annoyed since seeing the previews that Donkey is a white stallion. What the F is up with that? why not a black stallion, they could even work in a lot of fun jokes that way. I guess the problem is that our culture subconsciously equates white with beauty, success, purity, desirability etc and so we get it as those representations. Since Donkey is essentially an updated Stepinfetchit character/sidekick, I suppose it seems natural for hollywood writers to have him want to be white as his greatest desire. BUT, the goods tend to outweigh the bad, the film is almost always as sly and clever as the original was, sometimes it obvious sometimes not, thankfully the phallic jokes are absent, but there's a lot more bodily function humor. What's more is that we already like or love these characters and it's a delight to join them in yet another story, even if the story isn't all that original it is still, ultimately, very fun and definitely enjoyable. I would watch this again, and I will when it comes to DVD. I think David Poland hit this on the head by saying it takes the "Leathal Weapon" sequel route. but I was disapointed that PussnBoots was never playing a double game--and how on earth did the filmmakers miss an oppurtunity to reference the Princess Bride in his 'debt-repayment' scene? Adam top 20 films 2008 film list My DVDs; S&S List 62...212 AFI lists: - DONE!