Reviews by PvtCaboose91

Heavens above, Hong Kong cinema is awesome. To be fair, Hong Kong action pictures are never especially smart or original, yet they are nonetheless blessed with a solid entertainment value. This leads us to 1996's Black Mask; a campy, entertaining Hong Kong action extravaganza constructed around a plotline which ostensibly takes inspiration from 1992's Universal Soldier. If you like action served up with a good story and interesting characters to accompany, though, you're shit out of luck with Black Mask. Directed by Daniel Lee and starring action super-star Jet Li, the movie provides nothing but high-flying, old-fashioned action replete with blood, explosions, bullets, mayhem, and Li's martial arts expertise. It's a solid, R-rated guy movie.

Tsui (Li) - or Simon, in the English version - is the product of a government experiment to create super-soldiers impervious to pain for an army fighting force. Once it becomes clear the soldiers are uncontrollable, though, Tsui and his fellow fighting machines are scheduled for termination. Unwilling to let his execution take place, Tsui escapes and adopts a new life as a meek librarian. One of Tsui's only friends is a police inspector known as 'Rock' (Wan Lau), who has started investigating a series of murders and attacks. As it turns out, these attacks are linked to members of Tsui's former unit (all of whom he thought had been decommissioned) who aim to control the underworld. When Tsui realises this, he springs into action as the masked vigilante "Black Mask".

The plot is pure garble which you will not care about, and throughout the course of the narrative a lot of proverbial clichés pop up, including the obligatory romance with an annoying female who exists solely to be rescued. It's doubtful that more than a weekend was spent working on this poor script. When it comes to the action, however, Black Mask delivers with an adrenaline-pumping kick - the amusing comic-book violence and over-the-top, campy action scenes come thick & fast. Jet Li's speedy and flashy stunt-work is jaw-dropping. Added to this, the fights were choreographed by the best man in the business: Yuen Wo Ping, who went on to participate in The Matrix and various other action films. Ping outdid himself here with a series of breathtaking, creative and ultraviolent fights that must be seen to be believed. Since a number of the characters cannot feel pain, they fight ruthlessly when they should be dead.

Li submitted a charismatic performance here, while Ching Wan Lau (billed as Lau Ching Wan) exudes a cool machismo as Inspector Rock. Added to this, Kong Lung is hysterical in his role as the commander - seriously, he's like an Asian Ozzy Osbourne with his yellow sunnies and long hair. Meanwhile, Daniel Lee's direction is adequate for this type of motion picture, and his stylistic camera set-ups captured the balletic fight choreography with consummate skill. Additionally, the film's campy nature is further emphasised by the cartoonish CGI. Equipped with (probably unintentional) hilarity around every corner, Black Mask is a blast, but it would be foolhardy to expect something to challenge your mental acuity.

The greatest problem with Black Mask, though, is the trite plot and at times woeful scenes of exposition, yet the spectacular action should distract you from these shortcomings (it's also worth noting the film was dubbed into English for mainstream audiences, and the dubbing is dreadful). All things considered, Black Mask is neither gripping nor meaningful nor emotionally fulfilling. It was made to fill a niche and give action hounds a fix, and to this end the film delivers something satisfying. If you enjoy a loud, blood-soaked good time, Black Mask fits the bill nicely.

5.9/10

War (a.k.a. Rogue Assassin) is a standard-issue action movie, featuring guns, violence, explosions, car chases and other cool stuff that makes or breaks an actioner based on style and execution. Alas, the execution and style of War is below-par and unremarkable, hence the end result is a forgettable shoot-'em-up not worthy of repeat viewings. There's one prime reason the film is as disappointing as it is: it's a wasted opportunity. War is billed as a battle royale between Jet Li and Jason Statham which could have been awesome, but the filmmakers opted for endless build-up that does not pay off. Rather than allowing the two stars to constantly punch each other in the head, Gregory Bradley's screenplay is too concerned with a generic police procedural plotline, while director Philip G. Atwell was clearly more concerned with filming predominantly indecipherable action set-pieces.

The plot, such as it is, involves FBI agent Jack Crawford (Statham) who is determined to exact revenge on elusive assassin Rogue (Li). Years prior, Rogue killed Jack's partner as well as the family of said partner, and Jack is therefore looking to avenge these deaths. Fortunately for Jack, Rogue resurfaces on the local radar with his own score to settle - he's acting as an assassin for the two rival crime syndicates, and aims to set off a bloody war between them. And that's just about it, folks.

Essentially, War is just another action film with a plot that was likely scribbled on a napkin, and a bunch of characters that are as cardboard as a shoebox. For several lengthy stretches, the film adopts a type of cop-show procedural tone as it endeavours to show the ins and outs of shady betrayals while the hero closes in on the vast network of villains. This is the type of thing Michael Mann (Heat, Collateral) excels at, but nobody of Mann's calibre participated in the making of this movie. While an interesting surprise revelation arrives towards the film's end, the rest of War is as formulaic as they come, with plot contrivances borrowed from other, better films and recycled action scenes we've seen done better countless times before. Speaking of the twist, the final third of the movie becomes utterly perplexing. This is not the sort of confusion for which you just can't figure it out - it's the type that causes you to question motives and sit there thinking "WTF?!". Frankly, it doesn't all add up.

As far as the meat of the movie is concerned, some action sequences work better than others. The set-pieces involving hand-to-hand combat and sword fighting are expertly choreographed and technically sound, and may elevate one's heart rate. On the other hand, a lot of the other action sequences are marred by director Atwell's proclivity for flash cuts that will induce epilepsy and bewilderment. It's a common complaint these days, but it's almost impossible to tell who shot who and which idiot just fell down an elevator shaft. Plus - and this is a biggie - there are times when it's impossible to figure out the ins and outs of a location (the prime offender being the opening shootout). Without an establishing shot and with only close-ups choppily editing together, the result is catastrophic. The routine car chases are pretty humdrum as well. Clearly, no-one involved in War possessed any drive or energy. It feels like a paycheck effort.

Speaking of this being a paycheck effort, the actors clearly phoned this one in too. Jason Statham's charisma is utterly wasted in this one-note role, which called for him to growl and engage in action scenes but not much else. On the other hand, Jet Li's performance is pretty good, but only because he was required to kill without emotion or compunction. It's worth noting this is Li's second film with Jason Statham, as Statham also featured in Li's The One back in 2001 (it's also not their last film together - both feature in 2010's The Expendables). Unfortunately, once Li and Statham's characters eventually engage in a fight towards the end of War, the fight is over before it gets started. The filmmakers forced you to sit through the increasingly humdrum plot to get to the fight, and you'd hope for a satisfying pay-off, but it's far too insignificant. It's basically 30 seconds of half-hearted punches. There's nothing here but a wasted opportunity.

War's purpose was to give action fans a fix, and, to the credit of the filmmakers, the style is the right one - an old-fashioned action movie with a hard edge and plenty of blood. It embraces being a guy movie, yet it still sucks on these terms. Had the filmmakers amped up the pace, jettisoned the generic plot, and just delivered a bunch of mindless high-octane lunacy... War would have been perfectly satisfying. As it is, the film is 90 excruciating minutes of tension-free dullness, with only enough action to fill a half-decent trailer. War could only suffice as entertainment in low-expectation venues - on cable television on a boring, lazy, rainy afternoon, or as the second half of a drive-in bill.

4.3/10

The legend of Robin Hood is a Hollywood staple that has served as fodder for countless adventure films. Due to remakes and reinterpretations on a regular basis, the story was drained of tension a long time ago, leaving almost no new ground to explore. Mel Brooks' Robin Hood: Men in Tights in 1993 was the last cinematic take on the story, though the last serious adaptation was the critically-panned Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves from 1991. Thus, a new Robin Hood flick was overdue since it can be argued that the current generation of movie-goers deserve a new version. Famed director Ridley Scott accepted the challenge of helming this new adaptation, and, to his credit, has succeeded against all odds. 2010's Robin Hood is a darker, grittier take on the character with first-rate production values, which is the way Robin Hood should have been transplanted to film a long time ago.

The Robin Hood equivalent of a superhero origins story, this movie takes place before Robin is an outlaw - and even before he's known as Robin Hood. Before robbing from the rich and giving to the poor, Robin Longstride (Crowe) was an archer in King Richard the Lionheart's crusade army who decided to desert once the king is killed during battle. Escaping into the forests with Will Scarlett (Grimes), Little John (Durand) and Allan A'Dayle (Doyle), Robin assumes the identity of fallen soldier Robin of Loxley, and returns to England to pass on Richard's crown. He visits Nottingham as well, whereupon he's implored by Robin Loxley's blind father Walter (Sydow) to continue assuming Loxley's identity. Meanwhile, the traitorous Godfrey (Strong) tears up the English countryside in a mad plan of profit and murder which would facilitate a French invasion of England.

A lot of recognisable characters from Robin Hood lore make appearances throughout the movie. In addition to Robin himself and Marion (Blanchett), Friar Tuck (Addy) is introduced, as well as the various constituents of Robin's "Merry Men". The proverbial Robin Hood villain, the Sheriff of Nottingham (Macfadyen), was allotted a minor role, and is by no means the central villain of the film.

For Robin Hood, Ridley Scott and his team have laid the groundwork for a version of the legend based in the reality of the period. Essentially, it offers a glimpse into each of the story's characters, and we get a real sense of Robin Hood's influences and personality, giving the film something to do other than detail the do-goodery of Robin's Merry Men. Make no mistake: this is a far different Robin Hood - in fact, this is more Braveheart than a story to do with the hero of Sherwood Forest (Bravehood?). It's a love it or hate it affair, too - either you'll be willing to enjoy a different take on the character, or you'll yearn for colourful Errol Flynn-style antics (it is entitled Robin Hood, after all). In this sense, what people will love about this version is exactly what others will hate. Not that Robin Hood is perfect, mind you - even if you roll with the punches, the film's political machinations lead to a meandering, convoluted, long-winded middle period that swerves too far away from the sense of adventure which constitutes the movie's core. More importantly, it's emotionally aloof when it should be affecting or uplifting. Also, the filmmakers betrayed the character of Marion with a ridiculous third-act gimmick. It won't be spoiled here, but rest assured you will either laugh or growl "WTF?!"

Over recent years, too many directors have grown mesmerised by video-game syndrome that they are positively clueless when it comes to staging action scenes (see Clash of the Titans), hence it's wholly refreshing to witness an action-adventure helmed by a director who knows his craft. There are various battle scenes throughout Robin Hood which were handled great with artistry and skill. Given that Scott's filmmaking trademark is the visual quality of his movies, it should come as no surprise to learn that Robin Hood is visually impressive. The camerawork by seasoned cinematographer John Mathieson (in his 5th collaboration with Ridley Scott) is stunning, and captured the harshness of medieval life with such detail that nothing breaks the illusion of this being set in the 12th Century. Most impressive are the sweeping shots during the battles, often accompanied by the transfixing, atmospheric score courtesy of Marc Streitenfeld. However, a PG-13 rating was mandatory for maximizing box office profits, disallowing serious bloodletting and sexuality. It weakens the film's impact. One must wonder if this is the studio-mandated trim, and if Ridley Scott's vision of the movie is a longer, more fully-formed, more violent R-rated version.

The entire cast is superb from top to bottom. Amidst all the battles and archery antics, Crowe is a completely believable Robin Hood who's a man of both thought and action. To the actor's credit, his performance is underplayed and this lack of bravado seems appropriate for this take on the legend. Cate Blanchett, meanwhile, is a magnificent, tough Marion who manages to be every bit the match for Robin. Mark Strong, who has recently played villains in The Young Victoria, Sherlock Holmes and 2010's Kick-Ass, is still a solid antagonist, though he has become type-cast in these types of roles. Among Robin's Merry Men, the standouts are Mark Addy as Friar Tuck and Kevin Durand as Little John. Both men look their parts, and managed to add a touch of humour to the serious nature of the adventure. The elders of the cast are equally outstanding - Max von Sydow is warm and captivating as Sir Walter Loxley, while William Hurt is memorable as Sir William Marshal. Oscar Isaac, meanwhile, is an effective King John.

Rather than a light-hearted, swashbuckling tale, 2010's Robin Hood presents the infamous character in the context of a dark medieval war epic, and it's a change for the better. Literally, the film ends with the beginning, as King John declares the hero of Sherwood Forest to be an outlaw and a title card proclaims "And so the legend begins". While many will deem this 140-minute prequel long and unnecessary, it's vital for both putting the character into perspective and ensuring this take is something unique. Thankfully, this origins tale is nothing short of enthralling and fascinating.

7.3/10

At its core, Hot Tub Time Machine is Back to the Future mixed with The Hangover, featuring the team of John Cusack, Rob Corddry, Clark Duke and Craig Robinson travelling back through time via a hot tub and some Russian Red Bull. Time-travelling using a DeLorean may make more sense, but it would be best not to ponder it too deeply - absurdity is what Hot Tub Time Machine aimed for, and succeeds at. Written by Sean Anders and John Morris (who penned both 2010's She's Out of My League and 2008's Sex Drive) the film is a good-natured, quirky, almost poignant comedy which makes the most of its one-joke premise. It's essentially 2010's answer to last year's The Hangover.

For the protagonists of Hot Tub Time Machine, life is awful. Adam (Cusack), Lou (Corddry), and Nick (Robinson) have left behind their mid-'80s heyday for a miserable life as adults filled with unfaithful women, divorce, humiliating careers and suicide attempts. Looking to relive their youth and pull their lives out of the doldrums, the three men, along with Adam's nephew Jacob (Duke), head to the ski resort which provided a memorable backdrop to their teenage years. The idea to relive their glory days soon becomes quite literal, as the titular hot tub malfunctions and transports the quartet back in time to 1986. With Jacob flickering in & out of existence (he had not been born yet), the gang struggle to retrace their exact steps from 1986 in an attempt to ensure the future remains intact. And then, of course, there's also the matter of getting back to the future...

Following a 20-minute opening segment designed to convey the monotony of the characters' lives, the shift back to 1986 occurs, which allows the film the opportunity to crack easy but nonetheless amusing jokes about hairstyles, clothes and music. The protagonists even resemble their younger selves to the outside world, leading to a nightmare of recollections as bullies and old girlfriends return to their lives, and the three are compelled to yet again experience the same humiliations that made them the men they became. Most of the fun which stems from this is the way the characters break their pact and set about rewriting the past. Thus, the film's time travel vision predominantly concerns the protagonists being given a second chance, and constructing new and impossibly perfect lives for themselves. There's universal appeal to this idea - I mean, how many of you have pondered the notion of travelling back in time to change something? I have...

Hot Tub Time Machine is, unsurprisingly, chock full of references and tributes to '80s teen flicks that children of the '80s will undoubtedly find amusing. On top of this, the overzealous television commercials from the era were replicated with hilarious accuracy. Further laughs are triggered via the bouncy quips and back-and-forth banter between the central actors, who clearly bonded during the production. John Cusack (who also co-produced) actually featured in '80s teen comedies which Hot Tub Time Machine is reminiscent of, and his presence is a nice touch. The actor hasn't had a role this charming since High Fidelity 10 years prior. Meanwhile, Rob Corddry often steals the show as the self-destructive, obnoxious Lou. He imbued his role with an abundance of comic energy, and even some pathos. In the supporting cast, Craig Robinson provides several big laughs, while Clark Duke managed to get great comic mileage out of his role. Added to this, former Back to the Future cast-member Crispin Glover provokes several laughs as a bellhop who is perpetually in danger of losing his arm (don't ask), while Chevy Chase is at his funniest in years here playing the ambiguous hot tub repairman.

While the majority of the film works, some of it doesn't. Instead of a clever and original script, Hot Tub Time Machine abides by the usual clichés that plague these movies. Characters initially hoping not to alter history or rupture the space-time continuum? Check. Discovering a loved one was a drunk and/or a slut? Check. Encountering old friends and enemies? Check. Preventing someone from being erased from existence? Check. Heck, there's even a scene in which Nick plays with a band to the astonishment of the crowd. When Back to the Future came out 25 years ago, these ideas were clever and fresh. In 2010, these narrative beats are all too familiar. Unfortunately, there are also a number of laugh-free lulls and patches of awkward pacing, though the film never lags for long enough for it to entirely lose its steam. It's also worth mentioning that Chevy Chase's character is not exploited to his full potential, and there aren't as many comic ramifications as one would expect once the boys travel back to the future.

One would imagine that any serious time-travel nitpicker will judge the whole premise as wildly implausible, and will criticise the idea of a hot tub being used as a time-travel device. But that's not the point - honestly, who cares?! Just roll with the punches. Hot Tub Time Machine is not high-brow stuff, but it is a comedy benefitting from genuine laughs and personality. If you're seeking a funny romp to pass a few hours, Hot Tub Time Machine fits the bill.

7.2/10

Even for a consistently reliable studio like Pixar, the notion of Toy Story 3 seemed risky due to the time-honoured tradition of part threes being unnecessary and below-par. The Godfather: Part III, Lethal Weapon 3, Batman Forever, Terminator 3, Alien 3, Jurassic Park 3 and Superman III are a few examples of "threequels" which took a drastic nose-dive in quality after two solid forerunners. But Toy Story 3 is not an addition to this list. Not even close. The folks at Pixar Studios have done it again, extending their unparalleled streak of success stretching back to the original Toy Story in 1995 (their feature-length debut). Arriving 15 years after the first film and 11 years after the sequel, Toy Story 3 is every bit as brilliant as its predecessors and one of the best movies of 2010.

Elements of the narrative are best left unspoiled, so only a brief synopsis will be included here. When we last met Andy (John Morris), he was a little kid who always played with his toys. Many years have elapsed, however, and now he's a much older lad packing for college. This leaves his toys - who are relegated to a spot in an old chest - in a frenzied panic. Their numbers have steadily dwindled over the years, so only a small group remains, including Woody (Tom Hanks), Buzz (Tim Allen), Jesse (Joan Cusack), Rex (Wallace Shawn), Hamm (John Ratzenberger) and Mr. Potato Head (Don Rickles), to name a few. Although Andy intends to place his old toys (save for Woody) in the attic, a Toy Story-style series of mix-ups results in Andy's mother (Laurie Metcalf) donating the toys to Sunnyside Daycare. From here, a plot unfolds that's too delicious to spoil, but suffice it to say, there is an escape plan involved here.

These are the very basic constituents of the plot. At its core, Toy Story 3 is a beautiful, vibrant tale about memories, mortality, the passing of time and how you treat people in your life. This leads to a conclusion filled with action, comedy and pathos. Truth be told, the climax is slightly overkill, and some bits and pieces don't entirely work, but this can easily be overlooked due to how perfectly the film ends. Anyone who felt the ending for Toy Story 2 was too optimistic will find Toy Story 3's ending to be far more satisfying, as the toys are confronted with their own mortality and are faced with their greatest foe of all: time. The conclusion for the trilogy works on different levels for different viewers - while the youngsters in the audience will understand the importance of friendship, mature-age audience members will find the ending to be a reminder of the fleeting nature of childhood and how all things pass in the blink of an eye. One particular moment emphasises this point but will likely go unnoticed by the kids: Andy experiences an epiphany. This is conveyed so effectively through mere facial expressions rather than words, and this is precisely why Pixar's motion pictures achieve greater respect than those produced by their less ambitious competitors.

Do not mistake Toy Story 3 for a weepy, depressing drama, however - Toy Story 3 is designed to provide a good time, and heavens me, it does exactly that. All the movie's emotional moments do not arrive at the expense of enjoyment, as Toy Story 3 provides huge laughs and enjoyable set pieces (and I'm not spoiling anything). This is one of the most effective and well-paced comedies of the year. No doubt you will be laughing from the get-go at the sight gags, the one-liners and the pop culture piss-takes. Director Lee Unkrich served as assistant director on three previous Pixar features, including Toy Story 2, making him an ideal candidate to oversee this third instalment. Unkrich's greatest talent is attention to detail, as every frame of Toy Story 3 bursts with visual splendour and smart touches. The way the daycare centre becomes an Alcatraz is a stroke of genius - the slide in the playground becomes a watchtower, the bead mazes double as razor wire, and so on. It's astounding how much creativity went into the feature. Unkrich and writer Michael Arndt (Little Miss Sunshine) also clearly spent time watching pre-schoolers, as the film highlights the notion that an unattended child is a walking WMD.

Naturally, Pixar's animation techniques have improved tremendously in the 11 years between Toy Story 2 and Toy Story 3. Added to this, the 3-D effects serve to enhance the rich textures within every frame, such as the fur of Lotso (Ned Beatty) and the flashy clothes worn by Ken (Michael Keaton). In 3-D, Toy Story 3 is amazingly immersive. Also, most of the original voice cast make their return here, slipping back into their roles as if no time has passed. Even John Morris (now in his 20s) voices Andy once again. Morris's voice naturally sounds different compared to a decade ago, and Pixar could have recruited anyone else to play this part, but it means something to have the original Andy back. Other returning cast members include Tom Hanks as Woody, Tim Allen as Buzz, Joan Cusack as Jesse, Wallace Shawn as Rex, and many others. The only missing cast member is Jim Varney, who died in 2000. Blake Clark fills Varney's role of Slinky Dog, and the change is seamless. There are several newcomers here, too, many of whom confidently stand out. The scene-stealer here is Ken, who's voiced by Michael Keaton. Keaton has always had impeccable comic timing (see Beetlejuice), and this role fits him like a glove. Jodi Benson (Ariel from The Little Mermaid) had a small part as Barbie in Toy Story 2, but her role is expanded here as she becomes Ken's plastic soulmate. Meanwhile, Beatty is an effective Lotso, Timothy Dalton is wonderfully gleeful as Mr. Pricklepants, and Kristen Schaal is great fun as Trixie.

A hint of familiarity pervades Toy Story 3, yet it never feels overly derivative while you enjoy the experience, which is a testament to director Unkrich's masterful handling of the material. In a nutshell, the film is a rousing adventure, a delightful comedy, a thoughtful drama, and a treasured reunion with a beloved group of fictional pals, and it provides exceptional entertainment for viewers of all ages. Toy Story 3 is also a weeper, particularly during the final 15 minutes, which are poignant and overwhelmingly affecting (even by Pixar's standards). Those irritating 3-D glasses may be beneficial for hiding all your tears. Altogether, the Toy Story movies take the breath away. What a terrific, mature trilogy this has turned out to be. Thank you, Pixar. Thank you for providing three wonderful animation gems and showing the world the difference between paycheque efforts and actual hard labour.

9.1/10

For adults, Shrek was most enjoyable due to its willingness to lampoon the mythology of Disney's fairytales, and this aspect was given extra oomph by the fact that DreamWorks co-founder Jeffrey Katzenberg was a former Disney employee. Unfortunately, as is the case with successful family-friendly blockbusters, sequels followed. Shrek 2 was enjoyable but unremarkable, while Shrek the Third was an appalling follow-up marred by strained humour and a dull sitcom vibe. Irony of all ironies, the Shrek franchise has become the type of pandering, predictable fairytale franchise that the first film parodied. 2010's Shrek Forever After (a.k.a. Shrek: The Final Chapter, Shrek Goes Forth, or whatever DreamWorks is calling it now) is reportedly the final entry in the series, and that's fortunate. While it's a marked improvement over the woeful Shrek the Third, this fourth film feels forced and, more pertinently, utterly unnecessary. Shrek Forever After is a product of commerce rather than art, though those wanting to say farewell to the Jolly Green Ogre may find it to be a tolerable way to spend 80 minutes.

As the old adage goes, if you're going to steal, steal from the best. It would seem those responsible for Shrek Forever After took this to heart, as the core storyline is lifted from It's a Wonderful Life. Shrek (Myers) has adopted a life of domesticity; he's a father, husband and beloved community icon. Shrek grows tired of this mundane routine, however, and begins pining for his bygone days as a feared monster without any commitments. Hearing the call is the wicked Rumpelstiltskin (Dohrn), who offers Shrek a shady contract which would provide him with 24 hours of his former life. In return, Shrek must pay with a day of his life. Inadvertently, the ogre pays the deal with the day he was born, meaning he never existed. In the alternate reality he enters, he never saved Fiona (Diaz), never befriended Donkey (Murphy), and never encountered Puss in Boots (Banderas), while Rumpelstiltskin has taken the throne of Far Far Away. Realising the gravity of his mistake, and confronted with being erased from existence in 24 hours, Shrek begins racing against the clock in the hope of reversing the contract.

The limp-wristed It's a Wonderful Life premise is at least reasonably well executed. Director Mike Mitchell has provided as much fun as can be had with whatever energy remained in the characters, and there are some laughs to be had despite a few mundane lulls in pacing. These gags are not in the least bit memorable, but Shrek Forever After is at least much more enjoyable than Shrek the Third. The Gingerbread Man steals his scenes, and his limited appearances constitute some of the film's biggest laughs, while new characters like the Pied Piper and a chimichangas-obsessed ogre liven up the proceedings from time to time. Really, there are some isolated moments that shine. As a whole, however, Shrek Forever After does not work, primarily because it fails to justify itself and it does not offer anything new. The whole reason the filmmakers played the alternate reality card is because there was no place for the story to go in the franchise's reality, which must be a red flag. Moreover, 90% of this conclusion to the franchise is akin to a dream (seems a bit worthless, doesn't it?), and the notion of Shrek growing bored of his life was explored in Shrek the Third.

The writers (Josh Klausner and Darren Lemke) simply lack the creative spark that made the first movie so successful, and newcomer Mike Mitchell lacks the deft directorial touch of Andrew Adamson (director of the first two Shrek movies). What started as an original, invigorating fairytale parody has simply transformed into something different; an adventure which has no reason to exist under the Shrek banner. What's most unfortunate is that Shrek Forever After seems predominantly geared towards the little kids more than any other demographic, whereas the original Shrek appealed to young & old. While the idea of Shrek getting fed up with the domestic life raises familiar points for adults, from frame one it's obvious where the film is headed: the well-worn "be grateful for what you have" lesson. And what of the animation? It's as perfect as it needs to be to retain the intended atmosphere. This is also the first Shrek movie to be available in 3-D, but it's a very perfunctory application. There's nothing glaringly wrong with the 3-D effects, but there is nothing right with them either; the added value is minimal. It's not worth the surcharge, as it does not enhance the experience in any effective or note-worthy way.

Naturally, there is plenty of time allotted to Fiona, Donkey and Puss in their alternate reality forms, the most amusing of which finds Puss in a state of kitty obesity. Antonio Banderas steals the show as Puss in Boots, of course, and provides a few big laughs. Eddie Murphy as Donkey, meanwhile, is the same buffoon he's been since the first film, yet the character is still fun. Mike Myers is fine as Shrek, but he's no longer a standout due to the scripting, while Cameron Diaz seemed to have seriously phoned in her performance as Fiona. Whether it's due to fatigue, general disinterest or poor acting, Diaz sounds irretrievably bored. On the other hand, Walt Dohrn - a writer and storyboard artist - is a terrific Rumpelstiltskin.

Perhaps it was unreasonable to expect the Shrek sequels to recapture the magic of the original. After all, the filmmakers certainly never seemed to think it was a priority. Look, it's not that Shrek Forever After is a bad movie; it just didn't need to be made. The original Shrek had something to say and a story to tell, whereas this fourth movie feels like an excuse to revisit the franchise for extra bucks. Still, at least Shrek Forever After ends the series on a better than expected note. It could have been far worse. And let's face it, kids will most likely enjoy this feature because it's good enough by their standards.

6.0/10

Due to the tremendous box office success of Shrek and its sequel, 2007's Shrek the Third was inevitable. While this second sequel to 2001's Shrek was justified from a business perspective, the question looms: was it necessary from a creative perspective? Moreover, if it was necessary, why couldn't it have been at least somewhere near the quality of its forerunners? Almost without fail, the third part of any movie series falls short of its predecessors (see other 2007 threequels: Spider-Man 3 and Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End), and Shrek the Third is further evidence of this. Despite the main voice cast returning and despite a clever concept, this third Shrek movie lacks the magic, awe and inspiration of the preceding pictures, leaving an empty carcass. The problem lies with the sluggish pacing, the uninteresting way the plot plays out, and the boring characters.

In this sequel, Shrek (Myers) and Fiona (Diaz) are poised to become the rulers of Far Far Away after King Harold (Cleese) dies. Shrek dreams of returning to his swamp with Fiona, however, and is less than enthusiastic about enduring the responsibility of being a king. Therefore, Shrek and his proverbial crew of companions - Donkey (Murphy) and Puss in Boots (Banderas) - set out to find a replacement for Shrek. The only possible candidate is a distant relative of Fiona's named Arthur (Timberlake). You know, as in King Arthur, Knights of the Round Table, etc. Anyway, the trio of heroes set out on a quest to find Artie and convince him to be king, while Prince Charming (Everett) seizes control of Far Far Away with the help of an assortment of fairytale villains.

One word is guaranteed to repeatedly run through one's mind throughout Shrek the Third: forced. The comedy is forced, the emotion is forced, and everything in general is forced. The characters, meanwhile, have developed surprisingly boring personalities. A few films ago, Shrek was a cranky ogre, Donkey was Shrek's obnoxious sidekick, and Fiona was a spoiled princess. These conflicting personalities played well against each other, but as the series progressed everyone has mellowed out and become amazingly bland. Their psychiatrist is probably thrilled, but for movie-goers it's disappointing. No longer are the characters fun to hang out with, and no longer do they do anything of interest. Worse, Shrek the Third is one of the talkiest animated movies in history. There are too many long, awkward, uneventful stretches of dialogue marred by flat staging, and the whole enterprise feels like a forced sitcom (there's that word again). Not that the film needed frequent action, but a sense of enchantment is pivotal in order to keep the pace going (Pixar movies generally do this skilfully). With boring characters, dull humour and few exciting set-pieces, the movie is a snooze.

The problems stem from the fact that Shrek the Third doesn't adhere to its own advice: it is not itself. The first two Shrek flicks were family movies with an adult edge, whereas this third film is a dull, watered-down kid's picture in which the level of fun is reduced. It's difficult to believe what started as a satiric fairytale eventually spiralled down into a series of superficial catch-phrases and half-hearted attempts at sentimentality. Not even Donkey has many good lines, nor does Puss in Boots. Yet, these two are still the best parts of the show, which is an indicator that something is wrong. And how many cartoons can you remember feature a funeral sequence that's accompanied by Paul McCartney's song Live and Let Die from the old James Bond movie of the same name?

The best aspect of Shrek the Third is the look, which is stunning. With this entry to the franchise, the filmmakers raised the bar yet again, with marked improvements in textures and several character-based elements (most notably motion). On the other hand, the human characters have become citizens of the "uncanny valley"; the creepy region between real and unreal (the same problem has plagued other animated movies, most notably The Polar Express). Additionally, the film's grand finale is a speech, meaning there's no stunning visual sequence to blow your mind like the first two movies. At least the voice talent does not disappoint (for the most part) - virtually everyone from Shrek 2 returns, including Mike Myers as Shrek, Eddie Murphy as Donkey, Cameron Diaz as Fiona, and John Cleese as the King of Far Far Away, just to name a few. Another major name was added to the voice cast this time around: the much-heralded Justin Timberlake as Arthur. Truth be told, Timberlake does his job well enough, but his performance lacks the proverbial zing of his fellow cast-members.

What's perhaps most disappointing about Shrek the Third is the lack of content for older viewers. Oh sure, kids will likely enjoy this one, but the first Shrek worked on different levels for viewers young and old. Unfortunately, Shrek the Third is just a painfully dull, unimaginative animation effort, and with the first movie at the back of one's mind as a vehicle for continual comparison, the picture is made even worse. While the movie may offer three or four good laughs, it provides less enjoyment and more time to ponder whether this series should go far far away for eternity. Unfortunately, a fourth Shrek - Shrek Forever After - followed in 2010.

4.2/10

Like the majority of feature films, 2001's Shrek was designed as a one-off flick. The storyline was hence wrapped up at the film's conclusion since, naturally, a solid box office performance was not guaranteed. When Shrek earned over 8 times its budget at the box office, though, DreamWorks decided a Shrek 2 was warranted, and the creators were left to figure out the best way to continue the franchise. Unlike Pixar Studios, however, the folks at DreamWorks do not possess the patience or the creativity to ensure a sequel is implemented correctly. Therefore, one cannot expect Shrek 2 to conquer the dizzying heights of Toy Story 2 - rather, it's a moderately enjoyable but distinctly lacking follow-up.

At the beginning of this sequel, the titular ogre Shrek (Myers) is happily married to Princess Fiona (Diaz), and the two green giants are enjoying their honeymoon. They arrive home to their beloved swamp to find an invitation from Fiona's parents: the King and Queen of the kingdom of Far Far Away (voiced by Cleese and Andrews). See, the King and Queen caught wind of the wedding and desire to meet the man that their daughter has married. Despite Shrek's understandable reluctance, he and Fiona travel to the kingdom of Far Far Away, accompanied by Donkey (Murphy). Unsurprisingly, the entire kingdom is shocked to see Fiona show up in ogre form with an ogre husband. The King in particular does not approve, mainly due to a binding agreement with the Fairy Godmother (Saunders) which involved him promising Fiona's hand in marriage to Prince Charming (Everett).

One thing which can be said for certain is that the focus of Shrek 2 was on the laughs. Very few of the emotional moments from the first film are present here, as the filmmakers preferred to rely on quick humour and visual gags (including a brilliant Alien riff). As with most DreamWorks pictures, there are several knocks at Disney. There's an unflattering glimpse of Ariel (from The Little Mermaid) as well as the duo of Lumiere and Cogsworth (from Beauty and the Beast). The character of Puss in Boots (Banderas) - a feline assassin - is introduced as well, who provides a number of the best laughs through amusing dialogue. So in this sense, Shrek 2 is good family entertainment. The problem, however, is an over-reliance on pop culture gags which will lose their potency within the next decade. Laughs of the belly variety are few and far between, too. As a matter of fact, most of the gags provoke mere chuckles, and most are no longer funny after a single viewing. So far I've seen this movie twice: in cinemas in 2004, and on DVD in 2010. I almost never laughed as I watched it a second time, whereas the original Shrek still makes me laugh hard no matter how many times I've seen it.

Shrek 2 was directed by the trio of Andrew Adamson, Kelly Asbury and Conrad Vernon, who were able to keep the film moving along at an agreeable pace and marshal several delightful set-pieces. The animation is phenomenal as well. Similar to its predecessor, the animation possesses a realistic feel in the midst of a cartoon environment. Scenes of rain & snow look almost photorealistic, while the backgrounds are exquisitely detailed. The characters are all incredibly expressive in their facial and body movements, though the humans still retain the slightly awkward look of something designed on a computer. As with the original film, too, the hair looks terrific - Puss in Boots in particular is a marvel. The original Shrek delivered a message regarding the importance of being yourself and looking beyond surface beauty, and Shrek 2 is more of the same - Shrek and Fiona struggle to spread this message to the kingdom of Far Far Away. However, while Shrek 2 is a fun flick, it offers little in the way of the original film's originality or, more importantly, its heart.

A wealth of vocal talent lent their voices to this sequel, including the majority of the original cast who returned to reprise their roles. Mike Myers is once again marvellous as Shrek, while Eddie Murphy fires off line after line of hilarious dialogue in his role of Donkey. Antonio Banderas voiced Puss in Boots here. Since the character is a swashbuckling cat, his performance is all the more amusing since Banderas has portrayed Zorro (a classic swashbuckler) in two live-action movies. Meanwhile, the always-reliable John Cleese is adequate as the King, though he is not allowed much room to be his usual hilarious self. Additionally, one of the original film's strengths was its unpredictable soundtrack, which featured mainstream artists like Smash Mouth and hip icons like Leonard Cohen. This is retained in Shrek 2, with artists like Ricky Martin sharing score space with Nick Cave.

True, Shrek 2 is at times funny, but it's entirely forgettable. Worse, the central characters have been relegated to spectators in their own movie who watch amusing things happening around them instead of to them. So, no, Shrek 2 is not as good as the first - not by a long shot. It is, however, at least enjoyable. It's not as breezy as Shrek (in fact the story drags in places) or as clever, yet it's a respectable enough effort. After the film made big bucks at the box office, Shrek the Third followed in 2007.

6.2/10

Once Pixar Studios released 1995's Toy Story (the first entirely computer-animated feature film in history) the reality of producing CG animated films was realised, and it wasn't long before studios outside of Pixar began making forays into the new genre. DreamWorks has always been a strong contender for Pixar's crown, and among their first endeavours was 2001's Shrek (Antz was their debut). Essentially a fairytale given a contemporary spin with modern humour and hit pop music, Shrek is an excellent animation effort packed with a number of winning elements: an involving narrative, a visually stunning world, a handful of moral lessons, and an enormous handful of laughs. There are sight gags and fart jokes to entertain the younger demographic, while there are several masterfully implemented witticisms for an older audience to enjoy. Shrek is not just a film for the kids - it appeals to anyone of any age group.

Shrek predominantly plays out like the fairy tales it spoofs. Set in the faraway land known as Duloc, Shrek (Mike Myers) lives a comfortable, simplistic life in his beloved swamp, and adores his privacy. Meanwhile, Duloc's heartless ruler Lord Farquaad (John Lithgow) rounds up all the fantastical creatures in his kingdom, evicts them, and forces them to relocate to Shrek's swamp. Peeved by the intrusion on his personal space, Shrek sets off to pay Farquaad a visit. In tow is a motor-mouth donkey known as Donkey (Eddie Murphy). Shrek and Farquaad strike a deal: in return for getting back his swamp, Shrek will undertake a quest to rescue Princess Fiona (Cameron Diaz) from the tower where she is held prisoner. See, Farquaad needs to marry a princess in order for him to become king, but is too afraid to rescue Fiona from the fire-breathing dragon himself.

Co-directed by Andrew Adamson and Vicky Jenson, Shrek works so deviously well due to the way it completely desecrates and subverts the traditional Disney approach. It's a full-scale parody of Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, and Cinderella, while everything in between gets caught up in a fusillade of affectionate piss-takes. Nothing is sacred in the world of fairytales, with bluebirds exploding before our eyes, and frogs and snakes being blown up to make balloons. Fart jokes are present for tots, while there are WWE-style bouts and Matrix-inspired fights to appease the teens, and Eddie Murphy's hysterical Donkey provides a stream of witty dialogue intended for the grown-ups. Simply put, Murphy hasn't scraped these comedic heights for years. Sure, the film is at times too juvenile and it lacks the maturity of Pixar's efforts, but in the end the film is a total blast, and it's easy to recognise that the juvenile elements are all in good fun.

In terms of computer-generated animation techniques, Shrek raised the bar once again - and the bar was already at an impressively high level after Toy Story 2. The movie boasts impressive detail in the almost photorealistic backgrounds, as well as amazingly rendered creatures. The texturing on Donkey alone is incredible - his fur is so meticulously detailed that it looks as if you could reach out and feel the animal's softness. Although the human beings are not entirely lifelike, the technique has markedly improved since Toy Story. In fact, this is the first major computer-animated feature in which humans serve a significant role in the proceedings, and you should have no trouble accepting them as humans. (Antz and Dinosaur had no human characters, while humans played secondary parts in the two Toy Story movies.)

With computer animation becoming a prevalent medium, it's vital to select the right voices for the characters. Voices do define each role, after all, and a bad choice could trigger irreparable damage. Fortunately, Shrek features four capable stars in the lead roles. First and foremost is Mike Myers, who is a vocal chameleon. In the titular role, Myers is terrific; espousing a Scottish brogue that's gruffly lovable. Myers is often upstaged by Eddie Murphy, whose distinctive voice has always been one of his strongest features as a comedian. As proved by Mulan and now Shrek, Murphy is born for these animated roles. The energetic, eager-to-please, loud-mouthed Donkey is one of the funniest characters Murphy has brought to the screen, and his consistently funny remarks are what viewers will likely remember the most about the movie. Meanwhile, Cameron Diaz is a terrific Princess Fiona, and John Lithgow is a memorable villain.

If Shrek is marred by any problems, they lie in the story's resolution. For the first 75 minutes of its runtime the film lampoons fairytales, yet on the home stretch it succumbs to a cookie-cutter fairytale ending. It's a satisfying resolution, sure, but it's nonetheless highly ironic. Thankfully, the movie then closes with a musical number which has Donkey performing his rendition of I'm a Believer, and you'll be almost willing to forgive the conventions. When all's said and done, Shrek is sharp, funny, and engaging on both an emotional and technical level. It's not a guilty pleasure for sophisticated movie-goers; it's purely and simply a pleasure which can be enjoyed by anyone of any age. Unsurprisingly, the film's $485 million box office performance (from a $60 million budget) led to three sequels, beginning with Shrek 2 in 2004.

8.3/10

Collaborating again with French super-producer Luc Besson, Unleashed (also known as Danny the Dog) denotes a change of action movie pace for Jet Li. While infused with punches, kicks, and an array of beatings, Unleashed primarily functions as an effective character piece which combines violent fight scenes with a story of redemption, hope and rebirth. In lesser hands the film would have fallen flat on its face, yet it works extraordinarily well in the hands of Besson, director Louis Leterrier and the talented cast, allowing Li to accomplish the best English-language performance of his career. Interestingly, the movie came to pass because Jet Li was keen to attempt something different, so he approached Besson (whom he knew from their previous collaboration, Kiss of the Dragon) and asked him to write a different type of action film for him. Unleashed was the result.

In the malevolent care of his uncle Bart (Hoskins), orphan Danny (Li) has been raised to become a lean mean killing machine who's only silenced by the metal collar around his neck. Specifically, Danny is used as an attack dog to enforce Bart's will on other criminals or to collect debts. When a twist of fate sets Danny free of Bart's control, he befriends a blind piano tuner named Sam (Freeman) and his stepdaughter Victoria (Condon). They take the childlike Danny into their home to educate him in how to be a human being, and he slowly regains his humanity that was lost over the years spent at the end of Bart's leash. However, danger arrives when Bart wants his attack dog back, and threatens to destroy Danny's peaceful new life in order to reclaim him.

The story behind Unleashed is something one would expect from Luc Besson (The Fifth Element, Leon: The Professional), who tends to use the reoccurring theme of identity for his screenplays. In this case, the film concerns Danny's identity - is he a brutal pet or a childlike, innocent soul? With its mix of action and tender drama which recalls Leon: The Professional, Besson and director Leterrier (The Transporter) have concocted a satisfying motion picture that's more heartfelt than expected. When the movie is kinetic, the action is furious, but when it's dramatic it radiates an old-fashioned sweetness and the pacing never gets bogged down. While Unleashed is not necessarily deep and is unmistakably a mainstream product, the filmmakers get credit for generally succeeding at being different.

Surprisingly, Unleashed works so well due to the central performance by Jet Li. You had better mark this down on your Apocalypse Countdown Calendar as the day a review actually praised Li's acting skills. His role of Danny is a tragic figure who has been physically and emotionally brutalised. Subtleties abound in Li's portrayal; it's possible to sense the fear and pain in his eyes and gestures. Li also delivers what's expected from him in a series of bone-crunching, gravity-defying stunts which were predominantly pulled off without the aid of wires or special effects. Yuen Woo Ping acted as the choreographer on the film, and his fight choreography is a tad different from the usual martial arts acrobatics - instead of graceful and stylish, the fights are rawer and grittier, as if Danny is fighting like a dog. Added to this, the choreography was captured smartly by Leterrier who used long camera shots to show off Li's skill as a fighter.

Another interesting character is Victoria. It would've been easy for a stereotypically pretty actress to fill the part and add a forced romance to the story, but the filmmakers went Kerry Condon, who is ideal for the role. Her performance as Victoria is that of a down-to-earth, almost geeky teenaged girl. Condon is exceedingly beautiful to be sure, but not in a Megan Fox sense. Meanwhile, Bob Hoskins as Bart is a standout. Clearly, Hoskins realised how outlandish his role was, and revelled in it. His scenery chewing is of the highest order here. If Hoskins had a moustache, he would have spent the entire film twirling it. While the other cast members endeavoured to bring realism to the story, Hoskins is the opposite, and his performance is great fun. Meanwhile, Morgan Freeman's performance as Sam benefits from a spot-on combination of sweetness, sympathy and sincerity.

Of course, Unleashed is not a realistic motion picture, yet this is like complaining that the ocean is damp. It does require a certain suspension of disbelief - we are supposed to accept that British loan sharks are capable of raising a child as a dog, and that three decades of psychological conditioning can be undone in a few weeks thanks to love. If you can excuse the silliness, you'll realise Unleashed is an action film with heart that alternates between the beautiful and the kick-ass, but at no point topples into eye-rolling saccharine territory.

7.5/10