I headed into the theater and took my seat expecting to head home afterward with thoughts of how much Shrek Forever After sucked.  Since Shrek the Third seemed forced and mostly unforgettable to me, I had already felt that the Shrek franchise had lasted far longer than it was welcomed.  I was pleased to hear that this Shrek installment would be the last (next to another TV production), but was concerned how Dreamworks could keep the series creative and fresh.

Fortunately, Shrek Forever After maintains the formula that has kept Shrek so successful while providing a refreshing new plot that doesn’t just seem like an old sitcom fishing for new storylines.  Shrek Forever After did however have to create a new storyline that wasn’t just a continuation of the past film.  Ok, the filmmakers try to stake claim that they have always attempted to keep the Shrek series a continuation from film to film, and they do at the start of the film, but were resulted into doing a “what if…” storyline.  Surprisingly enough writers Josh Klausner and Darren Lemke were able to create a decent plot with a Back to the Future meets A Christmas Carol feel to it.

Confused a little?  Shrek, voiced by non-other than MIKE MYERS, has become a family man with three babies and a loving wife Fiona, CAMERON DIAZ, with a village full of friends that have all learned to love this jolly green ogre.  Now after doing the same old daily grind, Shrek has become fed-up with his new life as a town celebrity.  It’s almost like a mid-life crisis for Shrek where he reminisces the good times before he was a scary giant ogre that all the village people were afraid of ever before he save Princess Fiona.  After everything blows up at his children’s first birthday party, Shrek happens to run in to conniving, evil Rumpelstiltskin who has a devilish plan already conceived for the ogre.

Rumplestiltskin, WALT DOHRN (Head of Story for Shrek Forever After), grants Shrek a day where everyone would be scared of him once again so Shrek could act like he used to before he became so domesticated.  This comes at a price however.  In order to receive his wish, Rumplestiltskin needs a day of Shrek’s. “Give a day, get a day”.  Rumple smoothly talks his way into getting Shrek to give him a day when he was young and helpless so he could stop Shrek from ever rescuing Fiona and saving the kingdom of Far Far Away.  This would allow Rumplestiltskin to “save” the kingdom and taking it over, but at what costs?  Shrek is now stuck in an alternate universe where he has never met Fiona and the ogres are hunted by evil witches, whom all look like they are from the west.   His friends Donkey and Puss in Boots no longer recognize him.  Above all else, his family doesn’t exist.  Shrek must now figure a way to help save the ogres along with Fiona while trying to decipher how to reverse his curse before he disappears forever.

The overall concept of the film is actually kind of basic if you narrow it down, but it’s still done in an incredible creative way.  Rumplestiltskin is definitely their best villain yet.  He has so many layers to him that really create a one-of-a-kind character.  Don’t attempt to figure out who voices him though as Walt Dohrn is usually behind the scenes in story development for Dreamworks.  His character provides a unique twist on the Rumplestiltskin fairytale as the Shrek franchise is so popular with accomplishing.

I was worried however that with the initial Shrek film being nine years old that the graphics and general look of the film would be outdated.  Well, I was wrong.  Shrek Forever After is by far the most beautiful Shrek with great detail and depth that is on par with any new CGI film today.  I knew right from the first close-up of Rumplestiltskin that the technology has advanced rather than just using the same renderings they were using years ago.

A lot of the scenery and characters had to be changed for this film too.  We are now in a world where Rumple is in charge and everything isn’t as lively as it was before Shrek enters the alternate universe.  Instead of everything being green and lively, the scenery changed to more gold and yellows.  There’s also a new castle and underground scenes that bring a new take on the land of Far Far Away.  Each character was redesigned to establish a less domesticated feel making each character appear that life has gotten rougher.  Donkey, EDDIE MURPHEY, has longer hair that appears to be a little ratty now.  He appears to be wilder as he’s now a slave to the witches.  Puss in Boots is more adorable than ever as he has gained a couple, or several, pounds.  His new lifestyle with Fiona has made him a lazy fat cat that receives a brushing two times a day.  Puss’s days as a flexible fighting cat are in the past now.  Fiona even has a new barbaric Xena style to her with tattered hair and warrior garb.

This latest installment, and still hopefully the last, still provides excellent character development and interaction with each other.  Donkey is now just a side character more so than a sidekick/supporting role.  I don’t know how I felt about this, but Eddie Murphy’s lines are still hilarious.  The film is still filled with witty one-liners that are superior to Shrek the Third and on the same level as the first movie.  Its fine that Donkey and Puss in Boots are more side characters as this film is more just about Shrek and the lessons he must learn.  Besides, these characters don’t even know who Shrek is for the majority of the film.

It was nice to see a land with more ogres and how they would interact with one another as a community.  This was a new angle that hasn’t really been touched on in the previous films.  Another big noticeable change was a shift more toward a story than place.  I appreciated the telling of Shrek’s new battle with himself and how he must overcome rather than just providing a bunch of gags relating to classic fairytales.  Don’t worry, those classic gags and jokes are still there keeping this final film still feeling like the rest.

The 3-D aspect was exactly what I expected from a new 3-D film.  It works for the films advantage and creates another element that I personally enjoy.  Apparently Ebert disagrees with 3-D, but I have already made my feelings known on the SoCalThrills Blog (click here to read the blog).  Remember, most of these films factor in the 3-D as they create the scenes.  There are few fly-through scenes that could make some people sick if they are already weary to 3-D.  However, I think the filmmakers today a doing a good job not making the 3-D elements seem too gag-like that you would find in a theme park attraction.

I’m sure it helps that I expected this film to suck royally, but I did notice improvements in the story development, gags, and graphics.  Shrek Forever After was what I think the Shrek franchise has always been about, and that’s fun!  It’s a short one, but it’s paced well with continuous light-hearted jokes to supplement the dark serious scenes to make it a fun little moviegoing experience.  I don’t think that Shrek Forever After is doing anything revolutionary here.  It’s still Shrek after all.  I was tired of the series after two and was even more irritated when I heard about a fourth, but I seriously have no problem with this film after I saw it.  I’m not to say that everyone will enjoy it.  I a
m not going to recommend Shrek Forever After to most of the people I know, but that’s partly due to so many other films currently out that would better suit their tastes.

While some animated films have somewhat childish lessons to learn, Shrek Forever After deals with a theme that is more relatable to an adult standpoint.  Shrek isn’t a franchise for everyone though.  You really have to just want to let loose and relax.  If you are capable of that, perhaps this is a film for you.  If you are an adult with a screaming 2-year-old, please stay clear.  There’s nothing worse than getting commentary from a loud 2-year-old behind me that won’t stop making strange noises who can’t even comprehend what was happening on the screen!  Thank you.

Here comes Queen Latifah (Valentine’s Day, Bringing Down the House) charging down in a full court press of comedy, romance, heartache and hope. She dribbles left and then right see’s the opening and goes in for the dunk….pulls up and hits the easy jumper for two. No need to show off and slam dunk for the audience in her new romantic comedy that has as many ups, as it does downs that you would see in a real basketball game.  Assisting her along the way is her point guard Common (Wanted, American Gangsters), her forward Paula Patton (Precious, Mirrors), and coached by Sanaa Hamri (Acceptance, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants).

Leslie Wright (Queen Latifah) a physical therapist is truly your everyday average woman looking for ‘The One’. All she seems to find are the ones not ready for a relationship or feel she’s just one of the guys, a woman who every guy likes to hang out with but not date and be romantic with. Guess it doesn’t help when you are a true fan of basketball and relate more to men than you do women. Then you have Leslie’s best friend Morgan(Patton) who is just looking to strike it rich and land herself a baller. That’s a basketball player for those scratching their head right now. Enter Scott McKnight (Common), the Nets star franchise player who meets Leslie by chance and after inviting her to his birthday sees Morgan and is struck by the love bug. Leslie knows Morgan inside and out and rolls her eyes at her game. But sometimes love is blind and you don’t see thru what is before you. Until your life takes a turn you did not expect and your future flashes before your eyes as it does for Scott. It’s at times like these you see who truly is your friend and cares about you and who is all talk and show.

This story crafted by Michael Elliot (Brown Sugar, Like Mike) has some wonderful moments of life and how we sometimes do not open our eyes to everything that is around us and choose what is considered the norm. Shooting a film is tough when the subtleties of dialogue get lost due to the actors not being strong or even worse over the top, but with Sanaa’s direction it shows thru not just in the words but in the reactions and physicality of the actors. Queen Latifah is one actor who has had a roller coaster of a career and takes all the knowledge of those years and come out and shows her true potential again. Her physical reactions along with her dialogue not to mention a good background cast brings back that sparkle she has shown before. Stepping up to the challenge is her counterpart Common. The consummate performer does a fun job of playing the ‘star’ player and playing up the whole idea that even though you may make your dream come true you should never let it go to your head. Each time I see him perform or hear his music I become more impressed, one of the few renaissance men today. What about the gold digger portrayer Paula Patton? Paula plays it to a tee. We have all met or know someone like Morgan, looking for the easy way. When she comments by saying, “I’m 30 years and need to look to my future” so serious to not think about getting a job but marrying for it, I saw some women want to jump into the scene and want to smack her. But remember this was a movie. She had the looks to play the part and get what she wants however she had to play the game.

However the team does not stop there. Lets add Pam Grier (Smallville, Jackie Brown) as Leslies mom who loves Leslie but thinks she doesn’t play up the feminine enough to get a man; James Pickens Jr. (Grey’s Anatomy, Ball Don’t Lie) as Leslie’s ever patient dad that loves his girl so much and is the encouragement behind her to do what she wants; Phylicia Rashad (Cosby Show, Loving Jezebel) as Scott’s single parent who like most mom’s is always curious of her son’s judgments. Oh and let us not forget some of the many fun cameos by today’s top NBA players, Dwight Howard, Dwayne Wade, Rashard Lewis, Rajon Rondo to name a few along with the NETS Owner Rod Thorn.

Now here’s where I put my personal touch on the review. Guys, put down the remote, game control, step away from the computer and take your lady to an evening out to see this movie. It is not your typical romance movie. There are some good action scenes of basketball with some great NBA players throughout the film. Just don’t get lost on the ball playing. In fact if you aren’t dating go and see this movie. It translates for women as much as it does us men. Life is not just what is in front of us but around us. The best person for us to live life with could be right there in front of you. Sometimes life is funny and your paths will cross several times before you see it but when it does you will be filled with pure joy. Leslie knew what her dream was and saw that the one person she knew a lot about just because she followed the game was human and grounded. Granted he was blinded by what was seen first before he saw what it was that he needed is part of life. It took him time to see it even when his mom was skeptical, he looked deep inside and saw what life is truly about. Leslie’s moral is a little different. She was just contempt to blend in. Her dad knew her best, unlike her mom who felt she needed to find a man and be a girly girl. Dad knew when the time is right her ‘One’ will see it and be with her.  Leslie stopped living thru someone else’s dreams and made her own.  Look forward in life and don’t dwell on the “what if’s”. Learn along the way and do right by people. Step back, push the ball and let it roll off your fingers to the basket, nothing but net.

P.S.  ;) love you

One, Two it’s déjà vu for this review. Three, Four a killer is going to settle a score. Five, Six this time Freddy’s got some new…. Oh wait we’ve seen this trick before. Okay maybe not exactly the same but just like a puzzle of sorts mixed up and put together different than before with a few new twists to the original. Wes Craven’s favorite menace, Freddy Krueger, played by Jackie Earle Haley (Human Target, The Watchers) is being re-imagined for a new generation with the help of first time feature film director Samuel Bayer and story by Wesley Strick (Doom, The Glass House) and first time screenwriter Eric Heisserer. This leaves much to the imagination and speculation when you have a lot of new faces behind the scenes.

Freddy is back and this time with a little more zeal. Stalking his prey thru their dreams as they themselves try to decipher what’s real. Nancy Holbrook and Quentin Smith, played by Rooney Mara (Tanner Hall, Youth in Revolt) and newcomer Kyle Gallner respectively, are trying to unravel the mystery of their friends dying horrible deaths while they sleep. All the while they are trying to stay awake and not fall victim to the fate that has taken many young people they were close too and those they were separated from. We always wonder and are afraid of our nightmares but sometimes they are based on the truths and secrets around us. Venture if you will to see the tale.

Rounding out the characters of this new telling of a classic horror film is; the blond with a brain but not much wit Kris Fowles, played by Katie Cassidy; Kris’ bad boy ex whom she gets back together with, Jesse Braun, played by Thomas Dekker (My Sister’s Keeper, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles), Quentin’s secretive and protective father, Dean Russell, played by Clancy Brown (The Informant!, The Express); the even more secretive mother of Nancy, Dr. Gwen Holbrook, played by Connie Britton; and with a brief stint in the film, Kellan Lutz (New Moon, Twilight) as Dean Russell. Helping Bayer bring this re-tell of a tale to life is producers Michael Bay (Transformers, Friday the 13th), Andrew Form and Bradley Fuller (Friday the 13th, The Unborn); the ambiance of the film scored by Steve Jablonsky (Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, Friday the 13th ); special makeup effects artist Andrew Clement (Star Trek, Cloverfield); visual effects supervisor Sean Faden (Terminator Salvation, The Amityville Horror); production designer Patrick Lumb (Valkyrie, The Omen) and costume design by Mari-An Ceo (Friday the 13th, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning).

Now that the technical things are set aside lets break down this film. Or did the film breakdown itself? It is one of those things you have to ask when seeing a re-make or re-imagination or whatever you want to all it these days. Hmmm….how to put this in lay mans terms, decent comes to mind. Some might say okay, good, watchable, etc. In all it truly is a fun film to watch, if you can call a horror film fun. It is easy to see why Wes Craven has not stepped up to truly embrace this film as the character is his child and you want to protect your child much like the parent s portrayed in the film. But Wes, come on, you know if you had a little involvement, this could have been huge. I’ll move on. In any case it is a good showing.

For those of us who grew up with the original franchise and have seen them all, in some cases many a time, guilty, it is interesting to see how they weave the original elements of the first film and some tidbits of the second together. More so how they take the original and in a way change the time of events and change the story just enough to make you go, “hey wait a minute”. Now I do like how the film starts out with a bit of a cliché by having the scene filled with red and green light fillers. For those new it is part of the original of whenever you saw a lot of red and green it was the tall tell sign you weren’t in Kansas anymore. Also note that taking, at the time (1984), special effects were nowhere near what can be done now. Case in point, a classic part of the original with Freddy seemingly stretching thru the wall is redone to the extreme and amazingly so, I might add. It has its moments of a good horror film by of course scaring the bah-Jesus out of you. Yes, even I jumped the first time our buddy Freddy appears. Add to that the eerie underscore by Jablonsky and it truly does pay off to watch the women jump out of their seats at times. One aspect I truly admire about is something that bugged me from the original, did Freddy do it? Guess you’ll have to watch to find out.

As for the acting, the cast pulls off their parts well. You can’t say they were Oscar worthy, although some of my fellow Comedia friends might think so (that’s a joke), but the cast does an outstanding job. Haley as Freddy is going to creep out a lot of new initiates to the Freddy lore. Mara does a great job of filling the role of the female lead that will save the day. But surprisingly enough I am looking forward to Gallner and his next adventure. As was another young star that got a break in the original (rhymes with slept), Gallner may have just opened up a new door of opportunity.

Where does this all lead to? Should you go see this film? Will you give it an honest opinion? Yes, you should. I was optimistic about this when I first heard they were going to make it. I’m happy I held an open mind. Could it have been better? Of course it could have, as I mentioned before. All in all though, it is a movie that can stand on its own. For those who have seen the original it will be fun to remember the first time you just about… okay I won’t get that detailed but you had to change your pants. And those who have never seen the original and of course the new generation, you are in for a treat. This film delves into the psyche of something we all worry about, our dreams. What is real and what is in our subconscious. It is how we live our lives that feed our dreams or nightmares. Live well and they will help you. Live by the sword and….well (Evil grin). Seven, Eight go and make a date. Nine, Ten Freddy’s coming again.

P.S. For those of you still trying to figure out the rhymes with, Johnny Depp’s first feature film was the original.