Shrek Forever After Complex Review

**** (out of five)

This is the 6th movie I've seen this year (after Tooth Fairy, The Spy Next Door, Alice in Wonderland, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, and How to Train Your Dragon) and instantly became my favorite movie this year so far, and my "other favorite" 3-D movie this year (next to How to Train Your Dragon)

You may have noticed already, but each Shrek movie has a completely different "adventure feel" to it. Shrek (the first one) had a "swamp/forest adventure" feel to it. While Shrek 2 had a "Hollywood-type adventure" feel to it, and Shrek the Third (my least favorite in the series) had a "Autumn" feel to it. THIS however, according to the top critics, had a "dark/alternate world" feel to it. But it had a LITTLE BIT of a feel from each of the 3 movies to it. Especially the first one, which I did like but there wasn''t enough of it...

Speaking of that, I EXPECTED Lord Farquaad (my favorite enemy from the series) from the first movie to be in it, like the original February 2009 announcement plot said! In fact, there were MANY characters from the series that should have been in this one. This was probably the most disappointing fact about the film. There is no Lord Farquaad, no Prince Charming (which I didn't REALLY expect to be in this one, but I sort of like that character now XD), no Mongo (the giant gingerbread man from Shrek 2 was also supposed to make a return, which I learned earlier this year, but I don't know how he would return anyway XD), no human Fiona (well, she DOES makes a 5-second cameo in a flashback XD) not even King Artie from the third movie was in this one! I expected a big character reunion! But all we get in "returning characters" is the King of Far Far Away, in his human form (who died in the Third movie), which IS a good character, but I expected A LOT MORE.

Now let's move on to NEW characters. Rumpelstiltskin (who actually ISN'T a new chaarcter, due to the fact that he was in Shrek the Third with all the other villians in The Poison Apple, looking and sounding entirley different) actually IS a cool villian in this one, with him being a midget and having a nerdy voice and all. XD As for the witches, I just wish there weren't so many of them... they get so annoying after a while. The Ogre Resistance was probably the best idea for new characters in it. I'm glad there is more to the ogre world than Shrek, just like how in Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel, it is revealed that Alvin has a talking beaver-type animal friend that wears glasses and a necktie, and I liked how there was more to the talking-animal world besides the Chipmunks and the Chipettes. As for the ogre babies (who probably DO count as new characters because they were only in The Third for 5 minutes at the end), I didn't like the fact that they already know how to say "Good Morning Daddy" and "Thank You Daddy", because they just turn 1 year old in the movie. The 2nd best new character in the movie is probably Butter Pants, the short fat guy you see in the commercials that says "DO THE ROAR" to Shrek. He was the funniest in the movie, too. Because he said "DO THE ROAR" like 4-5 times in the same tone of voice, and he sounded like Roz from Monsters Inc. (you know, "I'm watching you Wazowski, ALWAYS WATCHING...")

The plot was also better than the Third, too. It all starts with Shrek's "famous roar" (he roared twice in the first movie and once in Shrek 2). And because of that Alternate Puss in Boots (who was obviously a parody of Garfield in this one), I can't view him the sam way again! XD As for homages to the first movie (which I also expected a lot in this one, because there were hardly any in Shrek 2 and Shrek The Third), the "frog balloon" was part of a gift basket that Shrek gave to Alternate Fiona, Shrek mentioning that Fiona can sing so loud that she can make a bird explode (which apparently happened in the first movie), the "storybook" beginning made a return (being read my Rumpelstiltskin in this movie, with Shrek reading it in the first movie, and Prince Charming reading it in Shrek 2, there was no storybook opening in the Third movie, just to make it suckier XD), the quote "This is the part wherte you run away" is in it, and the Beware Ogre sign also made a return. However, I like how they said the word "@$$" a few times in the first movie referring to Donkey, and that was missing in Shrek 2 and Shrek The Third, but in this one they brought the classic profanity back! :D (Donkey says "Help! I'm Being @$$-napped!) Also, the classic "Better Out Than In, I Always Say" line is also in this one! (But in this one, Fiona says it, but I still loved it, because Shrek says it in Shrek (to Fiona), Shrek 2 (to Fiona), Shrek The Third (to the carraige baby), and even in the Free Comic Book Day comic book! :D

As for the 3-D, it contained some of what 3-D movies are lacking these days (and that's IN YOUR FACE ACTION! :D). The 3-D was amazing, as good as Avatar and How to Train Your Dragon! The 3-D worked especially good in the flying scenes! I would've known the 3-D would be great because the 3-D was also great in Shrek 4-D at Universal Studios (which is also released on DVD at stores packaged with a Monsters vs. Aliens 3-D short movie, but renamed Shrek 3-D). Although some of the In Your Face action didn't work that good because it's supposed to fly out of the screen, but some of the effects take up the more than the WHOLE screen... and the screen cuts some of the effect off... Oh well, at least the 3-D was cool in this one! (It sure did beat Alice in Wonderland for me XD) The dancing ogres (thanks to another new character, the Pied Piper, who was playing "Shake Your Groove Thing" on his clarinet XD)

One thing I do love about the Shrek movies, is that it has an EXCELLENT soundtrack! The first and second movies had many cool songs on their soundtracks (I would list them but there's too many XD) , but the third movie failed at that, with the only two good songs in my opinion are Barracuda (Fergie cover), and Thank You (Puss and Donkey). I was KIND of dissappointed with this one too, although there are some decent songs on it (Like the song Right Back Where We Started From, which I haven't heard in YEARS :D), but they should've added the song the Shrek soundtracks started out with, and that's All Star (Smash Mouth). However, I do like the fact that they remembered the Smash Mouth song "I'm a Believer" from the first movie, but in the movie and the soundtrack, it's a cover from the rock band Weezer (who sings one of my favorite songs, Beverly Hills! :D) But I still do like the Smash Mouth version better... the Baha Men song "Best Years of Our Lives" would've also been a good return to the 4th soundtrack...

The credits are so far the best credits I've seen to end a movie series, doing a recap of the past 3 movies! As in showing clips of Shrek, Shrek 2, and Shrek the Third as you go along! And ALL the characters that were from the past movies that weren't in this one all made an appearance, they got Lord Farquaad, the Fairy Godmother, Prince Charming, the princess team from the Third movie, and even Thelonius from the first movie! I know he's a minor character, but he's one of the coolest enemies in the first movie, and possibly my favorite minor characters in the series! (which also played a big part in Shrek 4-D!) :P
But the song they played during the credits I wasn't familiar with at all, they should've played All Star (Smash Mouth), but after the clips showcase, the played the song Right Back Where We Started From, which should've been in the clips showcase, because the recap takes you "right back where Shrek has started from" XD hahahahahahahaha.....

Anyway, this was a decent end to the series! Now for the part you guys have all been waiting for! The PROS and CONS
+ "DO THE ROAR" best line in the movie XD
+ There are at least SOME references to the first movie
+ The recap of the last 3 movies in the credits was awesome! :D
+ the 3-D was very cool too :) Already as good as Avatar and How to Train Your Dragon
+ More laughs than the Third movie! XD
+ The new ogres Cookie and Brogan were cool even though they only had like 4-5 lines in the whole movie! XD
+ Now my favorite movie this year.

- Although the soundtrack is better than the Third, there are still only a few good/familiar songs in it...
- The King of Far Far Away is the farthest you're going to get when it comes to "returning characters" :(
- Some of the In Your Face 3-D was ruined by some of the effects being cut off by the screen...
- The fat Puss in Boots and the witches get very annoying later in the movie DX
- They should've played either "All Star" or "Right Back Where We Started From" during the clips showcase.
- The "adventure feel" to this movie is wierder than I thought...
- The plot announcer lied to us in February 2009 when he said that Lord Farquaad will be returning in the alternate world...

Anyway, my birthday is going to be Shrek Forever After themed, and I'm going to see it again with my friends in 3-D! DEFINETLEY worth seeing again! :D

Oh, and after I saw Shrek Forever After, I saw Iron Man 2, and here's a mini-review of Iron Man 2! :D

*** 1/2 (out of five)

There is a lot of talking in the movie, but still very exciting! Although the actual Iron Man in it doesn't get more screen time as he should...

So basically, the only movie that should possibly can beat Shrek Forever After is Toy Story 3, which I am planning to see on premiere night this year! :D