Shrek Forever After TwoDisc BlurayDVD Combo

Posted In: Despicable Me

Derrick Lapin says...

I have always enjoyed watching the Shrek movies with my family.The fourth movie was no exception.The problem is that the Shrek universe it getting rather stale.The same type of jokes just don't work as well the fourth time around.The Final Chapter finds Shrek unhappy with his friends and family and wishing to go back to being a scary ogre for just one day which can be supplied by an evil Rupelstiltskin.But if you are aware of the myth of Rupelstiltskin you know that every contract has a price.Shrek gives up one day of his life to get his one day of freedom.That one day though causes the entire world to change and Shrek is stuck in an alternate universe in which he never existed.The alternate characters are fun at first, especially the chubby Puss in Boots, but they all revert quickly to the characters you know so it doesn't work all that well.The best part of the movie is the introduction of the Rupelstiltskin character who is a fun bad guy.The movie's plot however is very similar to the Christmas Special in which Shrek doesn't appreciate what he has until it is gone.I like the series, but the story is best to end now.

Posted on March 31, 2011

Hisako Tufnell says...

Welp, it would seem that Shrek is back for his fourth and final adventure... (at least most of us hope so)...

After suffering through the third movie, Dreamworks must have realized their mistake, and said:

"Hey, let's make a fourth Shrek movie to apologize for making the third movie..." And yes, this apology, "Shrek Forever After/The Final Chapter" was very much accepted.

Like the third one, this movie hit it big with the kiddies, but also had more for the adults, delivering it through the movie's message. It was also the first Shrek tear-jerker.

Over all, this was a good way to end the Shrek franchise.

I'd recommend buying this movie when it comes out because it's pretty enjoyable.

Posted on April 1, 2011

Stepanie Colgrove says...

Among one of my family favorites, I would have to say that the latest installment of Shrek, the Final Chapter was the most enjoyable.Great for all age ranges, this enchanting story applies the theory of be careful what you wish for, and enjoy what life has given you , in the fullest.



Our tale, as it begins, is Shrek and Fiona savoring the glory of their wedded bliss.Their trio of tykes are adorable, following in their father's footsteps and inciting numerous giggles among the younger audience.Shrek, though, is unhappy. He begins to suffer from that quintessential male dilemma that he has lost himself in his wedded life, the frightening ogre now reduced to nothing more than a daddy and an overall lovable monster.



Even in this cartoon world, there is always someone who harbors ill will to our green hero.Rumplestilken makes an interesting foe, intent on granting one's hearts desirefor a simple little payment that is hidden in the fine print of his contracts.Shrek, downhearted as he is about his lost past, falls prey to the miniature devil in disguise.What happens next, in Shrek's newly obtained world, is a surprise for everyone. I will have to admit that Antonio Banderas, again, steals the scene as Puss In Boots!



I would highly recommend this latest installment of Shrek to everyone that enjoys a good family movie.

Posted on April 1, 2011

Jamila Texeira says...

Dreamworks continues its popular, yet waning Shrek franchise with a fourth installment. I've always been a big fan of the original Shrek. It was something different, quirky, unexpected and just downright witty. The plot was simple yet complex enough to keep me interested while poking fun at traditional fairy tales. It was an innovative and fun concept. Sadly, the franchise continued past the first film into a second and third. Each of these entries were okay, but never captured the greatness of the first Shrek film. With the fourth entry into the series, it becomes even more apparent that the franchise is getting tired. Shrek's running out of steam and just doesn't have it anymore. It's time for our dear ogre friend to retire.



Shrek Forever After semi-follows the traditional "what if I was never born" plot. When Shrek finds that he misses his days as an ogre, he makes a deal with the notorious Rumpelstiltskin to trade a day in his life for a day to be an ogre again. Rumpelstiltskin, of course, tricks Shrek and takes the day Shrek was born, thereby creating an alternate universe where he rules Far Far Away, ogres are outlaws, and Fiona was never rescued from the tower by Shrek. Shrek soon discovers his mistake and must figure out how to get things back to normal.



On one hand it was really fun to see the beloved Shrek characters in the alternate universe -Fiona is the leader of the ogre resistance against Rumpelstiltskin, Donkey works any job he can get, and Puss has become an overweight lap cat. On the other hand, the concept felt tired and much of the plot seemed like a retread of previous ideas, themes and events. Mostly, it seemed redundant to have Shrek win Fiona's love again and really showed that our poor ogre really doesn't have much plot left in him.



In general the movie is entertaining, funny and enjoyable -great for families, but the 3-D aspect doesn't really add much. I'd suggest saving the extra money and just going for this movie in traditional 2-D. It was still fun to get another glimpse into the lives of these fun characters and into the wacky world of Far Far Away, but I think it's time to hang up your torches and pitchforks and call it a day.

Posted on April 1, 2011

Lloyd Katos says...

I'm a big fan of the "Shrek" movies. I just love these characters---Shrek, Fiona, Donkey, Puss, and all the rest. I guess I have a strong place in my heart for any character in a film, play, book, TV series, whatever, who's an underdog, who fights against the odds, and wins. And an underdog Shrek most certainly is. I really like the big green guy and the equally-marvelous family of characters that have surrounded him throughout four films. After all, the Shrek films are, if you think about it, the story of a family. And their story has been, for ME at least, a very funny, delightful one all the way through. And the CGI animation throughout the Shrek series is simply amazing to look at. Pixar are the undisputed Kings Of CGI, but Dreamworks are easily nipping at their heals in second place.



In "Shrek Forever After", Shrek seemingly has it all---a wonderful new life with his wonderful wife Fiona, three kids, and tons of close friends. But in exchange for this seemingly happy, enriching home life, he is no longer the scary ogre he once was, and boy, does he miss that. Enter the scheming little twerp Rumplestiltskin, who offers Shrek the chance to be a scary ogre again for a whole day. Shrek signs the contract and gets to spend a fun-filled day scaring people all over town just like he used to do in his glory days. But, as Shrek soon finds out, you must NEVER make a deal with Rumplestiltskin, for Shrek discovers that, in exchange for being a much-feared ogre once again, his newfound family life has been taken away from him---literally---and no one, not even his beloved Fiona, knows him anymore. Shrek then goes on a mission to destroy his contract with Rumplestiltskin, and get his life with Fiona & company back....



As you can probably tell, "Shrek Forever After" is definitely an animated re-working of the classic movie "It's A Wonderful Life", but I didn't mind that one bit. The movie is very funny, beautifully animated, and a lot of fun. And once again, the voice talent of Mike Meyers, Cameron Diaz, Eddie Murphy, Antonio Banderas, etc., is top-notch. I know the critics were not too kind to "Shrek Forever After", OR to the previous movie, "Shrek The Third", but to heck with the critics. Look, either you like these characters or you don't. Either you like hanging out with Shrek and the gang for 90 minutes, or you don't. And I LOVE hanging out with Shrek & company---always have! I, for one, am grateful that Dreamworks have given us four excellent movies with these delightful characters, and I do believe that, with "Shrek Forever After", they have brought this endearing fairy tale full circle, and have wrapped it up in a nice big bow. I DO think, however, that it's a good idea to end the story at this point, as I don't think Shrek's tale can be stretched out any further. Buy hey, ALL fairy tales must have a beginning, a middle, and, yes, an end. And "Shrek Forever After" is a wonderful ending to the tale of the loveable big green ogre & his friends. Thank you, Shrek! I will always treasure your four movies, and, hopefully one day, I can share them with my own kids. You can't go wrong with the big green guy. :-)

Posted on April 2, 2011

Sibyl Schoolman says...

SHREK FOREVER AFTER feels like a really good episode of a much loved TV show.For me, the first SHREK movie was something really new, a pop-culture referring, smart-alecky spin on fairy tales, with delightfully new characters and an animation style we hadn't seen before.It was genuinely touching at times, but mostly hilarious and eye-popping.SHREK 2 turned up the hilarity quotient and introduced Puss, one of the finest supporting characters in animation since Sebastian the Crab grace THE LITTLE MERMAID.With SHREK 3, the series had settled into comfortable familiarity.I smiled more than I laughed...it was clever, but had no thrill of being NEW anymore.And in this latest film, it felt extremely familiar...like a TV series.



First , it's important to note that an enjoyment of SHREK FOREVER AFTER (hereafter called SHREK 4) pretty much requires having seen the other 3 movies.There is essentially no exposition.We see Shrek and his family a few days before the First Birthday party for his three children.While Shrek is enjoying a life of domestic bliss, he's also feeling a little trapped.He can't even enjoy a good dip in some hot mud without having to first work on the plumbing in the outhouse.His kids wake him up too early every morning.His friend Donkey is constantly dropping by with HIS kids and consuming Shrek's evenings.And when the day of the party arrives, Shrek realizes that he misses being a bachelor and a feared Ogre.Now little kids ASK him to do his Ogre-roar and sign autographs...instead of running in fear.I guess Shrek is having a mid-life crisis.



But this being a magical kingdom, when Shrek idly wishes he could have "just one day" back during his wilder days...the nasty, spiteful little Rumplestiltskin grants him his wish in a fairly one-side bargain.Shrek is instantly transported to his past, but finds that things have changed.Rumple now rules the kingdom, and is served by witches.The ogres are a hunted species and humans are destitute and living in fear.And none of Shrek's old friends recognize him.His beloved Fiona is now a resistance leader among the ogres, and she has little interest in Shrek.But it turns out, he must win her love again within a day, or this retelling of the past will become permanent, and Shrek will puff out of existence.



This is all well and good, and certainly the movie has sufficient laughs.The pop culture references HAVE been toned down some, which is probably good.They were leaning towards becoming too much of a good thing in SHREK 3, when a lengthy sequence was devoted to making fun of HARRY POTTER...the in-jokes were becoming the point rather than a side note.The changes in Donkey and particularly Puss in Boots are fun.The animation is as good as ever...but there's nothing new either.It's just a visit with some old, familiar friends having some serious trouble.



The voice-over work (Mike Myers, Cameron Diaz, Eddie Murphy, Antonio Banderas, etc. etc.) is perfectly fine.The soundtrack is perfectly in keeping with what we've had from these films before.(I will say, however, that I suspect this film may be less appealing to the little ones than the others.My youngest is 17, so I don't have a certainty about this...I just think that this film is more plot-driven than those in the past, and the time-travel stuff might confuse the littlest viewers.)



And the movie is in 3D, but never has 3D seemed more pointless.We're just becoming SO accustomed to the 3D experience now, and there were NO moments of "oooooh" popping out of the screen at the audience.Frankly, I mostly forgot the film WAS in 3D until it was time to take the glasses off and drop them in the recycle bin on the way out.



If you've seen the first film, do you remember how joyful the final scene was, when all the characters gathered and sang and partied to a variety of pop/rock hits?I remember wanting the scene to just keep going on, because I had experienced such a joyful and NEW movie, and didn't want it to end.SHREK 4 has a similar scene (as did all the other films), and when this one started, I was pretty much ready to head for the exits.There isn't anything actively wrong with the film...but there's nothing staggeringly RIGHT about it either.

Posted on April 3, 2011

Michael Masey says...

"Shrek Forever After" (if that is its real title) achieves exactly what it wanted to achieve simply by being a fun animated comedy with characters we've come to love. Still, for something so heavily promoted as being the final chapter, I'm surprised at how small and ordinary it seemed. Movies like this should end with a bang, emotionally and physically; they should not go from beginning to end on a slow and steady burn. By the end, most will feel as if they've been entertained. I felt that way. At the same time, some may feel that, in all likelihood, this movie didn't have to be made. I felt that way, too. Perhaps it's no longer a good sign that we can be so easily amused by unnecessary films. Are they no stories left to stimulate our imaginations and broaden our horizons at the same time?



In this film, Shrek (voiced by Mike Myers) finds that he's dissatisfied with his new life as a domestic ogre. As a husband and father, he has absolutely no free time. Villagers no longer fear him. He can't take a mud bath without being invaded by swamp tourists. Knowing he's desperate for a change, the disgruntled Rumpelstiltskin (voiced by Walt Dohrn) offers Shrek a chance live one day as his old ogre self. The catch, as I understand it, is that one day out of his past will be erased from time - give a day to get a day, according to Rumpelstiltskin. Shrek agrees and signs a contract, although he fails to specify precisely which day he'll let Rumpelstiltskin have. Bad move; he's transported to an alternate Far Far Away that's ruled by Rumpelstiltskin and has fallen into ruin.



There are other changes. At Rumpelstiltskin's bidding, ogres are hunted by wicked witches and forced into slavery. Shrek's best friend, Donkey (voiced by Eddie Murphy), now a lowly cart puller, has never met Shrek and is afraid of him. Puss in Boots (voiced by Antonio Banderas) is now an obese housecat and owned by Fiona (voiced by Cameron Diaz), no longer Shrek's beloved wife and mother to his children but rather the iron-clad leader of an underground ogre resistance. Like Donkey, she has no idea who Shrek is. Stranger still, she's back under the curse that factored into the first film. In this new Far Far Away, it's as if Shrek had never been born. If he's to set everything right, he must turn to that most reliable of fairy-tale clich

Posted on April 4, 2011

Efrain Zullo says...

I have to say i love the Shrek movies especially the 2nd one but its enough now with the full lenght movies, although i do very much enjoy the shrek the halls and the holloween shorts they do. That would be enough for me.

Posted on April 6, 2011

Ligia Heinrichs says...

Shrek Forever After is the fourth and supposedly final entry in the series of films chronicling the comical adventures of a green ogre by the name of Shrek.The first film released in 2001 was an instant hit.In 2004 it was followed by Shrek 2 which was also a delightfully entertaining animated-comedy. Then in 2007 the series took a misstep with Shrek the Third which was forgettable to say the least.Now we have Shrek Forever After which, though not as bad as Shrek the Third, still doesn't measure up to the first two entries in the series.



There isn't much of a plot to Shrek Forever After.It follows the basic `It's a Wonderful Life' formula of trying to show how the world would be if Shrek was never born.To me this doesn't seem like a good idea for a Shrek film because it doesn't expand the story what-so-ever because you know by the end of the film things will go back to normal without any change except for Shrek having a better understanding of who he is.They could have still provided that message without such a generic plot.In fact, given the scenario they chose I felt incredibly disappointed that we didn't get to see other characters from the series.What about Lord Farquaad or the Fairy Godmother?How does Shrek never existing affect this?We'll never know because the script is so narrow-minded that it does little to expand on the concept of Shrek never being born.



Speaking of villains, Rumpelstiltskin (voice of Walt Dohrn) doesn't really measure up compared to the antagonists of the first two films.Okay, he's a step up from Prince Charming in Shrek the Third, but that doesn't take much.



On the bright side the film still keeps the primary voice-actors.Mike Myers and Eddie Murphy both get in some good lines as is expected from the two SNL veterans.Most of the other members of the cast aren't used enough to leave an impression so I have nothing much to say on them.



So: is Shrek Forever After a wreck?Well, to be honest it was a lot better than I thought it was going to be coming into the theater, but it still is a letdown.Some lines got a chuckle out of me, but for the most part Shrek Forever After pandered to younger members of the audience and robbed jokes from the previous entries in the franchise.



Is it a good note for the Shrek franchise to end on?No.If this were a perfect world Shrek would have ended on Shrek 2.Is this movie good for children?I'd imagine so.There's nothing in here that's bad for kids, and it does have its clever moments, just not at the same level of quality as the first two films.



7/10 stars.Worth seeing if you have children but don't expect the same quality as Shrek and Shrek 2.

Posted on April 6, 2011

Timika Hankins says...

In the fourth and last installment of the Shrek franchise, Shrek (Mike Myers) finds himself becoming tired of his "domesticated" life when the routines of married life and fatherhood meet with the constant bombardment of fame and somewhat annoying friends. After storming out of his son's first birthday party Shrek runs into Rumplestiltskin (Walt Dohrn), who learns of Shrek's desires to be the ogre he once was and offers him a magical contract that would allow him to be an true ogre for a day, in exchange for one thing. In that exchange, though, Shrek gets much more than he bargained for.



When the first Shrek came out it was a brilliant anti-fairy tale fairy tale. Openly lampooning Disney movies and theme parks, Shrek was a fresh take on the animated fairy tale where the main characters didn't live happily ever after as picture perfect prince and princess, but as ogres, typically the scourge of any fairy tale. Since then two other Shrek movies have come out, and rather than embracing the counter culture of the first film, the franchise bought into it's own hype and into pop culture and lost the spirit of the original. While not bad films, they were unnecessary and even sapped some of the brilliance of the original. Now with the finale of Shrek in theaters, how does it stand up?



More-so than it's predecessors Shrek Forever After tries to come back home to more of the feeling of the first film. Even the plot of the film of Shrek's desire to go back to being a lone ogre on the outskirts of society seems to echo what the filmmakers were desiring to accomplish in picking a premise that allowed them to nearly replicate some of the situations of the first movie. That's one of the strengths of the film is that you get to re-meet the characters in a new fashion and in slightly new characterizations than previous which amps up the fun of this film compared to the previous films.



Reaching into an alternate universe has allowed the writers, and the actors, to revision the characters adding to the freshness of this installment in the series. Fiona is now a warrior, leading an ogre rebellion against the king. Donkey, while still the over talkative, funny if slightly annoying sidekick he's a little more wary and a bit brighter than he was in Shrek's real world. Puss has let himself go, and won't even chase a mouse that's sharing his milk. The real surprise here is Walt Dohrn, a writer/storyboard artist who makes his vocal film debut as the voice of the film's baddie, Rumplestiltskin. Everyone does a great job with their vocal work, but Walt and his character steal the show.



But for all the good, you can't go home, and Shrek doesn't quite go home either. Compared to the first film this one feels a little tame, sterile. First off, the premise makes this almost seem like a remake of the first film, causing it to loose some of it's freshness. On top of that there's a moral that really stands out, which is something I don't recall being aware of while watching the first three Shrek films, even though it was there.



All in all, I would highly recommend this film. Easily it's the second best of the four Shrek films. Each of the three sequels were unnecessary, but this was definitely a higher note to go out on than the last two films. If they had to go through sequels, I'm not sure they could have asked for a better film to go out on. If you've watched the last couple of Shrek films and found yourself to be disappointed give this a try, it doesn't quite capture the magic of the first film but it gets closer than the other sequels.



3.5/5

Posted on April 9, 2011