Shrek is a great film! I had almost forgotten how much I enjoy this movie. It is possible that it is one of my films that I have not rewatched a zillion times. The sound track is perfectly synced to make the film even better. There is also the fact that it follows the tradition that Disney does by starting the story with a book and someone reading the fairy tale story to us as viewers. It is like Dreamworks is trying to rope all of us loyal Disney-ites in...they do it well with Shrek, I am roped in.
I enjoy the part in the beginning when Shrek is finally having a nice quiet meal at home. Sometimes after a long day on campus, I feel like Shrek. I get finished making some delicious tacos and I sit down in at my candlelit table on a Friday night after a long week of answering angry emails and conduct meetings, when BAM the phone rings and I have to get back to campus quick! Not unlike Shrek being interrupted by three blind mice and Snow White!
The animation in this film is great too, from close ups and face shots that are worked in to the sound effects, everything is great. Remember when Shrek is running from the dragon and he starts running in slow motion with what sounds like some Mission Impossible or James Bond music playing, it is priceless. Almost as great as Pixar animation, but my heart still lies with the Pixar people. The casting and script in Shrek is also just great- Eddie Murphy and Mike Myers are just perfect. When Shrek says "You are going the right way for a smacked bottom!" I almost spit out my Moscato. I do enjoy children's films that have lots of goodies in it for the adults that are watching too. It makes for cartoon entertainment that is worth owning and watching over and over again.
We all remember the story, an Ogre named Shrek wants his swamp back so he decides to go on a quest for the evil king Lord Farquaad to find the princess Fiona. But little did Shrek know that Fiona has a secret and that they are better suited than he first thought. True love does conquer all, again. I think I might be a little bit like Fiona. I know it seems like a stretch, but go with me. First, I get pretty cranky at night when I want to be sleeping and turn into a bit of an ogre. Second, some students take one look at me and say "Ahh! Help! Run!" just like they do to ogres in Shrek's world. Third, I sing pretty well and birds often join in the song. Finally, I can kick some serious ass when confronted in the woods by Robin Hood and his Merry Men all while looking great in green velvet. That is for sure! Fiona is a saavy traveler and as you can tell from my previous posts I am too!
When RAs start to watch this film as a program there are a couple different ideas that they can use from my brain vault. First is about love, of course. Relationships, healthy relationships in particular, are important to program about. Shrek and Fiona fall in love by just being themselves. The idea to not judge a book by its cover is perfectly on display here.
There is also the theme about body image and loving oneself. Shrek goes into the description of ogre's being onions and having multiple layers. After all, he is an ogre and always been told he is big, scary, and ugly. But he knows different. Even Fiona thinks her ogre self is an "ugly beast." She has an idea of how a princess is supposed to look and she does not fit the bill. But by the end of the movie everyone realizes that they are prefect just the way they are. You could even pair this film with a Mirrorless Monday where you cover the mirrors in the hall bathroom for a day to program about body image. Viola! Program done.
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