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Subject: Re: Shrek The Third Is INCREDIBLE!!!


Author:
Kylopod
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Date Posted: 21:52:19 08/07/07 Tue
Author Host/IP: pool-71-125-169-145.bltmmd.east.verizon.net/71.125.169.145
In reply to: Jimmy 's message, "Re: Shrek The Third Is INCREDIBLE!!!" on 16:02:24 08/07/07 Tue
 In the second film, much of the humor is centered on gags. There are some very funny moments, the best of which is the Pinocchio bit. But the movie takes a long time in getting to them, and there are long stretches where it just sits there, as in the early scene where Shrek and Donkey are riding in the coach. It greatly calls attention to what made the original film so charming, and what's missing in the second film: the clever dialogue. There is nothing in the second film to match the "ogres are like onions" speech in the original. Remember that scene? And remember how it gets incorporated into later scenes? The humor in that film builds. And it's poignant in addition to being funny.

There's one other major problem with the second film: it goes way overboard with its pop culture references. The imagery and dialogue overflow with allusions to famous movies, everything ranging from "Lord of the Rings" to "Flashdance." Worst of all, there's no twist that would make these references funny. It's just a game being played with the audience, one that only hardcore movie buffs will appreciate anyway.

The original used anachronisms to comic effect, but it never made us forget that it took place in a fairy tale land. In fact, it was precisely that contrast that made the movie funny. The second film, on the other hand, makes so many modern references, from televisions to the Oscar ceremony, that it quickly forgets that it's supposed to be a satire of fairy tales. Beyond that, the "meet the parents" subplot is tired and no match for what the original gave us. I must say, however, that John Cleese and Antonio Banderas were great in it.

I found the third film an improvement. The premise, about a revolt by the fairy tale villains, was a clever return to what made the original special. The pop culture references were kept down to a sane level, allowing the fairy tale elements the attention they deserved. I could have used a bit less of the Justin-Timberlake-as-ornery-teen subplot, but I laughed hard several times during the film, especially in the nightmare sequence with the babies. As for homophobia, the best performance was clearly from Rupert Everett as the villain.

Still, both of these sequels lack the nobility or satire of the original. Name me a single line in either of them to match Lord Farquaad's "Some of you may die, but that is a sacrifice I'm willing to make."
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Re: Shrek The Third Is INCREDIBLE!!!Jimmy04:32:31 08/08/07 Wed

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