What Do The Critics Say?

"Is Shrek the Third fun? Sure, especially if you don't have to think about it. Is it a movie? Hey, in this day and age, and particularly in this season, it might as well be the movies. Disposable, clever and never willing to pass up a chance to show how hip it can be, Shrek the Third should make kids titter, adolescents snicker and cash registers ring." Chris Vognar DALLAS MORNING NEWS "The filmmakers have kept it short and very sweet; simply everyone can enjoy this wondrously creative animated adventure that will have you rockin' and rolling in the aisles." Louise Keller URBAN CINEFILE "Enough projectile vomit, fart and poop jokes to keep kids of any age enthralled for ninety-minutes." Kam Williams EURWEB "The cast of characters continues to expand in "Shrek the Third," the latest rowdy adventure in the ever-amusing fairy tale spoof series. One of the few film franchises to retain a high level of quality even on the third outing." Eric D Snider ERICDSNIDER "you can take your maiden aunt or your kids or your girlfriend and they'll all laugh at the right spots. As for the filmmaking, it's meticulous animation, with the kind of detail that assures you of the filmmakers' sincerity in wanting to give us a hearty good time." Andrew L Urban URBAN CINEFILE

"The visuals are superb, the voice cast is top-notch, and it’s fun to revisit old friends, even if their patter feels a little too familiar. Makes for serviceable summer entertainment, even as it shows signs of sequel fatigue. Regardless, the big green swamp guy will surely swamp the studio with lots o’ green." Matt Stephens E!ONLINE "A parallel world of wonders, zestfully conceived and radiantly rendered, in which the great-hearted ogre tries his likeable best to avoid the parallel threats of kingship and parenthood." Joe Morgenstern WALL STREET JOURNAL "Director Chris Miller and the credited writers are determined that if these films are to be a collection of riffs and gags, with a sweet afterthought for a finale, then they ought to be very good. And, largely, these are." Wesley Morris BOSTON GLOBE "The world of the fanciful fable looks particularly vibrant this time with its signature blend of realism and fantasy. It is a pleasure to watch these fairy tale folk be themselves -- yet again." Claudia Puig USA TODAY "The big, green ogre and his ragtag pals are still an amiable lot to spend ninety minutes with, but a creative overhaul might be in the cards if the series is to continue to a part four." Dustin Putman THEMOVIEBOY

The Inside Story The story of "Shrek the Third" is "the natural progression of this guy’s life and his development as an adult," explains producer Aron Warner. "Shrek and Fiona fell in love and got married in the first film. In the second movie, they met the parents and got to know the family. And so it seemed there was a natural next step for them," SAYSs director Chris Miller. "But as it turns out, it’s not a natural step for Shrek, because he’s convinced that he would not make a good father." Mike Myers, who voices Shrek, is thrilled with the ogre's evolution over the three films. "What's great about the third 'Shrek' is that it's the continuing adventures of somebody who has to learn to believe in himself," says Myers. "In the first film, he didn't think that he was worthy of falling in love, in the second he didn’t think he was worthy of being a husband and now he’s struggling with worthiness because he's afraid of being a king and a father. So it's a really great story of how, throughout all the different periods of your life, you really have to rely on yourself, believe in yourself and not listen to what other people think about you." Co-star Eddie Murphy admits to being elated by the fact that "each movie gets better and better. The characters get more developed, and the stories get more complex." In fact, the story of Shrek has been a huge success. "Shrek" was unleashed in June 2001 and the cash registers haven't stopped ringing since. "Shrek" is currently ranked at fifty three on all-time world box office receipts, after taking a healthy $US484.4 million. On top of that it has also racked up DVD sales of fifty million. In 2002 the Academy ® Awards featured for the first time an Oscar for Best Animated Feature. No prize for guessing which film won the covetted prize. When “Shrek 2” was unleashed in theatres on May 19, 2004, it posted the largest five-day opening of all time in the U.S.A. This magical monster-hit is currently the seventh highest grossing film of all time with a total worldwide box office of $US920 million, while the "Shrek 2" DVD went on on to sell over fourty million copies. There is little doubt that much of the success for "Shrek 2" must go to the introduction of that cute character 'Puss In Boots', voiced by Antonio Banderas. Fans will be delighted to know that all the old gang; Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, Antonio Banderas, Julie Andrews, Rupert Everett, John Cleese and Larry King are back. New additions to the voice cast are Justin Timberlake, Eric Idle, Cheri Oteri, Amy Poehler, Maya Rudolph, Amy Sedaris, John Krasinski, Ian McShane and Regis Philbin. "At the beginning, you write down every person you would ever want to work with or would fit a role well," says director Chris Miller. "Fortunately, there are many great performers who want to work on a 'Shrek' movie. So, we've been really blessed with not only wanting the best, but actually getting them." "A lot of us have known each other now for 10 years or more," adds producer Aron Warner. "It's a good thing we like each other." So what is it that drives the filmmakers? "We’re motivated to make things funnier and funnier," co-director Raman Hui explained. "We’re constantly saying 'Why don’t we try that?' It's amazing working with this crew." Co-producer Denise Nolan Cascino says she never tires of being in the company of her fellow filmmakers. "We laugh a lot. The great part about this work is that you're given such great material by the actors, and every day something new comes in that makes you laugh." For Myers, "Shrek the Third" was like a family reunion. "I have a good time doing Shrek," he says. "You get to be silly, and I love Donkey and Fiona and Puss In Boots and the whole thing. I get very happy when I’m in this world." "Mike brings a tremendous amount of care to Shrek and to the series," says producer Aron Warner. "He really thinks in-depth about who the character is, what his journey is like and how to best be true to that journey. His experience is always in the forefront, because he obviously understands comic timing better than almost anybody." "Mike brings a lot more than just a performance," notes Miller. "He’s a great writer. He understands story. We get a lot of input from Mike to help us make sure we're telling the best story that we can." 1999 American Comedy Award winner Cameron Diaz sees being part of the Shrek story as a privilege. "These films touch people. They give them a message along with a very good time," says Diaz. "It's really a privilege to be a part of the 'Shrek' legacy." "It's the best job an actor could have, because they are really carefully thought-out films," says 1998 American Comedy Award winner Rupert Everett. "They're a real pleasure to be involved with. You get to see the whole thing happening. I find it more exhilarating in some ways than being in ordinary films." Eddie Murphy agrees with Everett's assesment and adds, "When you make an animated film, you get more of a sense of being part of a collaborative effort. You’re just one of the pieces instead of the whole thing being on you. So you really feel part of a team. It's not just the actors; it's not just the production; it's not just the animators. It's everybody coming together and making this movie work." Warner raves about Murphy's contribution. "Eddie brings so much to that character of Donkey; he lights him up." Miller adds, "He improvs on the fly, and that makes all the difference for the Donkey character. Eddie is an endless stream of funny." Of course it could never be a 'Shrek' film unless the worlds favourite pussy cat and Donkey's best mate was in it. "My relationship with Donkey will always be competitive in a playful way, but deep down, we love each other very much," says Theatre World and Drama Desk awards winner Banderas. "Antonio is a filmmaker, so he comes in with an understanding of what it's like to do what we do," says Warner. "He is not shy about doing anything we ask him. When he comes in, he'll sing, he’ll dance, he'll cough up a hairball. And he’ll do it with love and gusto." Academy Award ®, three time Golden Globe winner and BAFTA winner Julie Andrews returns as the loveable and tolerant Queen Lillian. "They just asked, and that’s all they had to do," a beaming Andrews said. "It was so much fun before, so when they asked, I was delighted." Andrews has, in real life, a royal connection. She received her honors as a Dame of the British Empire by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on New Year’s Eve 1999. Four time GRAMMY Award winner Justin Timberlake (2004 & 2007) is the voice behind Artie. Timberlake "couldn’t wait to do his part for "Shrek the Third". To come in and create your own character is really a treat. I'm having a ball doing it. Voice acting is so different from any other type of acting. You imagine what your character is going to look and sound like, so your energy is greater than it would normally be." "Justin has a certain charm. He is a very natural comedian, and the more we interacted with him, the more the character of Artie became like Justin," says director Miller. Warner concurs. "He’s got a great soul and he brings that to Artie. Even when Artie says stuff that isn't necessarily likeable, you can tell he’s just a teenager trying to use this kind of language to kind of cover up his own insecurity." Cheri Oteri was thrilled to jump into the shoes of Sleeping Beauty. "I felt so lucky and honored to be a part of 'Shrek' because the humor is so wonderful, and there are so many subtleties in the characters that make it a great deal of fun to watch," she said. The opportunity to join the cast was truly a lifelong dream for John Krasinski, the voice of Lancelot. "I will admit now that the one thing in life I've always wanted to do is be in an animated film, and I've been talking about it since I was six, sooo that's awkward to announce," he teases. "But seriously, I was so thrilled to just be a part of this in any way. I've loved the whole series of movies, and to be part of this one is such an honor." Warner noted, "He’s got great comic timing. He doesn't have a huge part in the film and when we started working with him, we considered how big we could make Lancelot's part, because we loved working with him so much." Someone who knows a thing or two about comic timing is legendary British comedian Eric Idle who narrated the acclaimed, "Ella Enchanted". "He’s a brilliant performer and writer," says Miller. "It’s great to have Eric in the film and John Cleese as well. They’re two performers I’ve always idolized and they bring a sense of comedic history along with them." Idle, who plays Merlin the magician, sees things a little differently. "I think Jeffrey Katzenberg has some old pictures of me from the seventies," the Tony and GRAMMY award winner joked. "He offered to send them to the tabloids. That’s why I agreed to do this." Even with such a great voice cast and vibrant characters, the filmmakers weren't resting on their laurels. "Fortunately, we have people who consistently bring their 'A' game and really deliver good quality stuff," says head of layout Nick Walker. "Doing animation is like doing magic," says Sheridan College Computer Animation graduate Raman Hui. "We try to perform magic every day." "Shrek The Third" will I am sure, provide a lot of magic for its audiences. The big question that remains unanswered is will they find success with a "Shrek" 4? Synopsis

Being king isn’t for everyone, especially if you’re an ornery ogre who smells like the shallow end of a swamp. When Shrek married Fiona, the last thing he wanted was to rule Far Far Away, but when his father-in-law, King Harold, suddenly croaks, Shrek is quickly fitted for the crown. Now, unless the reluctant would-be king can find a suitable replacement, he’ll be royally screwed for the rest of his days. As if Shrek didn’t have enough on his plate, Princess Fiona has another little surprise on the way. Reeling from the duties of running a kingdom and impending fatherhood, Shrek sets off on a quest to find the only other possible heir to the throne, Fiona’s long-lost cousin Artie, a medieval high school outcast. While the ogre is away, his nemesis Prince Charming rears his handsome head and returns to the kingdom of Far Far Away with redemption on his shallow little mind. Even with Donkey and the ever-so-suave Puss In Boots by their side, it’s going to take an ogre-sized effort for Shrek and Artie to save the day.

The Verdict "It's hard enough coming up with a successful sequel let alone a third edition in a franchise, but the makers of "Shrek The Third" have somehow managed to do the impossible. Yes it is fun and there's enough twists, turns and surprises in the storyline to ensure ankle-biters, adolescents and adults will enjoy the gangs latest adventure. Has the "Shrek" franchise run it's course! It may well have. Some of the best franchises have come unstuck by trying to hang around for too long. Unless they can come up with a fresh adventure for the grumpy green ogre and revive the 'spark' of energetic fun we all experience back in June 2001 when "Shrek" first hit the screens and, went on the pick up an Oscar for Best Animated Feature, I can't see the franchise surving. The addition of "Puss In Boots" added another 'spark', nay a jolt to "Shrek 2" when it hit the cinemas. The sequel went on to gross a massive $US920.7 million worldwide. So far, "Shrek The Third" ($US407 million) has failed to reach the $US484.4 million "Shrek" took. The announcement that a fourth edition will be released in 2010 seems like Far Far Away land. A little bit of fanciful fantasy. Only time will tell. Meantime, enjoy "Shrek" while you can. Recommended. 3 1/2 STARS." Cast & Crew Bytes "SHREK THE THIRD" stars .......
EMMY Award winner Mike Myers ["Wayne's World 1 & 2", "View from the Top" and "The Cat in the Hat"]; 2007 Broadcast Film Critics Association Award winner Eddie Murphy ["Daddy Day Care", "The Haunted Mansion", "Dreamgirls" and "Norbit"]; 1998 & 2000 ALMA Award winner Cameron Diaz ["Vanilla Sky", "Gangs Of New York", "In Her Shoes" and "The Holiday"]; 2007 Berlin International Film Festival Award winner Antonio Banderas ["The 13th Warrior", "Once Upon A Time In Mexico", "The Legend Of Zorro" and "Take the Lead"]; Academy Award winner Julie Andrews ["Sound Of Music", "Victor Victoria", "The Princess Diaries" and "The Princess Diaries2"]; 1998 Golden Satellite Award winner Rupert Everett ["The Importance of Being Earnest", "Stage Beauty" and "Separate Lies"]; Eric Idle ["The Transformers: The Movie", "The Wind in the Willows", "102 Dalmatians" and "Ella Enchanted"] and 1989 David di Donatello Best Screenplay Award winner John Cleese ["A Fish Called Wanda", "Pinocchio", "Valiant" and "Charlotte's Web"] as King Harold.
"SHREK THE THIRD" was .......
directed by Chris Miller ["Shrek the Third"]; story by BAFTA Children's Award winners Andrew Adamson ["Shrek2" and "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe"]; From the book "Shrek!" by William Steig ["Doctor DeSoto", "Abel's Island", "Pete's A Pizza" and "Shrek!"]; art direction by Peter Zaslav ["Shrek the Third"]; edited by Michael Andrews ["Shrek the Third"]; production design by 2001 Annie Award winner Guillaume Aretos ["Shrek2"]; original music by 2005 Hollywood Film Festival Composer of The Year Harry Gregson-Williams ["Man On Fire", "Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason", "Deja Vu" and "The Number 23"]; produced by 2002 Academy Award winner Aron Warner ["Tank Girl", "Antz" and "Shrek 1, 2 & 3"]. Who's Who?

Mike Myers Eddie Murphy Cameron Diaz Antonio Banderas Julie Andrews John Cleese Rupert Everett Eric Idle Justin Timberlake Susan Blakeslee Cody Cameron Larry King Christopher Knights John Krasinski Ian McShane Cheri Oteri Regis Philbin Amy Poehler Seth Rogen Maya Rudolph Amy Sedaris Aron Warner Jasper Johannes Andrews

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Shrek Donkey Princess Fiona Puss In Boots Queen Lillian King Harold Prince Charming Merlin Artie Evil Queen Pinocchio/Three Pigs/Ogre Baby/Bohort Doris Blind Mice/Heckler/Evil Tree #2/Guard #2 Lancelot Captain Hook Sleeping Beauty/Actress Mabel Snow White Ship Captain Rapunzel Cinderella Wolf Ogre

Run Time 93 minutes Rated PG [AUST] Copyright ©2007 - Paramount - All Rights Reserved ©2007 All Rights Reserved - Protected by Australian & International Copyright. Trademark Laws Apply.