Shrek (film series)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jump to: navigation, search
Shrek film series

2007 poster of characters from the Shrek universe
Directed by Andrew Adamson (1-2)
Chris Miller (3)
Mike Mitchell (4)
Written by William Steig (book)
Starring Mike Myers
Eddie Murphy
Cameron Diaz
Antonio Banderas
Julie Andrews
(More)
Music by Harry Gregson-Williams
John Powell
Editing by Michael Andrews
Sim Evan-Jones
Distributed by DreamWorks Animation
Release date(s) May 18, 2001 (2001-05-18) (Shrek)
02003-06-12 June 12, 2003 (Shrek 4-D)
02004-05-19 May 19, 2004 (Shrek 2)
02007-05-18 May 18, 2007
(Shrek The Third)
02007-11-28 November 28, 2007
(Shrek the Halls)
02010-05-21 May 21, 2010
(Shrek Forever After)
Running time 270 minutes
Country United States
Language English
Budget $370,000,000(as of 2008)
Gross revenue $2,161,714,655 (as of 2008)

The Shrek film series from DreamWorks Animation, based on William Steig's picture book, Shrek!, consists of a number of films including: Shrek (2001), Shrek 2 (2004), and Shrek the Third (2007). The final film Shrek Forever After is currently in post-production, aiming for release in 2010.[1] A short 3D movie, Shrek 4-D which originally was a theme park ride, was released in 2003. A spin-off project, the Christmas television special Shrek the Halls, premiered on ABC in the USA and worldwide in 2007 to successful ratings. Spin-off film Puss in Boots: The Story of an Ogre Killer, expected to be released in 2011. Originally, there were going to be five Shrek films but that idea has been scrapped and Shrek Forever After is now the final installment.

Contents

[edit] Released Films

[edit] Shrek

Shrek (Mike Myers), a solitary ogre, finds a surprise when fairy tale creatures are sent to live in his swamp by the evil Lord Farquaad (John Lithgow). Shrek befriends a talking Donkey (Eddie Murphy), and the two set off to meet with Lord Farquaad. Lord Farquaad needs Princess Fiona (Cameron Diaz) to marry him so that he will become king. So when Shrek and Donkey visit him, they are forced to rescue her from an enormous fire-breathing dragon. The Dragon turns out to be a girl and she falls in love with Donkey. However Donkey escapes and Dragon chases them.

Once Shrek and Donkey rescue Fiona they take her back to Lord Farquaad. However, along the way, Shrek falls in love with Fiona. Fiona reveals she is cursed and turns into an ogress at night. The only way the curse can be broken is by true love's first kiss. Fiona and Farquaad have a marriage ceremony; however they are interrupted by Shrek who tells Fiona he loves her. Shrek and Fiona kiss and Fiona turns into an ogress permanently. Shrek gets his swamp back, and the two marry there. After a karaoke party the two set off on their honeymoon, starting the second movie.

[edit] Shrek 2

The second film opens with Prince Charming (Rupert Everett) on a quest to rescue Princess Fiona from the Dragon. When he gets there he finds the wolf (Aron Warner) from Little Red Riding Hood and the Three Little Pigs in Fiona’s bed. He asks where Fiona is and the wolf tells him she is on her honeymoon with Shrek (Mike Myers). Once Shrek and Fiona (Cameron Diaz) return from their honeymoon, they find Donkey (Eddie Murphy) in the swamp who tells them he and Dragon are going through a rough patch. They then get invited to the land of Far Far Away by Fiona’s parents (John Cleese and Julie Andrews) who want to bless their marriage. When they arrive Shrek and Fiona aren’t what they expected. The evil Prince Charming and his mother, the Fairy Godmother (Jennifer Saunders), are trying to break up Shrek’s marriage by making Fiona fall in love with Prince Charming. However it doesn’t work and Shrek and Fiona stay together. Shrek and Donkey get a new sidekick called Puss in Boots (Antonio Banderas). They have a lengthy quest to search the Fairy Godmother's cottage to get a love potion. At the end of the movie, King Harold turns into a frog.

[edit] Shrek the Third

Shrek (Mike Myers) and Fiona (Cameron Diaz) are reluctantly reigning over Far, Far Away during King Harold's (John Cleese) prolonged illness. The King promises that if they can find Fiona's cousin Artie (Justin Timberlake), he will make him the next in line, so Shrek doesn't have to run the country after his death. Fiona's secret pregnancy complicates matters.

[edit] Upcoming films

[edit] Shrek Forever After

Shrek Forever After is currently in post-production, aiming for release on May 21, 2010.[2][3] Tim Sullivan will write the film, and Mike Mitchell is in talks to direct.[4] The principal cast members will all reprise their roles.[5]

The plot was announced February 23, 2009: Shrek (Mike Myers) has become a domesticated family man, living happily with Princess Fiona and the triplets. Instead of scaring villagers away like he used to, a reluctant Shrek now agrees to autograph pitch forks. Longing for the days when he felt like a "real ogre," Shrek is tricked into signing a pact with the smooth-talking dealmaker, Rumpelstiltskin. Shrek suddenly finds himself in a twisted, alternate version of Far Far Away, where ogres are hunted, Rumplestiltskin is king and Shrek and Fiona (Cameron Diaz) have never met. Now, it's up to Shrek to undo all of Rumpelstiltskin's mischief in the hopes of saving his friends, restoring his world and reclaiming his one True Love and family.[6]

This will be the final film in the Shrek series.[7]

[edit] Puss in Boots: Story of an Ogre Killer

An in-development prequel imagines events before the character's appearance in the events of Shrek 2, while introducing new characters. Antonio Banderas returns, and Salma Hayek will lend her voice to love interest Kitty. Shrek the Third helmer Chris Miller is onboard to direct the film. It is scheduled to be released on November 4, 2011.[8]

[edit] Spin-Offs

[edit] Shrek 4-D

[edit] Shrek the Halls

[edit] Release

Title Release date Box office Runtime Director Screenwriters
Shrek May 18, 2001 $484,409,218 91 min. Andrew Adamson Ted Elliott, Terry Rossio, Joe Stillman, Roger S. H. Schulman
Shrek 2 May 19, 2004 $919,838,758 92 min. Andrew Adamson, Joe Stillman, J. David Stem, David N. Weiss
Shrek the Third May 18, 2007 $798,958,162 93 min. Chris Miller Jeffrey Price, Peter S. Seaman, Chris Miller, Aron Warner
Shrek Forever After May 21, 2010 TBA Mike Mitchell
Puss in Boots TBA TBA Chris Miller
Shrek series $2,203,206,138 276 min.

[edit] Critical reception

Film Rotten Tomatoes Metacritic
Overall Cream of the Crop Community
Shrek 89% (169 reviews)[9] 92% (12 reviews)[10] 92% (1872 reviews)[11] 84% (34 reviews)[12]
Shrek 2 89% (204 reviews)[13] 100% (11 reviews)[14] 86% (1976 reviews)[15] 75% (40 reviews)[16]
Shrek the Third 41% (198 reviews)[17] 33% (12 reviews)[18] 50% (1184 reviews)[19] 58% (35 reviews)[20]

[edit] Cast and characters

  • Italics indicate a transition to a minor role, such as an extended flashback, after the initial appearance.
  • A dark gray cell indicates the character was not voiced in the film.
Character Shrek films
Shrek (2001) Shrek 2 (2004) Shrek the Third (2007) Shrek Forever After (2010)
Shrek Mike Myers
Donkey Eddie Murphy
Fiona Cameron Diaz
Puss in Boots   Antonio Banderas
Queen Lillian   Julie Andrews
King Harold   John Cleese  
Prince Charming Mentioned only Rupert Everett  
Artie   Justin Timberlake
Lord Farquaad   John Lithgow     John Lithgow
Thelonius   Christopher Knights  
Fairy Godmother     Jennifer Saunders  
Pinocchio Cody Cameron
Gingy Conrad Vernon
The Big Bad Wolf Aron Warner
Sleeping Beauty     Cheri Oteri
Snow White     Amy Poehler
Rapunzel     Maya Rudolph
Cinderella     Amy Sedaris
Rumpelstiltskin   Conrad Vernon Walt Dohrn
Merlin     Eric Idle
Sir Lancelot   John Krasinski
Ogre Triplets   Cody Cameron
Captain Hook   Tom Waits Ian McShane
Mabel   Regis Philbin
Doris   Larry King
Magic Mirror Chris Miller  
The Three Little Pigs Cody Cameron
Three Blind Mice Christopher Knights
Monsieur Hood Vincent Cassell  
Mongo   Conrad Vernon   Conrad Vernon

[edit] Broadway

A musical entitled Shrek the Musical, based on the first film, recently had a pre-Broadway tryout in Seattle at the 5th Avenue Theatre and started previews on Broadway at The Broadway Theatre on November 8, 2008, with an official Broadway opening on December 14, 2008.[21] The musical had a tryout in Seattle, Washington in August and September 2008. The musical received eight Tony Award nominations including Best Musical[22] as well as twelve Drama Desk Awards nominations,[23] ten Outer Critics Circle Award nominations,[24] and three Drama League Award nominations.[25]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Des Partridge (June 7, 2007). "More Shrek set to roll". Courier Mail. http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,21859313-5003420,00.html. Retrieved September 24, 2008. 
  2. ^ Ben Fritz (October 31, 2007). "Dreamworks Animation Announces Fall 2010 Title, New "Shrek 4"". Comingsoon.net. http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=38922. Retrieved October 31, 2007. 
  3. ^ "2010: The Year 'Shrek 4' Made Contact Working title is 'The Next Shrek'". Zap2it.com. August 2, 2007. http://www.zap2it.com/movies/news/zap-2010shrek4release,0,223193.story. Retrieved August 2, 2007. 
  4. ^ "Mike Mitchell to Direct Shrek 4". ComingSoon.net. May 7, 2007. http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=20254. Retrieved January 13, 2009. 
  5. ^ Mike Sampson (August 2, 2007). "Shrek 4 set for 2010". JoBlo.com. http://www.joblo.com/shrek-4-set-for-2010. Retrieved August 3, 2007. 
  6. ^ "Is This How 'Shrek Goes Fourth'?". http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=53135. Retrieved February 24, 2007. 
  7. ^ "First look: 'Shrek Forever After': Fourth, final film is first in 3-D". USA Today. November 25, 2009. http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2009-11-24-shrek-forever-after_N.htm. Retrieved November 25, 2009. 
  8. ^ Puss in Boots @ Comingsoon.net
  9. ^ "Shrek". Rotten Tomatoes. http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/shrek. Retrieved October 25, 2008. 
  10. ^ "Shrek". Rotten Tomatoes. http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/shrek/?critic=creamcrop. Retrieved October 25, 2008. 
  11. ^ "Shrek". Rotten Tomatoes. http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/shrek/reviews_users.php. Retrieved October 25, 2008. 
  12. ^ "Shrek: Reviews". http://www.metacritic.com/video/titles/shrek. Retrieved October 25, 2008. 
  13. ^ "Shrek 2". Rotten Tomatoes. http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/shrek_2. Retrieved October 25, 2008. 
  14. ^ "Shrek 2". Rotten Tomatoes. http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/shrek_2/?critic=creamcrop. Retrieved October 25, 2008. 
  15. ^ "Shrek 2". Rotten Tomatoes. http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/shrek_2/reviews_users.php. Retrieved October 25, 2008. 
  16. ^ "Shrek 2: Reviews". Metacritic. http://www.metacritic.com/video/titles/shrek2. Retrieved October 25, 2008. 
  17. ^ "Shrek the Third". Rotten Tomatoes. http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/shrek_the_third. Retrieved October 25, 2008. 
  18. ^ "Shrek the Third". Rotten Tomatoes. http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/shrek_the_third/?critic=creamcrop. Retrieved October 25, 2008. 
  19. ^ "Shrek the Third". Rotten Tomatoes. http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/shrek_the_third/reviews_users.php. Retrieved October 25, 2008. 
  20. ^ "Shrek the Third: Reviews". Metacritic. http://www.metacritic.com/film/titles/shrekthethird. Retrieved October 15, 2008. 
  21. ^ "Shrek the Musical". http://www.broadway.com/gen/show.aspx?SI=559922. 
  22. ^ Gans, Andrew and Jones, Kenneth."Nominations for 2009 Tony Awards Announced; Billy Elliot Earns 15 Nominations",playbill.com, May 5, 2009
  23. ^ Broadway.com Staff.Headlines: 9 to 5, Shrek Lead 2009 Drama Desk Nominations April 27, 2009
  24. ^ Gans, Andrew."Billy Elliot and Shrek Top Outer Critics Circle Awards Nominations",playbill.com, April 20, 2009]
  25. ^ Gans, Andrew."75th Annual Drama League Award Nominees Announced",playbill.com, April 21, 2009]

[edit] External links

Languages