You like DreamWorks? Their mid-2010s work was a little too bland for my tastes. But when Shrek came out in 2001, I think they really came into their own, competitively and artistically. The whole film has a crude, subversive style, and a new sheen of reimagined fantasy that really gives the fairy tale genre a big boost. They’ve been compared to Disney, but I think DreamWorks has a far more mature, cynical sense of humour.

In 2004 DreamWorks released this, Shrek 2, their most accomplished movie. I think the undisputed masterpiece is the “I Need a Hero” scene, a moment so exhilarating, most people probably lose track of the film and franchise’s overall thematics. But they shouldn’t, because it’s not just about the avoidance of conformity and the importance of self-acceptance, it’s also a personal statement about the Shrek franchise itself!

Hey Walt!