Hey guys! Sorry that I haven't been posting! Been a busy few months for me. But, I have some quick reviews to keep you up to date on the movies that I've seen.
The Karate Kid
This was a surprise for me. I got the opportunity to see this with my much younger siblings and two of my very good friends. I didn't expect it to be that great. But I can honestly say that this was the biggest surprise of the summer for me. Will Smith taught Jayden well. He's a great kid with a lot of promise. Jackie Chan was good as ever, playing a new sort of character. He was very stern and not as fun and playful, which is good to see some variation out of him. Overall I enjoyed the movie a lot and was very impressed with the parallels between it and the original film starring Ralph Macchio.
Score: 8/10
Knight and Day
A very fun summer-blockbuster style film. I made the mistake of trying to compare this with Killers walking into the theatre. Trust me, they are two separate entities! I will tell you that Killers wins in the comedy area, but Knight and Day takes the cake for action. Though it was very funny, there just weren't as many moments. If you're looking for a fun, sexy spy film that doesn't involve James Bond with explosions, car chases, and shoot-outs galore, Knight and Day is for you!
Score: 8.4/10
Inception
There's not too much I can say about this film besides...WOW! Christopher Nolan is, to me, the Alfred Hitchcock of our generation. With films like Memento and The Prestige, he's proved his genius in both writing and directing. I couldn't see how he could do any better. And, as always, he impresses me further! I'm one to love complex films that make me think. Inception blew my mind. Nolan worked on this film for 10 years. Cameron worked on Avatar for 15. Inception blew it out of the water. The special effects and acting were fantastic. And not only were the elements of the story so well constructed, they were all part of a beautiful piece of work! Applause to you Christopher Nolan.
Score: 9.8/10
Scott Pilgrim vs. The World
This was my second favorite movie of the year so far, hands down. Michael Cera is definitely not one of my favorite actors, but it's hard not to love the guy. He's funny and I love video games, so that compelled me to see the film. I walked in expecting video game references and awkward humor, but I got soooo much more. The entire movie was very cleverly written and filmed, with Scott even having a pee bar emptying as he was emptying himself. There were so many great omages and references to things beyond my time and that's what makes it so enjoyable. Anyone could love the movie! It's definitely a cult hit and one of my favorites!
Score: 9/10
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Thursday, July 8, 2010
M. Night Shymalan Returns with Cult Hit 'Airbender'
The Last Airbender - 7.9/10
"See-it-again" Value - 3
My brothers and I have always been close. Close enough to make fun of each other and rough each other up a bit when we get annoyed with each other. But I'll never forget that there was one binding force that kind of united us when we were kids; Nickelodeon's Avatar: The Last Airbender. It was a TV show that ran from 2005 to 2008 with 60 episodes. It took place in a world where people were born into respective powers of elements. There were four tribes and depending on which tribe you belonged to determined what powers you would get if you were to have powers at all. There were the Firebenders, Waterbenders, Earthbenders, and Airbenders. The story followed two teens, a brother and sister, named Sokka and Katara, who live in a Waterbender village. Katara is a Waterbender and one of the few to come out of her village. When her and her brother go out to go hunting, they find a strange boy trapped in ice. He breaks out and turns out to be the avatar, the only bender in the world that can master all four elements and unite all of the tribes. He takes them on a spectacular journey with him to learn all of the elements and put to rest the war that the Firebenders have set upon the other three tribes.
This is the exact plot of the film. The show was made with 3 seasons. Aang, the young boy who is the Avatar, is an Airbender. This means he must master the other three elements. Each season focused on one element. The first season, water. The second, earth. The third, fire. From the looks of it, if the first film does well, M. Night Shymalan plans to make two more movies, seeing as the first focused on the first season of the show.
The movie was great for me as a fan of the show. I have very few complaints and even then, they're small.
The first was that the movie was too short. This kind of feeds to my other complaints. The first season was the longest considering there was so much to explain so there wasn't enough time in the movie for the action that was provided throughout the show. To a person who has never seen the television series, the movie may seem a bit slow and not exciting enough.
This leads to the only other complaint that I have. In the series, Aang and Sokka were constantly providing comic relief. Aang was the playful little boy and Sokka was the girl crazy teenage boy who didn't always think things through. This was absent in the film. I remember laughing maybe two or three times. I am a huge fan of the comic relief that M. Night Shymalan provides in his films. I laughed all throughout Signs and The Village as well as The Sixth Sense had some great moments, too. But whether it was intentional or he just forgot to add it, it was a bit disappointing.
This doesn't mean that I didn't enjoy the film though. I actually went to the midnight premiere and really enjoyed the movie. In fact, its been one of my favorites of the summer. Whether thats just because its the movie adaption of a show that I watched as a kid or because it actually is a great movie to those who have never watched the show, I don't think it matters.
One of the things that really impressed me about the movie was that there were at least two or three scenes that came directly from the show. With the choreography of the fighting to the script, it seemed almost perfect. When I recognized these scenes I was overwhelmed with excitement and I applaud Shymalan for doing this.
Overall, the movie was great. It stayed very true to the show from the script to entire scenes in the movie. Though some of it was jumbled up and out of place, it was well layed out and I was very happy that the film didn't stray too far from its roots. Though it took away from some action, the fact that Shymalan took the time to explain so much was a plus seeing as these things may become important in latter installments in the series.
I truly hope that people who have not seen the show enjoy the movie. I believe that if this film succeeds, the other installments will be much better and will provide more action and hopefully more comic relief. But for now, cheers for M. Night Shymalan!
"See-it-again" Value - 3
My brothers and I have always been close. Close enough to make fun of each other and rough each other up a bit when we get annoyed with each other. But I'll never forget that there was one binding force that kind of united us when we were kids; Nickelodeon's Avatar: The Last Airbender. It was a TV show that ran from 2005 to 2008 with 60 episodes. It took place in a world where people were born into respective powers of elements. There were four tribes and depending on which tribe you belonged to determined what powers you would get if you were to have powers at all. There were the Firebenders, Waterbenders, Earthbenders, and Airbenders. The story followed two teens, a brother and sister, named Sokka and Katara, who live in a Waterbender village. Katara is a Waterbender and one of the few to come out of her village. When her and her brother go out to go hunting, they find a strange boy trapped in ice. He breaks out and turns out to be the avatar, the only bender in the world that can master all four elements and unite all of the tribes. He takes them on a spectacular journey with him to learn all of the elements and put to rest the war that the Firebenders have set upon the other three tribes.
This is the exact plot of the film. The show was made with 3 seasons. Aang, the young boy who is the Avatar, is an Airbender. This means he must master the other three elements. Each season focused on one element. The first season, water. The second, earth. The third, fire. From the looks of it, if the first film does well, M. Night Shymalan plans to make two more movies, seeing as the first focused on the first season of the show.
The movie was great for me as a fan of the show. I have very few complaints and even then, they're small.
The first was that the movie was too short. This kind of feeds to my other complaints. The first season was the longest considering there was so much to explain so there wasn't enough time in the movie for the action that was provided throughout the show. To a person who has never seen the television series, the movie may seem a bit slow and not exciting enough.
This leads to the only other complaint that I have. In the series, Aang and Sokka were constantly providing comic relief. Aang was the playful little boy and Sokka was the girl crazy teenage boy who didn't always think things through. This was absent in the film. I remember laughing maybe two or three times. I am a huge fan of the comic relief that M. Night Shymalan provides in his films. I laughed all throughout Signs and The Village as well as The Sixth Sense had some great moments, too. But whether it was intentional or he just forgot to add it, it was a bit disappointing.
This doesn't mean that I didn't enjoy the film though. I actually went to the midnight premiere and really enjoyed the movie. In fact, its been one of my favorites of the summer. Whether thats just because its the movie adaption of a show that I watched as a kid or because it actually is a great movie to those who have never watched the show, I don't think it matters.
One of the things that really impressed me about the movie was that there were at least two or three scenes that came directly from the show. With the choreography of the fighting to the script, it seemed almost perfect. When I recognized these scenes I was overwhelmed with excitement and I applaud Shymalan for doing this.
Overall, the movie was great. It stayed very true to the show from the script to entire scenes in the movie. Though some of it was jumbled up and out of place, it was well layed out and I was very happy that the film didn't stray too far from its roots. Though it took away from some action, the fact that Shymalan took the time to explain so much was a plus seeing as these things may become important in latter installments in the series.
I truly hope that people who have not seen the show enjoy the movie. I believe that if this film succeeds, the other installments will be much better and will provide more action and hopefully more comic relief. But for now, cheers for M. Night Shymalan!
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
And the 'Toy Story' Continues With No Disappointment
Toy Story 3 - 9.0/10
"See-it-again" Value - 4
I was born in '93. Disney/Pixar's first film together, as well as the first full length CGI movie in history, Toy Story, hit theatres in '95. Needless to say, as a young kid I fell in love with the film. So 4 years past and the sequel, aptly named Toy Story 2, releases. Again, riots among toddlers break out...just kidding. But no doubt it was a hit among all ages. Now, I'm a teenager and in two years I'm going to be graduating high school and the legacy of Toy Story continues.
The third installment of the most groundbreaking fully-CGI series in history involves all your favorite toys plus more. Woody, Buzz, Bullseye, Jessie, Bullseye, Hamm, Rex, the Potato Heads and more are concerned that Andy will never play with them again, considering he is now off to college. So after a series of misunderstandings and accidents, the toys end up at Sunnyside Daycare. It seems like paradise. They will get played with everyday for eternity, a beautiful place to live, and they will always be together. That is until the reluctant Woody leaves, seeing as he was supposed to be going to college with Andy. Woody escapes and the rest of the gang soon finds out that daycare isn't as nice as they'd hoped.
Having grown up with these films, my largest concern was that the movie would be disappointing. With the first two films being outstanding, was there anything left for a third installment? Well, it turns out that there was.
The movie was up there with the previous two movies. The story was not at all lacking. The characters were just as fun and loveable as before. The family comedy was great. It was just a fantastic family film altogether and I never wanted it to end. I wanted to bask in what I believe will be the final installment of the series.
Tom Hanks and Tim Allen return to voice possibly two of the most recognized characters in any movie ever made. Tom Hanks reprising his vocals as Woody the Cowboy and Tim Allen as Buzz Lightyear the Space Ranger. Though not on camera at any point in the movie, it's strange how the connection between not just these characters but all of the characters is so strong. They create such strong chemistry with excellent voice acting.
But I think there's a fact that was proven with this movie that needs to be addressed. Toy Story 3 truly proves the beauty of the Disney/Pixar relationship. Having made 11 films together, all have been a hit. I have loved every minute of every film, and most would say they've enjoyed them just as much or more. Disney/Pixar is the perfect duo and is truly the king of the hill for CGI films and I doubt they'll be dethroned anytime soon.
There's a lot of twists in the movie also. Not plot twists per say, but twists with the characters. For instance, in an escape attempt from Sunnyside, Mr. Potato Head must ditch his potato body and substitute it for a tortilla. He ends up looking more like a Picasso painting than a Potato Head toy. Buzz has to be reset as some point and thanks to the commonly clumsy dinosaur, Rex, he is set into Spanish-mode, providing some great laughs in the movie.
I found myself a bit teary-eyed by the time the credits began to roll. Yes, I was sad that Shrek was officially over, but I think I've always had more of a connection with Toy Story. I think it was just strange to see a saga that I have grown up and had such a strong connection with. But I'm sure that Disney/Pixar is feeling the same way. They broke ground and planted the seed for CGI movies with the first Toy Story over ten years ago. And suddenly its over.
But even then, this movie went beyond expectations. It went to infinity and beyond!
"See-it-again" Value - 4
I was born in '93. Disney/Pixar's first film together, as well as the first full length CGI movie in history, Toy Story, hit theatres in '95. Needless to say, as a young kid I fell in love with the film. So 4 years past and the sequel, aptly named Toy Story 2, releases. Again, riots among toddlers break out...just kidding. But no doubt it was a hit among all ages. Now, I'm a teenager and in two years I'm going to be graduating high school and the legacy of Toy Story continues.
The third installment of the most groundbreaking fully-CGI series in history involves all your favorite toys plus more. Woody, Buzz, Bullseye, Jessie, Bullseye, Hamm, Rex, the Potato Heads and more are concerned that Andy will never play with them again, considering he is now off to college. So after a series of misunderstandings and accidents, the toys end up at Sunnyside Daycare. It seems like paradise. They will get played with everyday for eternity, a beautiful place to live, and they will always be together. That is until the reluctant Woody leaves, seeing as he was supposed to be going to college with Andy. Woody escapes and the rest of the gang soon finds out that daycare isn't as nice as they'd hoped.
Having grown up with these films, my largest concern was that the movie would be disappointing. With the first two films being outstanding, was there anything left for a third installment? Well, it turns out that there was.
The movie was up there with the previous two movies. The story was not at all lacking. The characters were just as fun and loveable as before. The family comedy was great. It was just a fantastic family film altogether and I never wanted it to end. I wanted to bask in what I believe will be the final installment of the series.
Tom Hanks and Tim Allen return to voice possibly two of the most recognized characters in any movie ever made. Tom Hanks reprising his vocals as Woody the Cowboy and Tim Allen as Buzz Lightyear the Space Ranger. Though not on camera at any point in the movie, it's strange how the connection between not just these characters but all of the characters is so strong. They create such strong chemistry with excellent voice acting.
But I think there's a fact that was proven with this movie that needs to be addressed. Toy Story 3 truly proves the beauty of the Disney/Pixar relationship. Having made 11 films together, all have been a hit. I have loved every minute of every film, and most would say they've enjoyed them just as much or more. Disney/Pixar is the perfect duo and is truly the king of the hill for CGI films and I doubt they'll be dethroned anytime soon.
There's a lot of twists in the movie also. Not plot twists per say, but twists with the characters. For instance, in an escape attempt from Sunnyside, Mr. Potato Head must ditch his potato body and substitute it for a tortilla. He ends up looking more like a Picasso painting than a Potato Head toy. Buzz has to be reset as some point and thanks to the commonly clumsy dinosaur, Rex, he is set into Spanish-mode, providing some great laughs in the movie.
I found myself a bit teary-eyed by the time the credits began to roll. Yes, I was sad that Shrek was officially over, but I think I've always had more of a connection with Toy Story. I think it was just strange to see a saga that I have grown up and had such a strong connection with. But I'm sure that Disney/Pixar is feeling the same way. They broke ground and planted the seed for CGI movies with the first Toy Story over ten years ago. And suddenly its over.
But even then, this movie went beyond expectations. It went to infinity and beyond!
Thursday, June 10, 2010
'Rebirth' to Give New Life to a Broken Franchise?
So here's our first piece of movie news in history on Filmosopher!
A 7-minute 49-second trailer for a new Mortal Kombat film, entitled Mortal Kombat: Rebirth, was leaked on YouTube Tuesday. It's dark, it's demented, it's everything that a Mortal Kombat film should be! But I must admit I am skeptical. After being Rick Rolled too many times and having my hopes up for a Legend of Zelda movie that turned out to be a prank by IGN, it's hard to trust this kind of stuff.
The trailer features several of the favorites including Baraka, Jacks, Sonya Blade, Johnny Cage, and, my personal favorite, Scorpion. The casting looks fantastic and so does the make-up and fight scenes. If the trailer is real, then we are in for a treat!
I want so bad for this to be real!
P.S. I apologize that a portion of the video on the right side is cut off. If you want to the view the whole video, go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_MqZn7E-mk.
A 7-minute 49-second trailer for a new Mortal Kombat film, entitled Mortal Kombat: Rebirth, was leaked on YouTube Tuesday. It's dark, it's demented, it's everything that a Mortal Kombat film should be! But I must admit I am skeptical. After being Rick Rolled too many times and having my hopes up for a Legend of Zelda movie that turned out to be a prank by IGN, it's hard to trust this kind of stuff.
The trailer features several of the favorites including Baraka, Jacks, Sonya Blade, Johnny Cage, and, my personal favorite, Scorpion. The casting looks fantastic and so does the make-up and fight scenes. If the trailer is real, then we are in for a treat!
I want so bad for this to be real!
P.S. I apologize that a portion of the video on the right side is cut off. If you want to the view the whole video, go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_MqZn7E-mk.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
America's Sweethearts Kutcher and Heigl: Killing Audiences One Laugh at a Time
Killers - 7.8/10
"See-it-again" Value - 3
Ashton Kutcher has long been one of my favorite entertainers. From Dude, Where's My Car? to his days on That 70's Show, I've found his ability to play the classic stoner bonehead hilarious. But as an actor, the last thing you want is to be stereotyped into a role. Kutcher seemed to have risen from the dead with his excellent hosting jobs on SNL. Now, his vital signs seem a bit clearer with his performance in the comedy Killers.
Killers is a story of a young woman named Jen (Heigl), afraid to live life on the edge. She is coming off of a split with her boyfriend and is on vacation with her parents in Nice, France. She meets a handsome, cut young man named Spencer (Kutcher) in an elevator. What she doesn't know is that he is a spy and government assassin. Despite this, they instantly click and soon find themselves married.
Three years married, the couple is happy. Spencer has quit his assassin contracts with the government. He is offered yet another job, but refuses it. He wants to live a normal life with Jen, free from danger. He soon finds that he has a $20 million bounty is on his head and his wife, Jen, gets dragged into the predicament. Hired assassins are after the both of them and they must find who is after them and why.
I went to view this movie as a last resort. I had nothing to do so we decided to go see a movie. With not very many age appropriate movies out, Killers seemed the best choice. I was skeptical to say the least. I love Katherine Heigl and Ashton Kutcher but I expected any combination of the following: terrible story, lacking action sequences, too much/little drama, or trying to be too much of either a romance, comedy, or action flick.
I found none of these expected attributes of the film to be true.
Kutcher and Heigl had amazing chemistry, creating this very real entity of their relationship to radiate towards the audience. With each loving kiss, touch, and/or look they gave each other, I felt in love with their love for each other. It was such a unique viewing experience for me, but one that was most pleasant.
The comedy did not disappoint. Katherine Heigl has proven to be great in such comedies as Knocked Up and The Ugly Truth. The insecurity of her character was well displayed through her mannerisms while wielding a gun or even when being shot at. Kutcher threw in a comedy that I have never seen from him. Generally, he's a frat boy, stoner, idiot kind of character. But here, the true attractive man that he is showed. He played a ladies man. The classic sort of spy (a.k.a. An American James Bond). His part was played well and it shows a little bit more range for the young actor.
Last but certainly not least, the action was that of a full-fledged action flick. Car chases, fight scenes, and shootouts were all throughout the movie, but each had a purpose. This is something that many action movies lack. Sometimes it feels as if the characters are fighting because they can. They are fighting because they know some sort of martial arts or fighting style that keeps them cut like a Greek god or goddess. But Killers truly came into its own with such scenes.
Robert Luketic, director of Killers, is slowly rising on my list of favorite directors. He's not being recognized as he should, but, in my book, he's doing well. He's directed films such as Legally Blonde, 21 (a film that I thought was great), and The Ugly Truth.
Killers is well worth a view. It's a great comedy, romance, or action flick, essentially saying it's a movie for any mood. The comedy is hilarious, the action is intense, the romance is real and beautiful. So far, this snags the title of the best "Sleeper" film I've seen all year.
"See-it-again" Value - 3
Ashton Kutcher has long been one of my favorite entertainers. From Dude, Where's My Car? to his days on That 70's Show, I've found his ability to play the classic stoner bonehead hilarious. But as an actor, the last thing you want is to be stereotyped into a role. Kutcher seemed to have risen from the dead with his excellent hosting jobs on SNL. Now, his vital signs seem a bit clearer with his performance in the comedy Killers.
Killers is a story of a young woman named Jen (Heigl), afraid to live life on the edge. She is coming off of a split with her boyfriend and is on vacation with her parents in Nice, France. She meets a handsome, cut young man named Spencer (Kutcher) in an elevator. What she doesn't know is that he is a spy and government assassin. Despite this, they instantly click and soon find themselves married.
Three years married, the couple is happy. Spencer has quit his assassin contracts with the government. He is offered yet another job, but refuses it. He wants to live a normal life with Jen, free from danger. He soon finds that he has a $20 million bounty is on his head and his wife, Jen, gets dragged into the predicament. Hired assassins are after the both of them and they must find who is after them and why.
I went to view this movie as a last resort. I had nothing to do so we decided to go see a movie. With not very many age appropriate movies out, Killers seemed the best choice. I was skeptical to say the least. I love Katherine Heigl and Ashton Kutcher but I expected any combination of the following: terrible story, lacking action sequences, too much/little drama, or trying to be too much of either a romance, comedy, or action flick.
I found none of these expected attributes of the film to be true.
Kutcher and Heigl had amazing chemistry, creating this very real entity of their relationship to radiate towards the audience. With each loving kiss, touch, and/or look they gave each other, I felt in love with their love for each other. It was such a unique viewing experience for me, but one that was most pleasant.
The comedy did not disappoint. Katherine Heigl has proven to be great in such comedies as Knocked Up and The Ugly Truth. The insecurity of her character was well displayed through her mannerisms while wielding a gun or even when being shot at. Kutcher threw in a comedy that I have never seen from him. Generally, he's a frat boy, stoner, idiot kind of character. But here, the true attractive man that he is showed. He played a ladies man. The classic sort of spy (a.k.a. An American James Bond). His part was played well and it shows a little bit more range for the young actor.
Last but certainly not least, the action was that of a full-fledged action flick. Car chases, fight scenes, and shootouts were all throughout the movie, but each had a purpose. This is something that many action movies lack. Sometimes it feels as if the characters are fighting because they can. They are fighting because they know some sort of martial arts or fighting style that keeps them cut like a Greek god or goddess. But Killers truly came into its own with such scenes.
Robert Luketic, director of Killers, is slowly rising on my list of favorite directors. He's not being recognized as he should, but, in my book, he's doing well. He's directed films such as Legally Blonde, 21 (a film that I thought was great), and The Ugly Truth.
Killers is well worth a view. It's a great comedy, romance, or action flick, essentially saying it's a movie for any mood. The comedy is hilarious, the action is intense, the romance is real and beautiful. So far, this snags the title of the best "Sleeper" film I've seen all year.
It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Shrek
Shrek Forever After - 8.2/10
"See-it-again" Value - 3
I'll never forget that the first movie that I ever saw multiple times while still in theaters was the first Shrek. Dreamworks has hit home with this franchise and has been able to expand and build upon this loveable green guy's story to give us three movies that people young and old have come to enjoy. That's why when the credits began to roll after the fourth installment of the series, I felt my stomach sink. I know that sounds cheesy but I've grown up with Shrek, Donkey, Fiona, and the gang.
Shrek Forever After takes place close to where Shrek the Third left off. Shrek is enjoying life as a father with the ogre of his dreams, Fiona, by his side. But, he soon finds everyday to be a monotonous routine and grows tired and irritated. People no longer fear him as an ogre, but rather as a tourist attraction...literally.
Shrek finds himself making a deal with the mischievious Rumpelstiltskin. He signs a magical contract that says if Shrek gives up a day, he can have a day to feel like an ogre again. He can pillage, destroy, scare, eat, and fart all he wants. Once the contract is signed, everything goes downhill. Shrek finds himself in a very different world where, essentially, all of the major plot happenings from the last three movies never occurred. Shrek soon finds that he was cheated and lied to. Rumpelstiltskin had found some loopholes and now its up to Shrek to fix everything and get his life back before its too late.
Let me start by saying that I still enjoy the first movie the most out of all them. Shrek 2 has always run a close second. But Shrek Forever After has joined the ranks of the second film, tying it for my second favorite of the four movies.
As we all know, the Shrek films have never been strictly about child audiences. Dreamworks' ability to intertwine clever and hidden adult humor into a world of innocence and "Happily-ever-afters" has never failed; this includes Shrek Forever After.
But what I found that was the most impressive about the film was that it taught a very important lesson, something that I believe films are lacking now days. I mean, sure, not every movie has to have a moral, but more of the children's movies should. We need to instill this sense of morality and right vs. wrong early; what better way to do so than to teach while the kids are enjoying themselves.
Shrek Forever After impressed me on every level. It had the great innocent jokes, as well as the ones that only an adult would catch. It had the return of all the characters we love. It was classic Shrek. Seeing as how the third film, Shrek the Third, seemed to have lost its touch a bit, the fourth movie comes and goes with a roar to end the quadrilogy.
"See-it-again" Value - 3
I'll never forget that the first movie that I ever saw multiple times while still in theaters was the first Shrek. Dreamworks has hit home with this franchise and has been able to expand and build upon this loveable green guy's story to give us three movies that people young and old have come to enjoy. That's why when the credits began to roll after the fourth installment of the series, I felt my stomach sink. I know that sounds cheesy but I've grown up with Shrek, Donkey, Fiona, and the gang.
Shrek Forever After takes place close to where Shrek the Third left off. Shrek is enjoying life as a father with the ogre of his dreams, Fiona, by his side. But, he soon finds everyday to be a monotonous routine and grows tired and irritated. People no longer fear him as an ogre, but rather as a tourist attraction...literally.
Shrek finds himself making a deal with the mischievious Rumpelstiltskin. He signs a magical contract that says if Shrek gives up a day, he can have a day to feel like an ogre again. He can pillage, destroy, scare, eat, and fart all he wants. Once the contract is signed, everything goes downhill. Shrek finds himself in a very different world where, essentially, all of the major plot happenings from the last three movies never occurred. Shrek soon finds that he was cheated and lied to. Rumpelstiltskin had found some loopholes and now its up to Shrek to fix everything and get his life back before its too late.
Let me start by saying that I still enjoy the first movie the most out of all them. Shrek 2 has always run a close second. But Shrek Forever After has joined the ranks of the second film, tying it for my second favorite of the four movies.
As we all know, the Shrek films have never been strictly about child audiences. Dreamworks' ability to intertwine clever and hidden adult humor into a world of innocence and "Happily-ever-afters" has never failed; this includes Shrek Forever After.
But what I found that was the most impressive about the film was that it taught a very important lesson, something that I believe films are lacking now days. I mean, sure, not every movie has to have a moral, but more of the children's movies should. We need to instill this sense of morality and right vs. wrong early; what better way to do so than to teach while the kids are enjoying themselves.
Shrek Forever After impressed me on every level. It had the great innocent jokes, as well as the ones that only an adult would catch. It had the return of all the characters we love. It was classic Shrek. Seeing as how the third film, Shrek the Third, seemed to have lost its touch a bit, the fourth movie comes and goes with a roar to end the quadrilogy.
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