Avenging Angelo Shrek

Avenging Angelo

Shrek particularly various background and tertiary elements such as clumps of trees and dirt roads often looks sterile and relatively basic, even if most of the film manages a fair sense of depth. On the plus side, though, the characters defy time and style; few animated films have produced a lead character so memorable, and fewer still have found the pitch-perfect voice actor to bring the character to life. Mike Meyers Shrek is a work of art; theres arguably not another character so vividly realized from a vocal perspective as Shrek, and Eddie Murphys Donkey and Cameron Diazs Fiona are about as good as it gets, too. We are definitely not in the swamp anymore. Shrek and Fiona are living the high life of marital bliss. Even a little Donkey cant slow them down from enjoying one anothers company and the fruits of I do, but when they receive notice that Fionas parents the King and Queen of the Kingdom of Far, Far Away wish to hold a royal ball in celebration of their daughters recent marriage, the happy couple travels great distances and through treacherous terrain to arrive just in time and much to the chagrin of one green male ogre. Tensions run high when the royals realize their daughter has married not a handsome prince charming but instead a slovenly green beast. Shrek wants nothing more than for Fiona to be happy, and her happiness depends on the king bestowing his blessing on the happy couple. Enter the Fairy Godmother Jennifer Saunders, Fionas childhood protector and the one who assigned to her solitude in the tower where she patiently awaited her knight in shining armor to bestow upon her loves true kiss and reverse the curse that was her daily physical mutation. Of course, and as such things go, it turns out the Fairy Godmother has her own motives in mind rather than the well-being of the fair Fiona. Meanwhile, Shrek, Donkey, and a feline assassin named Puss in Boots Antonio Banderas, The Mask of Zorro discover that true love doesnt run skin deep, but not before getting into plenty of trouble and threatening Shreks Happily Ever After ending with his beautiful bride. Shrek 2 is prototypical of a successful sequel; its basically the first movie repackaged, telling a different story but ultimately coming down to the same basic core values that are framed within a structure thats familiar but more highly polished than its predecessor. Indeed, the core theme running through both Shrek and Shrek 2 speaks on the importance of being oneself and loving for all the right reasons rather than hating, dismissing, or questioning an individual for what they look like rather than who they are. Its only when the characters try to become something or someone that theyre not that their happiness and Fairy Tale existence is jeopardized. Its basic stuff to be sure, but Shrek 2 does it better than most. The movies message is clearly identifiable to even the youngest of audiences, wrapped in a mostly wholesome, humorous, and cuddly veneer that helps the overriding theme go down smoothly. Better, the film has a more adult-oriented streak that makes it an entertaining ride for the parents, too. No worries in that area, though: Shrek 2 doesnt cross any unsafe for the kids boundaries; the adult humor is evident but so subtly integrated that all but the most intelligent of Avenging Angelo viewers will simply gloss over some of the references and jokes aimed at appeasing the adults in the audience that lend to the film that unique flavor thats only found in the Shrek series thats been kid tested and mother approved, as the old saying goes. As to the specifics of the plot, Shrek 2 logically picks up where its predecessor left off. What better direction to take than to capture the nuances of those lovely in-laws visits and generate conflict from a source of contention thats no doubt plagued most marriages at least once, and particularly in the early stages of matrimony? Not only does the story progress as it should, but the Fairy Tale themes once again play central to the plot, with the film opening with a humorous recap of the first movie seen as if it were more of a straightforward Fairy Tale rather than, well, Shrek and building its plot around not only around the tension with the in-laws but a jealous prince and his magical mother who feel cheated that an ogre, of all creatures, could win the beautiful Fionas heart and provide to her true loves kiss, not to mention moving to the front of the line to inherit the keys to the kingdom. The picture also introduces one of the series best characters, Puss in Boots, a Zorro rip-off, passionate lover, and a favorite of cat lovers around the world for the way the character so perfectly captures both the generic feline traits as well as the subtleties that all cat owners will readily identify. Technically, Shrek 2 proves itself a far superior film to its predecessor. The slightly more robotic animation of the first picture is long gone, replaced by a much bigger, more organic scope and technical prowess. Though the characters retain their same core appearance, details are more Avenging Angelo out and environments are sparklingly realized. Shrek 2 may be similar in feel to Shrek, but its clearly the superior picture in terms of sheer visual delights. Who wants their Happily Ever After? With the King of the Kingdom of Far, Far Away having fallen ill, Shrek and Fiona have been placed in charge temporarily of course in his stead. Word of this tragedy reaches the shamed Prince Charming Rupert Everett who, rather than living in luxury and serving as King after failing to rescue Fiona from her tower and bestow upon her loves true kiss, has been reduced to playing a parody of himself on the low-rent dinner theater circuit. Charming frustrated with the lot hes been dealt and determined to claim what he believes to be right fully his assembles a group of Fairy Tale scum and villainy to aid him in his quest. Meanwhile, the King has died, but with his dying breaths asked his son-in-law, Shrek, to rule the kingdom. Thats too tall an order for the green ogre, and rather than settle into the throne and don the crown, he, Donkey, and Puss in Boots set off on a quest to find the last living heir to the throne, Arthur. Unfortunately, Arthur or Artie, as he likes to be called isnt King material, either, and the very notion of being given the responsibility of ruling over all the land sends him into a panic that sets in motion a series of dangerous events that could forever alter the fates of Shrek, Fiona, and all of the Kingdom of Far, Far Away. Shrek the Third is a product of great commercial success. When the first two movies in a series earn a studio almost 5 billion in gross revenue, why not use a small chunk of that change to green-light gotta love those unintentional puns! a sequel? By the time Shrek the Third hit theaters, the franchise was about as close to a sure thing as is possible.