Shrek 2 3D Blu-ray Review
MOVIE REVIEW
Shrek 2 is a 2004 Dreamworks animated film and sequel to the cultural juggernaut known as Shrek. After Shrek and Fiona get married at the end of the first film, Shrek 2 follows up on them quickly after their honeymoon when they're summoned to the kingdom of Far Far Away, ruled by Fiona's father King Harold and mother Queen Lillian, for Shrek to receive King Harold's blessing and attend a ball in celebration of the marriage. All seems good and well until Shrek and Fiona get there and both Harold and Lillian, but especially Harold, become shocked that their daughter has married, (gulp), an ogre. But however shaken up they are, Fiona's fairy godmother is especially upset seeing how Shrek has thrown a wrench into her plan for Fiona to marry Prince Charming. To ensure that nothing will go out of line, the fairy godmother teams up with a, somewhat reluctant, Harold to make sure that will be the case. Meanwhile, this sudden change in tone and feel has caused strong disputes between Shrek and Fiona. But will their love for one another be able to overcome each other's problems and the fairy godmother's plan to get rid of Shrek and place Fiona into marriage with another man?
Much has been said about Shrek 2 over the years (in fact, 2024 marks its 20th anniversary). And chances are, you've probably already seen it and know why it's received so much praise. However, if you're one of the two people out there who somehow managed to avoid seeing it, then let me tell you: everything you heard about it is true. Shrek 2 lives up to predecessor in many different ways and even arguably surpasses it. Do I personally feel the same way? I'll let you know my thoughts on that in a minute. But for now, let's focus on the things about it that are objectively great.
I could probably go for days praising Shrek 2 and all the things it gets right. But maybe the biggest object of praise would be in just the way that it expands the world of Shrek and takes the story of everyone's favorite ogre in a direction that bigger, badder, more engaging than before and yet still very natural to the first film. Tone wise, it's very much consistent with the first movie: it's funny, heartfelt, and has great, well-rounded characters. But here, it cranks all of those elements up to 11. Whereas the humor in the first Shrek felt more situational and based on the memorable one liners characters would give each other, Shrek 2 has great one liners, and it throws in the added bonus of having near sight constant gags that poke fun of both fairy tales and pop culture. It throws so much at the wall and all of it somehow sticks. World building? It's ingenious. Once again, it feels very much natural to that of the original film while also still staying true to its comedic nature. And unlike most sequels, it actually builds up momentum rather than banking off of it. A mash up of an animated fairy tale with an (at the time) modern comedy like Meet the Parents seems a little bit random at first. But as a continuation of the romance between Shrek and Fiona, it not only seems fitting, but also like the true progression of the story.
And the creators really take every advantage from this mash up and even more than that. Not only do they create a plethora of jokes that are all clever and perfectly timed and executed, but they also explore the themes that come from it. Disapproving fathers, pressures from the world between two people who are genuinely in love, arranged marriages, and because they live in a fairy tale world, how magic could play an interesting role in all of that. And the thing is, not all the people opposed to Shrek and Fiona's marriage are flat and one-dimensional. Everyone in the film has clear, yet at times subtly conveyed, motivations, making them feel like real characters. Sometimes, the conflict doesn't even come from the outside world, but rather just from Shrek and Fiona themselves. Like all good marriages, their relationship doesn't come without its messes. But through those trials and tribulations often come an intriguing and complex test of Shrek and Fiona's characters, showing just how much they really do care for one another and are willing to sacrifice for the other. The way the film examines them in a variety of difficult, and sometimes magical, situations honestly causes the chemistry between Shrek and Fiona to exceed that of most couples from other movies, even those made for grown-ups. And it for sure makes this so-called "kids" movie feel more mature and resonant with its adult viewers than it has any right to.
Still, if you're going to explore themes this bold and comedy this potent, you'll need to have some very disciplined writers to handle it all with enough grace and pizzazz to make it reach the levels of the first film. Fortunately, Shrek 2 was made with all the love and care it deserves. Not only does it manage to carry with it so many jokes that work in such a small amount of time that it'd make The Naked Gun blush, but it manages to do so in script that's actually very tight to the point where a lot like The Godfather, every scene exists to advance the plot and nothing seems to drag. Of course, you'll need to move things at a fast pace when you're creating a 90 minute children's film. But what surprises me the most is how much it's able to accomplish within those 90 minutes without it ever feeling rushed or unnecessary. Even in the midst of the comedically riotous nature of the film, it still manages to slow down enough for the emotional moments to sink in when they need to. And not only do those emotional moments work, but they actually hit harder than the highs from the first film because of how much character development is at play. When all is said and done, Shrek 2 not only carries with it ingredients that build upon the first movie in unbelievably creative and functional ways, but it's also given just the right amount of time in the oven to make it a delicious gingerbread cookie.
That all being said, with your permission, I'd like to dip into a bit of personal territory and explain a couple slight nitpicks I have with the film that prevent it from reaching absolute perfection for me. Wait, I don't have your permission? Well, too bad. I'm talking about them anyway. Anyways, if you take Shrek 2 on its own terms as a movie, it soars. And as a sequel, it also soars. However, the first Shrek, I think, had a couple of things about it that I think make it a full 5/5 well-rounded movie in a way I don't really see here in the second. And the main one would probably have to be with how, despite being 90 minutes, it could still find time to move a little slowly. I think that worked for the first Shrek because it allowed for us to spend more time with the characters just being themselves and working off of one another in a more natural way. So by the time we got to the end of the film, the emotional moments do hit genuinely hard. Once again, nothing in Shrek 2 is done wrong by any means. And I know I just praised the movie for being as lean as it is yet still managing to be emotional when it needed to be. But I think for me, the film moves at such a breakneck pace that if you watch the two films back to back, you'll find that the emotional moments from the first film sink in a bit more than the ones from the second. Maybe had Shrek 2 actually had a couple of extra 3-4 minute scenes to pad out of the runtime a little more, then I'd get a similar amount of emotional investment out of it that'd be a little more consistent to that from the first film. Then again, that's probably just me.
Ok, my personal minor gripes aside, Shrek 2 is still an absolute blast of a film. Like the best animated films out there, it manages to be funny, witty, clever, tightly written, emotional, investing, character-driven, and just sheer fun. And this film really does it like no other. While the first Shrek might've been a bit more groundbreaking in how it first jumped into the pool of subverting Disney-fied fairytales, Shrek 2 dives headfirst into the deep end and swims to depths you wouldn't think possible, resulting in such imaginative, innovative details that will take multiple viewings to point out. And better yet, it does so while still managing to feel like a natural story. It never forgets that while Shrek might exist to serve as an alternative to the clear-cut clean family-friendly safeness of Disney films, it's also a fairytale story in its own right. And so even in its mocking of fairy-tale tropes, and even plenty of pop culture while it's at it (to this day, I'm still calling it Farbucks), it also utilizes them in a brand new way to create characters that are multi-layered, highly likable, and heavily investible. The result is not just a top-notch animated film or parody film, but also just a great film in general. Once again, I can delve into all the little creative details that make Shrek 2 such a masterpiece, but I'd just be you putting you off from getting to the 3D review for way longer, and honestly, tons of people have already done so. If you haven't seen it, just take my, and everyone else's, word for it: Shrek 2 is the part of your existence you have been missing. And if you have seen it, watch it again. Whether it's the fifth time or the 25th time, Shrek 2 is a pure delight.
OVERALL FILM RATING: 5/5
3D REVIEW
So back in April, Shrek 2 actually returned to theaters again for its 20th anniversary. It was a great time for me and Shrek enthusiasts everywhere. But if I'm being honest, I was a little disappointed they didn't offer any sort of 3D options. I mean, sure, interest in 3D is at an all-time low nowadays, and it's not like many people know a 3D version of this film exists somewhere. But there is a 3D version, and it's actually pretty dang solid. In fact, I'd actually argue it deserves a theatrical re-release over the 3D conversions of The Lion King and The Nightmare Before Christmas (not that I didn't enjoy them by any means). Plus, I feel that if studios would want to make the most from their re-releases, maybe they ought to start adding something new to them, like 3D. This would've been the perfect time to do that to Shrek 2. But alas, they didn't. Still, I am glad they re-released it at all, and you can bet I saw it with several of my best friends.
3D-wise, though, Shrek 2, just like the film, is better than it has any right to be, and that's saying a lot considering how this movie wasn't filmed with 3D in mind. Like Shrek before it and subsequently Shrek the Third, it was converted to by Legend3D in 2010 for the brand new 3D Blu-ray market. Unlike Shrek, however, this is one lacks an interesting story of how it was actually considered for IMAX 3D at one point. But also unlike Shrek, the 3D conversion it did get, even if it was done more for cash grab purposes than anything else, is an absolute delight. I mentioned in my review of the 3D of the first Shrek that I did enjoy it overall, but it did have a few small areas that I think prevented it from being "great," including its jarring lack of pop outs and how the in-screen depth was never really utilized in any sort of way that demanded 3D (though, the latter issue wasn't really the fault of the conversion). Shrek 2 however, corrects these issues and creates something that stands toe to toe with 3D releases created in the modern day.
The depth in-screen here remains just as deep as was allowed in the first Shrek, which was very deep. But whereas the first film was only ever allowed to let its depth shine in a few select scenes, Shrek 2 is full of huge locations and extravagant places that are not only lush to look into, but also allow you to look very far into them. Prime example: the kingdom of Far Far Away, with its enormous castle, cityscapes, streets, and Hollywood-style sign. When we first get to the kingdom and the film gives us establishing shots to show us this is no small kingdom, we feel it in 3D. Even later, the places we visit such as simple forest paths, insides of barns, dining rooms, crowd shots, and potion factories still feel wide and spacious. Occasionally, the film will even make good usage of the huge environment to give us some memorable 3D shots such as when Shrek is looking at the castle from far off in the distance from a barn in the pouring rain, when Shrek is yelling to his wife from a window, or when Gingie sits on a windowsill and the camera perspective makes him the same size as the castle far behind him.
This already sets Shrek 2 a couple notches above the original 3D-wise. But there's fortunately, besides just the bigger environment, there's also a lot more for the 3D to work with overall. Early on, the film gives us a brief scene of Prince Charming traversing blistering winds and scorching deserts to reach Princess Fiona, including mountain views and a shot of Charming riding in the desert that transitions from day to night. Right when it cuts to the Shrek and Fiona's honeymoon, we're treated to several good 3D highlights including a shot of fireflies making up the title of the film, Shrek and Fiona running through a field of sunflowers, and a mud bath surrounded by jars with fairies trapped in them. In the midst of the kingdom of Far Far Away, we get some neat crowd shots, some thrown confetti, a group of flying doves (including one who doesn't meet a happy ending), pink fairy dust, bubbles, sparkles, reflection shots in mirrors and windows, and fancifully designs windows. Elsewhere, some interesting uses of 3D include Puss in Boot's eyes glowing in a dark room, beams of light, and pouring rain. The climax of the film, which on its own is such a banger, is greatly enchanced by the 3D with an enormous Gingerbread man trying to break into the castle while being attacked by fireballs and pouring milk all the while the fairy godmother at the ball gets a choir together and sings "Holding Out for a Hero." The size and scope of the scene makes 3D a more than welcome addition to it.
There's also more pop outs to be had here than with Shrek 1. I wouldn't say there's nothing here that will make you flinch per se (besides an arrow pretty early on). But whereas with the previous film where almost everything besides maybe a knife and some dragon fire actively stayed within the screen, Shrek 2 isn't afraid to let some stuff out into your living room such as characters' heads (especially in one shot that feels almost a little bred for 3D), magic dust, sparkles, those aforementioned fireflies, raindrops, pitchforks, milk, potion, birds, Puss in Boot, his sword, and one a blink-and-you'll-miss-it moment, the fairy godmother's wand. Nothing here draws that much attention to itself. But the things that do protrude the screen do succeed in bringing the movie closer to you.
In all the 3D greatness, probably the only scene that doesn't really benefit from the 3D is the K.N.I.G.H.T.S. segment which plays on the magic mirror (or the fairy tale equivalent a TV) which unsurprisingly, is in perfect 2D.
I've watched Shrek 2 countless times as a kid and continue to watch it as an adult. But watching it in 3D, it's like I was watching it for the very first. The third dimension really does bring the world of Shrek to life like you've never seen before. Not only does it enhance the sense of scale in the land of Far Far Away, but it also draws attention to all the small details within the frame that make the film as a whole feel more immersive and mesmerizing. The people behind Legend3D really went out of their way on this conversion to make it an experience. Is 3D necessary for Shrek 2? Maybe not in the same way it is for Monsters Inc. and Finding Nemo. But for a film not filmed with 3D in mind to have this much 3D eye candy is an impressive feat that just for that fact makes the film worth watching. Whether or not you like Shrek 2 or you like good 3D, this is one visual presentation I highly recommend.
3D RATING: GREAT
OTHER SOURCES THAT REVIEW THIS MOVIE'S 3D
High-Def Digest's Review: https://bluray.highdefdigest.com/4081/shrek2_3d.html
Real Future Picture's Review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P89aNehXy6Q
FINAL THOUGHTS
What really can be said about Shrek 2? This is one of those few films I could put on any day of the week and find absolute delight in. It's funny, charming, emotional, and a natural progression of the first film in all the ways you could want from a Shrek sequel. There's probably not much of a point of continuing on in my praise for it. You know why it's a great movie and I recommend checking it out if you haven't in a long time. Now, what about the 3D version? Well, if you have the equipment to play it, I highly recommend it. I wouldn't call it a must-own in the same way Hugo or Gravity is. But the extra dimension it adds onto this old classic does not disappoint. In fact, it actually makes the film all the more visually engaging and stylized with the way it makes its environment all that much bigger. For those of you who might be a little cautious after seeing the results from the first Shrek, which once again weren't bad but could've been quite a bit better, I am here to encourage you: Shrek 2 has better 3D than its predecessor and is well worth picking up. Once again, I highly recommend picking up the 3D Blu-ray quartilogy combo pack if you can as it comes with all 4 of the films. But even if you just want to buy it individually, it's a more than worthy addition to your 3D Blu-ray collection.
BUY IT HERE
OR BUY THE COMBO PACK WITH ALL 4 FILMS
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