Shrek the Final Chapter 3D Thoughts

[emeraldstag]

Shrek the Final Chapter

I usually take the opportunity when movies that come out that is full of widespread appeal to take my parents out every now and then to the movie theatres since they would never go by themselves. Surprisingly it is harder than you would think to arrange and as a result I sometimes don't get to see films as quickly as I'd like. Shrek 4 falls into this category but this morning I finally made it into a Real D 3D theatre to see 'The Final Chapter' of Shrek and luckily I was fortunate to miss USA's unspectacular World Cup Match.

This is the third 3D movie I've seen this year (How to Train Your Dragon & Alice in Wonderland) and the second in a digital projection Real D 3D (Wonderland). Once again I experienced the movie without any headaches unlike the IMAX (HtTYD) and I can't figure out if it's the different glasses used or the smaller size of the screen that is making it possible for me to enjoy watching these 3D experiences without headaches. I'm still not wowed by the 3D experience, but I did notice it a bit more in this film than the previous two.

I think it would be safe to call me a partial Shrek fan. Over the years I've become more of a fan than I used to be. The original film is fantastic, I enjoy the latter part of Shrek 2 with the 'Holding out for a Hero' scene as the topping on the cake. The third film is where I think there was a misstep in the fun. For the most part it was a fun story with Shrek's adventure with King Arthur but I really thought the end was unsatisfying and underwhelming and overall they could have done much more in my eyes.

Immediately from the trailers I could tell that they were recapturing the adventure feel from the beginning of this series and making an emotional impact with what was a very generic, tried and true theme of not knowing what you had until it was gone. Several times in the movie I was tearing up, after Shrek's failed true love kiss, and especially after the battle when Shrek's day was up. Even though I knew it was of course a happy ending coming up I could not help but get caught up in what would have happened if Shrek just disappeared.

The supporting characters were fabulous. Rumpelstiltskin and his many wigs, his army of witches, Donkey with his endless singing and his wooing scene with his dragon wife, Puss in his plump glory (Antonio Banderas is spectacular and I can't wait for the Puss in Boots prequel due out sometime next year I think). Seeing warrior Fiona was fun but I do have to admit that I miss the tough human girl side of her. The other ogres were interesting and the crowd in the theatre especially liked the Chimichanga cook.

I'm definitely looking forward to owning this last Shrek movie and watching it multiple times. Totally justified my picking Shrek the Final Chapter at #2 for my Summer movie game. Let's hope America agrees with me. It's nice to see the series end on a high note after basically a decade of existence.