#A character inspired by Antonio Banderas

[the-ninjago-historian]

Hey guys? That three chapter Cowboy Ninjago fanseason I was writing for hitting 500 follows? I don't think this is gonna be a three chapter anything anymore...

I'm talking several EPISODES long people. Hope y'all are ready for a ride.🤣

Like, it was only supposed to be three chapters!!! WHAT THE HECK HAPPENED?! LOL! - ✒️🐉

[harveyguillensource]

Harvey's photoshoot with Mike Ruiz for Photobook Magazine has been published, along with a short interview covering his career and ambitions! Read a few of his responses below:

You have become somewhat of a trailblazer for what is possible for queer, Latinx actors. Who are your biggest role models and inspirations when it comes to performing? My on-screen role models were pretty limited. I found inspiration in watching Cantinflas, a Latino comedian, with my dad. Watching people like Salma Hayek and Antonio Banderas represent Latinos on the big screen helped keep me hopeful. I’m happy to report that I’ve worked with both of them. From “What We Do in the Shadows,” to “The Magicians,” there is a slight recurring theme of supernatural or fantasy. What draws you to these types of projects and roles? In both 'The Magicians' and 'Shadows,' anything is possible. I love the idea that there are no limitations on where our characters can go, so I’ve always been drawn to that. I was never specifically seeking to be in these particular genres, but I’m so happy to be a part of them. In addition to on the screen, you have an extensive portfolio of voice acting credits. How does working behind a microphone compare to working on the camera? Doing voice-over has been such a wonderful experience. I didn’t really start doing V.O. work until the pandemic. It’s a tough door to get through. The pandemic brought these opportunities to me. It was the only work that I was able to do safely at the time. Since then, my portfolio has doubled in voice-over work. All the characters I get to play are so different from each other. I get so excited when people come up to me and mention they're fans of a character I voice. Either voice acting, on camera, or on the stage, are there any dream roles you would love to play? As a musical theatre kid, I’d obviously love to do Broadway. I’d also really love to host SNL one day. In addition to acting, you're also involved in advocacy work, particularly in the LGBTQ+ field. What inspires you to use your voice and platform for good? I try to use my platform to help anyone that I can, especially those in the LGBTQ+ and Latino community. For so long, I didn’t see anyone advocating for someone like me so I do the best I can to amplify their voices while bringing awareness to those communities. With “What We Do in the Shadows” heading into its sixth and final season, what’s next for you? Anything fans should look forward to? We’re about to wrap in two weeks from the time this interview is published. That being said, it’s bittersweet. We recently said goodbye to our exterior set, and it was really emotional. I committed to this character for half a decade, which is no small task. It’s become such a big part of my life, and I’m thankful for all the lives we’ve touched through comedy. Season 6 will air later this year. I’ll have projects like “Companion” and “Garfield” out this year as well as a couple others. I’m excited to see what’s next!

[earenwen-leafwhisper]

Imagine

YouTube just recommended this video, and for once I watched and especially listen to the music (see that there was Antonio Banderas helped)

And oh my gods, it’s so much a song for Maegor (also for a dark/Yandere Daemon who take the throne) for a fanfictions where the characters sing.

Journey To Bethlehem - Good To Be King (Antonio Banderas, Joel Smallbone...

(I have not see the movie and all, just lisen the music)

It's so much a song for Maegor,

The :

"Don't have to be good

To be the king"

...

"Mine is the kingdom

Mine is the power

Mine is the glory"

...

"It's delicious

To watch a man begging for his death"

...

That so much Maegor, I can't stop imagine him.

And his S/o and his wifes who look at him like "what?"

Or the S/o sining with him?

Ahhh...

@avalyaaa, what do you think ? A dark Daemon king and all ?

If that's inspire someone tell me, I would love to read it,

Or I write it ? Or the two ?

It's free so if you do write take inspiration please tag me, I would love to read it ❤️🐉

[linnienin]

⁕Chiron conjunct AC: the Ugly Duckling? 🥀⁕

A research by Linnie

Disclaimer: "no one is born ugly, we are just born in a judgemental society" K.Namjoon

(Other disclaimers will be added below)

⁕⁓ This will be a pretty long post, so make yourself comfortable and take your time to read ⁓⁕

Chiron's phyisical appeareance in mythology:

In the traditional Greek representations of Chiron, his front legs are human rather than equine like all the others centaurs.

This clearly sets Chiron apart from his fellows, making him easily identifiable.

Chiron is also often depicted wearing clothes, demonstrating he is more civilised, unlike a normal centaur.

In Roman depictions of Chiron, we see a fully equine lower body, in contrasts to the ancient Greek representations. Chiron's appearance is further altered with his ears, matching those of a satyr, folded over at the top (he had human ears in the Greek representations)

Take into consideration it may be possible that due to the rise of written sources, Roman artists were inspired by written descriptions of Chiron; simply using the word centaur, rather than having available traditional visual representations. This may then, not be a deliberate reworking of the Chiron myth on the part of the Romans, but simply a lost nuance of the character in its migration from Greece to Rome.

Source: Wikipedia

Chiron conjunct AC natives' appeareance:

Disclaimer: our appeareance is not delineated by just ONE aspect, these are just my observations on celebs who has this placement

These natives have features that don't usually conform to the beauty standars or ideal proportions, making them stand out from average looking people

🥀 They have the look of a tormented soul, this can make them unforgettable

🥀 They also appear wiser than their years, they have the face of an individual that has been through a lot ,and knows a lot too

🥀 Can have distinctive ears (very small, or protuding, towards one extreme or the other, usually bigger)

🥀 Can have distinctive legs (quite short or long in proportion to the other parts of the body)

🥀 Can have long torso

(Their features can resemble those of a Sagittarius natives cause Chiron is also represented by a centaur)

Fred Astaire had very long elegant legs and distinctive ears, making his presence even more unforgettable.

Lily Rose Depp has a long torso that she likes to accentuate by wearing low raise pants

Martin Luther King had very cute small ears with a unique shape, almost like the ones of an elf

Clark Gable, Maya Hawke and Antonio Banderas all have beautiful protuding ears that look like butterflies 🦋✨

Amitabh Bachchan and Whitney Huston and their long legs, Priyanka Chopra has a sinuous long waist

We will continue to analize how Chiron conj. AC manifests in ones appeareance with the roles the actors with this placements has been playing 👇

The hero, the weirdo and the badass:

We all know that cast directors have an eye for one's demeanor, so we will take advantage of this to further see how this placement affects one's image

THE HERO

Good or Bad?

Doesn't matter, they have that main character vibe, usually the hero/villain has deep wounds from the past left unhealed that still hunts them in the present, and usually they cover this deeper part of them with a mask (for some of them quite literally)

Julie Newmar in the role of Catwoman , George Clooney in the role of Batman and Antonio Banderas playing the unforgettable Zorro

Willem Dafoe playing the iconic role of Goblin,Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia, Jeremy Renner as Hawkeye and Margot Robbie in the role of Harley Quinn

THE WEIRDO

Misunderstood and rejected by society, loners, unusual personalities, they have a unique and peculiar view on life. Usually suffered from difficult traumas that left a mark and shaped who they are.

They might escape reality through art

Selena Gomez as Mabel Mora, Willem Dafoe as Vincent Van Gogh, Louis Garrel as Théo

They might obsess over proving their worth to others

Giulietta Masina as Gelsomina, Margot Robbie as Tonya, Maya Hawke as Robin

They might shape their own absurd reality and impose their beliefs on others

Vincent Price as Dracula, Antonio Banderas as Armand, Robert Carlyle as Tremotino

They might just live in silence, outcasted and distrusted by others, but still finding their own way to survive

Evanna Lynch as Luna Lovegood, Peter Dinklage as Trumpkin, Penelope Cruz as Angelica

THE BADASS

Fierce, steady and determined. Those people developed a tough personality due to previous experiences. They don't want to be taken advantage of anymore, and they'll stand their ground.

Lily Rose Depp as Catherine of Valois

James Coburn as Flint, Priyanka Chopra as Alex Parrish, Jeremy Renner as William Brandt and Amitabh Bachchan has done multiple roles in action movies

Robert Carlyle as Franco, George Clooney as Danny, Maya Hawke as Eleanor, Willem Dafoe as Elias and Antonio Banderas as El Mariachi

Penelope Cruz in 'Jamon Jamon'

( These three 'roles' often can merge into one)

The pretty crier

I have noticed people tend to find somehow attractive when those natives cries (especially women)

There's something deep and inspiring when these people shares their vulnerable side, and somehow the impulse to control these emotions while experiencing them (usually these natives don't like to share this emotional side in public) make them look even more 'interesting' and 'appealing' to the others (as distorted as it can sounds, sometimes people just idolize other people's pain for the wrong reasons)

But others don't understand how difficult and exhausting really is to cover their vulnerability all the time, and even when they explode because they can't take it anymore, they feel so bad and guilty that they try to stop their "pity party" (in their view) as soon as they can, apologizing immediately for their behaviour (even if you can still see the pain in their eyes)

Good dancers?:

These natives can have a great sense of music and their body, finding it easy to move to the rhythm.

In Greek mythology, Chiron was taught by his foster father Apollo the art of music, archery, hunting, gymnastic, prophecy, herbs and medicine.

No wonder we see people with this aspect attracted to these activities, and they also seem to posses a natural talent for them.

Can you recognize them in the pictures below? 💃🕺

The sacrifice:

In Greek mythology, Chiron sacrifices his immortality for the freedom and life of Prometheus.

The reasons behind Chiron's sacrifice aren't just those of his noble spirit. The centaur was fated to suffer from the wound of a poisoned arrow that Heracles shot at him by mistake while trying to complete the fourth task described in the Labours of Heracles.

Ironically, Chiron, the master of the healing arts, couldn't heal himself, so he happily gave up his immortality to free Prometheus of his excruciating pain and destiny.

We can see this theme of sacrifice in the characters mentioned above, some of them with literally sacrificing themselves, while others having to sacrifice an important part of themselves (i will not mention the details because i don't want to make spoilers if you haven't seen some of the series/movies)

And how not to mention the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., fought his whole life for the American civil rights and racial equalty, making himself vulnerable to any attack for the good of his people

TW: body shaming, abuse, use of drugs

Disclaimer: please remember that if you have this placement it doesn't mean you will certainly use drugs or experience other disorders. These are just consequences of deeper wounds left untouched that haven't been fully healed yet, please, if you can't heal by yourself exactly like Chiron, don't be ashamed to reach others out for help and professional treatment

These natives can be mistreated by others especially at a young age, they can be victims of bullying and this can make them struggle with how they perceive themselves and their worth.

🥀George Clooney suffered from Bell's palsy (a partial paralysis of the face) during his first year of high school and was bullyied by his peers. He declared that he had a hard time but the experience made him stronger.

🥀Lily Rose Depp has always been in the eye of the public and the medias, feeling pressure since a very young age (coming from very well known parents) she also admitted to have suffered from anorexia.

🥀Demi Lovato has been victim of bullying, bulimia-nervosa, self-harm, bipolar disorder and has been experiencing lots of mental and physical abuse. She couragiously admitted to have used cocaine and she added that she began using opiates at the age of 13 after a car accident and "was already drinking" by that time.

🥀Selena Gomez suffers from lupus (that can be treated assuming drugs) and bipolar disorder, she also spoke about suffering from anxiety and depression

🥀Whitney Huston and Carrie Fisher both suffered from drugs abuse

The legend:

In Greek mythology, after Chiron's death, Zeus placed him among the stars in the sky to be honored. The Greeks identified him as the constellation Centaurus.

It is easy to say these natives will always be remembered for what they did and they will inspire and encourage lots of people that feel lost or hopeless

Their battles with pain and their courage to whithstand it will make others feel heard and understood, lightening their internal burdens and spreading light to their path ahead.

Congrats! You have reached the end of the post 💞

Here's the LIST of every Celebrity i have analized that is mentioned in this post:

CELEBS WITH CHIRON CONJ AC FROM THE 12TH HOUSE:

Julie Newmar

Clark Gable

Demi Lovato

Margot Robbie

Amitabh Bachchan

Robert Carlyle

Martin Luther King

George Clooney

Penelope Cruz

Priyanka Chopra

Antonio Banderas

Luis Garrel

Evanna Lynch

Maya Hawke

CELEBS WITH CHIRON CONJ AC FROM THE 1ST HOUSE:

Peter Dinklage

James Coburn

Selena Gomez

Jeremy Renner

Giulietta Masina

Vincent Price

Lily Rose Depp

Willem Dafoe

Whitney Houston

Carrie Fisher

Further disclaimers:

Disclaimer: I am not a professional astrologer, i like to research on it and i use this blog as a sort of diary where to keep track of my observations while also sharing my thoughts with you

Disclaimer: i made the collages (because there were way too many photos and i coulnd't insert them as singles because of the limits in numbers) but in no way i own the photos in them

Sources:

Wikipedia and Astro.com

⁕⁓⁕⁓⁕⁓⁕⁓⁕⁓⁕⁓⁕⁓⁕⁓⁕⁓⁕⁓⁕⁓⁕⁓⁕⁓⁕⁓⁕⁓⁕⁓⁕

Thank you 🥀

for sticking to the end, i hope you enjoyed this little research of mine.

As a Chiron conjunct AC native myself, i wanted to dive deeper into the meaning of this placement because i realized there's not much out there on it

I also wanted to gather more info to further understand myself and my patterns because sometimes i find it easier to write down and analize others to realize things about myself lol

Let me know if you resonated or if you have something else to add, you know i always appreciate your feedback 😊

I wish you a great day! 🥀

Linnie

[tidecorals]

introducing: alejandro destrade

you’re not from around here , are you? i figured because you totally just missed { alejandro destrade } walking by. don’t tell me you don’t know who { he } is ? they kind of look like { oscar isaac} and i could be wrong but i think that they might be { forty two } years old right now. they’ve been living in palmview for the last { 19 years }. and i don’t know if anyone has ever told them this before but they kind of remind me of { gomez addams } from { the addams family }. if you stick around the town long enough you might catch them in action working at { pearl's seafood bistro } as a { the owner }. you see this town isn’t really that big of a place, some folks like to call them the { prince of his own making } of palmview! they took a liking to the name too after a while, go figure. oh crap, they must have heard me yapping. they’re coming this way. i got to warn you though, rumor has it they can pretty { fanciful } at times. i wouldn’t take it too seriously though, from the times i’ve spoken to them they seemed pretty { debonair } to me. we see each other all the time since they live in that { one bedroom } apartment beside me over in { coral cove }. i better leave you to it. it was nice meeting you! 

GENERAL INFORMATION

NAME. alejandro sebastián destrade

DATE OF BIRTH. february 17th, 1982

AGE. forty two.

GENDER. demi man (he/him/they/them)

SEXUALITY. bisexual, heavily female / nb leaning.

PLACE OF BIRTH. puerto escondido, oaxaca, mexico

HOMETOWN. puerto escondido, oaxaca, mexico.

RESIDENCE. coral cove, apartment 2a.

ZODIAC SIGN. aquarius sun, scorpio moon, leo rising.

HAIR COLOUR. black.

EYE COLOUR. dark brown.

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES. deep, expressive brown eyes that are intense and captivating. he sports dark, wavy hair that is well-groomed and often styled with a subtle side part. his hair is thick and full, adding to his sophisticated appearance. occasionally, he wears it slightly tousled for a more relaxed look. he has facial hair, a full beard in which it's length varies by occasion.

STYLE. known for his impeccable style, often seen in tailored suits that blend classic sophistication with a touch of modern flair. he favors dark, rich colors and high-quality fabrics, but he also enjoys sporting more casual, yet stylish, attire when off-duty. alejandro carries himself with a regal air, his posture is straight and confident. his movements are graceful and deliberate, reflecting his sense of purpose and the grandeur with which he approaches life.

POSITIVE TRAITS. charismatic, visionary, passionate, generous, humble, elegant, cultured

NEGATIVE TRAITS. impulsive, overindulgent, detached, noncommital, secretive, stubborn, conflict-prone

AESTHETICS. rich and decadent colours, old leather couches, handcrafted artifacts from his home, dutifully lined bookcases, soft ambient lighting

CHARACTER INSPIRATION. gomez addams, antonio banderas character from desperado, victor hugo, fitzwilliam darcy esquire

BIOGRAPHY

Alejandro Destrade wasn’t always the name on everyone’s lips in Palmview. Originally from a small coastal town in Mexico, Alejandro moved to Palmview nearly two decades ago, driven by dreams of making his mark. At just 23, he arrived with little more than ambition and a love for the ocean. Over the years, Alejandro transformed his modest beginnings into something extraordinary, carving out a name for himself as the charismatic owner of Pearl’s Seafood Bistro, a beloved culinary gem nestled in the heart of the town.

Alejandro possesses a rugged, effortless charm that’s impossible to ignore. His dark, soulful eyes and meticulously groomed appearance have earned him comparisons to Gomez Addams from The Addams Family—a debonair figure with a flair for the dramatic and an undeniable aura of mystery. Alejandro is known for his fanciful nature, indulging in the finer things in life with a passion that borders on the extravagant. Whether it’s a lavish yacht party or a meticulously curated tasting menu at his bistro, he approaches everything with the same intensity and attention to detail.

Despite his penchant for luxury, Alejandro remains remarkably humble—a trait that sets him apart from many of the other wealthy residents of Palmview. While others may flaunt their riches, Alejandro is content to let his success speak for itself. He’s never been one to rely on wealth for validation, preferring instead to live life on his own terms, making every moment a spectacle worth remembering.

Alejandro’s success with Pearl’s Seafood Bistro didn’t come easy, but it’s a testament to his willingness to take risks and his eye for talent. He’s known for giving opportunities to up-and-coming chefs, often taking on those with little experience but big dreams—much like he once had. His bistro is more than just a restaurant; it’s a reflection of his journey and his love for the sea. Alejandro’s approach to his business is hands-on, with every dish, every detail, bearing his personal touch.

The bistro’s success has made Alejandro a wealthy man, and while he enjoys the comforts that come with it, he remains grounded, never forgetting where he came from. His frequent attendance at the yacht club and his luxurious lifestyle may suggest otherwise, but those who know him understand that Alejandro’s heart lies with his work, his community, and his unyielding desire to create something meaningful.

Alejandro’s life, for all its opulence, carries a longing that he rarely speaks of—his desire to be a family man. Life, however, hasn’t permitted that dream to fully materialize just yet. Perhaps it’s the demands of his career, or maybe the elusive nature of true love, but Alejandro remains a bachelor, his one-bedroom apartment in Coral Cove a quiet contrast to the lively persona he projects.

Despite his single status, Alejandro is far from lonely. His life is rich with experiences, friendships, and the satisfaction of having built something truly his own. Yet, there’s a part of him that yearns for the simple joys of family life—a dream he’s determined to achieve someday, when the timing is right.

In Palmview, Alejandro is both admired and envied. His success, charisma, and humility have earned him the moniker “The Prince of His Own Making,” a title he’s come to embrace. He’s a fixture in the community, respected for his contributions to the town’s culture and economy, yet he remains somewhat of an outsider among Palmview’s elite. Alejandro’s disdain for those who flaunt their wealth without substance has put him at odds with certain members of the upper class, but he’s never been one to back down from his principles.

Alejandro Destrade lives life as a grand spectacle, embracing every moment with a fervor that’s both inspiring and intimidating. He’s a man who has made his own way in life, a self-made success story with a heart as deep as the ocean he loves. In Palmview, Alejandro isn’t just a man—he’s a legend in the making, with a story that’s far from over.

WANTED CONNECTIONS

tba once more <3

[givingboysflowers]

idea if it inspires you at any point, I’d be very into reading one about Antonio Banderas as El Mariachi in Desperado. that counts as a foreign film, sorta? If it doesn’t I apologise !! this new page is such a good idea! characters from every part of the world and from every culture deserve appreciation 🤗

Hello! I haven't seen Desperado in forever, but if I remember correctly the movie is mainly in English so I'd probably end up writing for Antonio on my normal 70s-90s movie blog.

I'm still working out the kinks but I'm pretty sure that that's how I'm going to be deciding where my posts go. If the movie is originally (at least mostly) in a language other than english, it goes on this blog. But no worries! I don't think I've been perfectly clear with how things are going to work so that's on me lol.

Regardless, thank you so much! I hope my writing will continue to make you guys proud!💕

[skitty-kirby]

Eric Stuart talks about voicing in the Kirby anime

Something that comes up a lot when people first watch the English dub of the Kirby anime is how quirky some of the voices are, especially for the three Knights- And of course, me being the nerd I am; if ya don't know, Eric Stuart voiced all three characters (+ a few others in the show) and actually had reasonings for giving them the accents we know them by. In an OLD interview from 2012 starting at 8:40, he says that he was basically given free reign to express these characters as he wanted, and in particular had great inspiration from Antonio Banderas for Meta Knight (before Banderas had a career in voicing animated characters at that!). I totally suggest giving it a watch, he even brings up the hilarious dynamic of voicing Sword, Blade, and Gus as well, albeit shortly. These facts will always live rent free in my mind anyhow LMAO

[tinyreviews]

I love Perrito! A flat arc done right.

Puss in Boots: The Last Wish is a 2022 American computer-animated adventure film produced by DreamWorks Animation and distributed by Universal Pictures. The sequel to Puss in Boots (2011), based on the character from Shrek 2 (2004) and inspired from the fairy tale by Giovanni Francesco Straparola. The voice cast includes Antonio Banderas and Salma Hayek Pinault, with Harvey Guillén, Florence Pugh, Olivia Colman, Ray Winstone, Samson Kayo, John Mulaney, Wagner Moura, Da'Vine Joy Randolph, and Anthony Mendez. 

[mandi-cakes]

Next up, in sharing my BG3 Tav children…

My bardlock, Miguel de Navarre. Or rather, His royal Highness, Prince Miguel Luis Antonio Fernando Santiago de Navarre. However, since BG3 only allows so many letters in a tav's name, It's simply Miguel de Navarre. He is a nonsense boi.

I've had this lad sitting on my list of playable DnD characters for a long while, and I figured, since it was likely going to be a long while before I can use him in an actual DnD campaign (as is the case with a lot of my PCs), I'd at least play him in BG3. For a little of his backstory prior to using him in game--and remember, this is outside of BG3:

Miguel is not originally from Faerun. Instead he is from another continent entirely (where exactly IDK, I made up his home country and named it after a real world place that is off the coast of Spain). He's a disgraced Prince living in exile, who was cast out for making the royal family look bad. He'd been bedding everyone from castle staff to foreign dignitaries, and ditched his betrothed at the altar (an arranged marriage he didn’t want). Thus he was disowned, and is even forbidden to speak his mother tongue. So Miguel travels from place to place, and makes his living as a bard. But, being of royal blood with lavish taste, and a desire for the finer things in life...Miguel eventually found that affording those things as a singular bard was really hard to achieve. How is one supposed to afford a cushy place to bed down at night when public taste for good music and poetry is so subjective? Or nonexistent... And coin is hard to come by... Migs was going to need somebody to care for him in the way he felt he deserved... Yes, he was aiming to be somebody's sugarbaby. Of course he would, he's a prince, he's not going to take care of himself. In time, he encounters an archfey who promises to do just that--not in the way you think, though. Yeah, Miguel is a bit of a whore--he's a bard--but not everything has to be about sex, ok? (I'm laughing as I write this) Not that he scores all that much anyway. Hell, not even he's patron wants Miguel like that. The situation is more like, 'work for me, and I'll provide you with what you want or need'. However, the downside to Miguel's patron is that it's Hyrsam, the Satyr Prince of Fools. Of course, he would attract Hyrsam as a patron... Miguel is 100% free range himbo.

Look at him, this absolute baby, with those puppy doge eyes. Such idiot. Much fool. Wow.

Anyway.

In terms of characterization, I put Antonio Banderas and Puss in Boots in a blender, and out came Miguel.

For Manner of dress...possibly a matador inspired aristocratic outfit, or as close as I could get. Big, fancy hat with a big and fluffy feather plume. Like, is he a matador, a prince, or just a fancy pirate? Either way, he is extremely ostentatious. However, the outfit that I had in mind for Miguel doesn't exist in BG3, so I've had to make do with what I could get once I was in a position to upgrade his wardrobe.

So fancy. Like others before him, twas tempted by the other himbo of the vampiric variety.

But, ultimately, Miguel chose Gale. Can't resist the Rizzard of Waterdeep.

*sigh* Look at them... (ಥ﹏ಥ)

I love these two dummies together.

I'm still playing Miguel's run, so I'll update this once I'm done.

[kevinsreviewcatalogue]

Review: Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (2022)

 Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (2022)

Rated PG for action/violence, rude humor/language, and some scary moments

<Originally posted at https://kevinsreviewcatalogue.blogspot.com/2023/12/review-puss-in-boots-last-wish-2022.html>

Score: 5 out of 5

Puss in Boots: The Last Wish is a movie I missed last year, which made it kind of annoying to hear so many people praising it to the heavens as one of the best animated films in years, not least of all because I'm the kind of guy who does not like spoilers. Flying down to Florida just in time to share a house with three little kids over Christmas break gave me the perfect opportunity to check it out, and the only thing I'm disappointed about is not seeing it sooner. It doesn't reinvent the wheel or have any pretensions of being a particularly revelatory movie, but it's still an outstandingly well-put-together one in everything from the animation to the characters to the humor to the mayhem. Putting it side-by-side with Shrek, the film that put DreamWorks Animation in the spotlight and which this one is a sequel to a spinoff of, shows just how much the studio has evolved in the twenty-plus years since then, going from mischievous, Looney Tunes-esque pop culture spoofs with barbs aimed directly at Disney to a kind of family-friendly, character-driven adventure comedy that's clearly inspired by the Mouse but still has enough unique style and dramatic edge to stand out. I don't really have much to add to the conversation on this one except to say that it's easily one of the best films that DreamWorks has ever made, especially given what I thought of the movie they released just eight months before this, and one that I expect to stick around as a classic just like Shrek itself.

Set in a fantasy/fairy-tale version of Spain, our eponymous protagonist is an intelligent cat who has exploited his nine lives to become an adventurer who doesn't fear death... at least, not until he loses his eighth life thanks to his carelessness fighting a monster attacking a town. Suddenly, he no longer feels so invincible, especially once he encounters a mysterious wolf bounty hunter who seeks to claim his ninth and final life after watching him squander his previous eight. Going into retirement in an elderly cat lady's home after burying his sword and gear, Puss is dragged back to the world of adventure when Goldilocks, the thuggish leader of the Three Bears Crime Family (guess who her "enforcers" are), seeks to hire him to find the Wishing Star, a magical rock that would grant one wish to whoever discovers it -- and she won't take no for an answer. Puss decides that this star is his key to regaining his nine lives, and with help from an old flame named Kitty Softpaws, he sets out to find it himself, staying one step ahead of Goldilocks, the evil businessman "Big" Jack Horner who wants it for his own ends, and of course, the Wolf.

The look of the film is one of the most immediately striking things about it. While it's not the first film to use cel shading to make computer animation emulate the look of hand-drawn animation while being distinct from both (Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and The Mitchells vs. the Machines did something similar recently), it's going for a different set of influences than those films, its look instead resembling a mix of the fairy tale artwork that the Shrek movies have always spoofed and anime in the action scenes. The settings feel lifted almost from a highly stylized painting or storybook, while the action looks downright sublime, the film's characters doing battle, chasing one another, and facing various treacherous foes on their quest for the Wishing Star in all manner of awesome ways. Even as cats, Puss and Kitty came across as credible and cool adventure heroes, especially with Antonio Banderas and Salma Hayek Pinault leaning heavily into their live-action screen personas, Banderas playing Puss as a riff on Zorro where the only real "parody" element comes from his species and Hayek playing Kitty as the cool femme fatale who has history with the hero that they'll inevitably have to settle. Florence Pugh was hilarious doing her best gender-flipped Ray Winstone impression as Goldilocks, especially with the real Winstone himself voicing one of the three bears (alongside Olivia Colman and Samson Kayo), while John Mulaney made Horner into an absolute bastard who I couldn't wait to see get his well-deserved comeuppance. At first glance, with three separate groups of characters all racing for the Wishing Star, this film can feel sprawling, and yet it always manages to tie these three stories together in a way that feels organic.

The key to doing this was the Wolf. From the moment we're introduced to him, he's presented as a metaphorical representation of death itself, an impossibly skilled fighter who trounces and nearly kills Puss in their first encounter and who is seemingly unstoppable from that point onward, every meeting he has with Puss feeling like it could be their last. The film's comedy stops dead cold whenever the whistling announcing his arrival starts up, Wagner Moura's performance lending him an almost demonic menace without going over-the-top into cackling supervillainy. He is one of the best villains I've seen in any animated film in a long while, a no-nonsense monster whose evil combines the most terrifying elements of an unstoppable force of nature and somebody who hates you personally, the closest thing that a family film could come to an outright slasher movie villain. There have been many jokes made about this film having one of the most realistic depictions of a panic attack in any animated film, but watching it, it was no joke: I understood immediately how this guy completely disarmed Puss' suave, arrogant demeanor and left him a trembling wreck running for his life. The Wolf wasn't just scary, he was a perfect villain for Puss, a representation of how his wasted life is finally catching up with him, and watching Puss reach a place where he can finally confront the Wolf and turn the tables on him was immeasurably satisfying.

From this, we get a fairly simple moral that largely boils down to a celebration of living life to the fullest rather than either wasting it on hedonism or remaining stuck in an idealized past. It's nothing revolutionary, but not only is it exactly the kind of thing that the fairy tales this movie is sending up have long embraced, it's well-told enough that I fully bought into it. If the original Shrek was a deconstructive parody of fairy tales that sent up their moral messages while offering a few of its own, then this film serves largely as a more faithful, straightforward throwback to them, amped up with a swashbuckling action/adventure plot and some jokes for the parents but otherwise falling squarely within the modern, post-Kung Fu Panda DreamWorks wheelhouse.

The Bottom Line

It's a very straightforward movie once you get past the stylish animation, but hardly to a fault, as it's still a riotous, heartfelt, and just plain awesome ride that delivers exactly where it counts and doesn't overstay its welcome. Easily one of the best family films of the last ten years.

[thetruejerrycan]

Happy 1 year anniversary to Gungrave G.O.R.E!

A lot of you are probably scratching your heads right now wondering what the hell this is. Well, let's just say that an obscure PS2 series made its return after almost 20 years of inactivity. And Gungrave G.O.R.E feels like it picks up right after 2004's Gungrave Overdose in all but graphics.

To briefly provide some context, Gungrave is a series of third-person shooter games and is the brainchild of Red Entertainment and Yasuhiro Nightow, creator of Trigun. The player assumes control of Beyond The Grave (Grave, for short), a corpse who has been resurrected to enact his revenge on the organization that had him killed and to destroy the drug that made all of this possible, Seed. Equipped with two hand cannons named Cerberus and a transforming coffin-shaped weapon named Death Hauler, the player engages in stylish gunplay inspired by the films of directors John Woo and Robert Rodriguez, with Grave himself bearing resemblance to Antonio Banderas's character El Mariachi from Desperado.

Despite the game seemingly being made on a rather small budget, Gungrave G.O.R.E features an alumni of legendary game producers, with Yasuhiro Nightow (Trigun) returning as image director, Ikumi Nakamura (Ghost of Tsushima) creating many of the character designs, Tetsuya Shibata (Devil May Cry) and Yoshino Aoki (Mega Man Battle Network) composing much of the soundtrack, and select cutscenes being animated by Digic Pictures (Assassin's Creed).

Gungrave G.O.R.E has had a rather unique development, being a console game developed by a South Korean studio, Iggymob. I encourage you to check out this video by Blue that goes a little bit into how Gungrave G.O.R.E came to be and why the fact that this is a Korean console game is more interesting than it may seem. They've included their sources in the description for further reading.

Looking at what director Kay Kim has had to say about Gungrave G.O.R.E's development, you can tell this was a game developed by the fans for the fans. When Gungrave G.O.R.E was first announced, it was slated to be an open-world game similar to Dark Souls. Later, taking influence from the likes of Metal Gear Rising, Bayonetta, and Devil May Cry, it was decided that the game would revert to its original linear mission-based structure. Kim has gone on record to say that the original open-world version of the game was "terrible" and expressed concern that this isn't what a Gungrave fan who has been waiting 20 years for another installment would want to play.

This is not something that a greedy businessman who bought the rights to a long-gone game series to cash in on nostalgia would ever care about. Gungrave G.O.R.E, whether it's a good game or a bad game, is a passion project before anything else. When this game first released last year, it was rough and naturally received patches over time. And these patches universally only heavily improved the game, such as making Grave's moveset more versatile, making the controls more accessible, and heavily altering levels to the point where some sections such as those that required Grave to platform were simply removed.

The game is in odd state at the moment. The original release on consoles and PC were published by Prime Matter, and earlier this year they released Gungrave G.O.R.E: Ultimate Enhanced Edition on the Nintendo Switch, which includes "over 100 changes" to the game including further improvements to the game's controls, further alterations to level design, new mechanics, and extra playable characters such as Gungrave Overdose's Rocketbilly Redcadillac, and Harry MacDowell. This is odd because not only are these magnitude of changes exclusive to U.E.E, which is only on Switch, Iggymob self-published this release.

I don't know what the future has in store for Gungrave or Studio Iggymob, but let us take today and every day after to celebrate that Gungrave G.O.R.E even happened because of them. Thank you for being the reason my new favorite game series made such a kick-ass return, and godspeed on future endeavors.

[thealmightyemprex]

RAnking the Shrek/Puss In Boots Movies

With the recent release of Puss in Boots the Last Wish , I was inspired to revisit a franchise I hadnt revisited in a long time.So I watched all SIX Shrek/Puss In Boots movies

For those who dont know this franchise the basic premise is this is a fairy tale world that makes fun of ,subverts and plays with fairy tale tropes .For the first four films we follow an ogre named Shrek who falls in love with a princess ,and in the last two we follow one of Shreks sidekicks ,the dashing outlaw Puss In Boots

Based on a childrens book Shrek! by William Steig (Which I have read ,and I think might have been an influence on me as a creative) the film franchise became reallly big....And then it went kinda dormant.It has a weird legacy ,where it changed animation forever ,some of it not in good ways , and it was memed to hell . So I went into this project curious what my thoughts were gonna be , I had seen all the films save for the fourth one,watched the first two ALOT in my childhood ,but I hadnt thought about the series in forever ,till this new Puss In Boots came out

Well I watched all the series in order,and here is my ranking from worst to best

Minor Spoilers going forward cause I am talking about these stories out of order

Number 6 :Shrek the Third (2007)

Shrek goes on a quest to find the next heir to the throne of Far Far Away while coming to terms with the fact he is about to be a father ,meanwhile the kingdom is being taken over by an army of villains lead by Prince Charming

Yeah this might be the least surprising ranking on the list,this movie is bad ,The film has like a million ideas it wants to do and it doesnt do them well. I hate the new characters it introduce and I just cringe at multiple scenes (I say the death and funaeral of the king is the worst scene in the entire franchise ).I feel kind of bad putting it so low,as I dislike the film above it slightly more.....But the more about the Third the more I realize how BAD it is

5.Shrek Forever AFter(2010)

Shrek frustrated with the changes in his life makes a deal with Rumplestiltskin to spend one carefree day being a terrifying ogre in exchange for a day from when he was a baby,.,,,Unfortunately he gave up the day he was born ,and must find a way to break the curse before he vanishes at sunrise

Tedious and dull.Look I know this movie has its fans but I am not one of them , I kind of really dislike this film and its cause I dislike Its Wonderful Life pastiches . I dont know if I laughted once while watching .I dont care about these new ogre characters we meet and I dont really care about these alternate takes on the main characters.I also admit ,I had gotten really sick of Shreks woe as me shtick cause he grumbles about his damn swamp every movie . I kept flip flopping over whether to place this or three at the bottom,cause I think,personally I dislike this more then three .That said....Its better made then three ,there more of a plot ,we have a clear goal,Rumplestiltskin is kinda fun ,the climax is good and I think Mike Meyers gives a really great performance as Shrek .I kept flip flopping over whether to place this or three at the bottom,and truth is three is worse ,I can see general audiences not having the hang ups I have .This movie isnt bad ,I just personally dont like it

4.Puss In Boots (2011)

Puss teams up with his old friend Humpty Dumpty and professional thief Kitty Softpaws to steal magic beans Puss and Humpty has been after since childhood

This one is OK . I think it gives Puss much more character then he got in the previous Shrek films ,Antonio Banderas and Selma Hayak give very solid performances as Puss and Kitty rspectfully ,it had moments I found really hilarious and as its a whole its a fun action adventure story. My big problems are the last act where bifg threat is a giant goose is underwhelming and.....Look I am just gonna say it Humpty Dumptys design freaks me the hell out ,hes very unsettling to look at.Dont like his character or performance much either .Its not a bad film but its just a fun action romp and not much more

3.Shrek (2001)

Shrek,joined by Donkey , reluctantly goes on a quest to save Princess Fiona in order to get a bunch of fairy tale creatures off his land

The first Shrek ,though it has aged in the 22 years since its release (God I feel old ) ,is a special film that I think is very good .I dont even consider it a family film,theres a lot of stuff that goes over kids heads in this .To me this both a buddy comedy / rom com first ,fantasy animated movie second .The main romance and moral are great ,I love the pop song soundtrack ,the voice cast consisting of Mike Meyers ,Eddie Murphy,Cameron Diaz and John Lithgow are great , theres some memorable lines ,and I like that the film is both salty and sweet ,sweet with the relationships Shrek has with Fiona and Donkey ,but salty with the satire agaianst Disney and vulgar/mean humor ,which works in this film cause its has a point .Now I do think the film can be too mean,specially with all the short jokes pointed at the villain , theres an annoying third act misunderstanding , not all the jokes land and I'm sorry the animation has aged like milk,the human characters especially look ugly .Overall though ,Shrek has become a classic,and I think it deserves to be called that

2.Shrek 2 (2004)

Shrek and Fiona arrive in Far Far Away to meet Fionas parents ,not knowing that their marriage has interferred with a bargain King Harold made with the Fairy Godmother to set Fiona up with PRince Charming

Shrek 2 is a legit great movie and possibly one of the best animated comedies I have ever seen ,like I cant stress enough how friggin funny this movie is .The returning cast are all great,and we get some great new peformances by Antonio Bandera,Jennifer Saunders ,John Cleese ,Rupert Everett and Julie Andrews.Animation has held up well ,the villain is amazing,this film introduces Puss who is a ton of fun here ,the pop songs are again great.....And the film has one of the best scene in any morie:The Holding Out For A Hero scene ,the movie is worth watching just for that scene .Overall I think it just does what a sequel is supposed to do ,in that it builds on the first film,and I think surpasses it

And now we get to my favorite film in the Shrek film.And I must ask.....WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE FEARLESS HEROOOOO-

1.Puss In Boots the Last Wish

Puss is on his last life ,and sets out on a journey to find the wishing star,however he is not the only one after it so the race is on

This is a very recent film.....And I have already watched it three times.....This might not only be my favorite film in the Shrek series,,,,,This might be my favorite Dream Works movie .....I kind of love this movie.What can I say ,I love movies about diffrent characters questing for a goal ,I love action and the action is fantastic ,and I adore good villains and we have two great villains here plus a group of very entertaining anti villains .What I really love is that it actually explores its characters ,and Puss and Kitty are given a bit of depth here .Its also the most gorgeous Shrek movie going for a more stylized look ,this might be one of my favorite animate films ever and it is definately my favorite of the Shrek/Puss In Boots series

What are your thoughts?Lets discuss this series

@autistic-prince-cinderella @themousefromfantasyland @princesssarisa @the-blue-fairie @goodanswerfoxmonster @angelixgutz @ariel-seagull-wings @marquisedemasque @amalthea9 @filmcityworld1

[bjsmall]

01.05.23 We watched Puss In Boots: The Last Wish (2022). IMDb link: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3915174/ Puss In Boots: The Last Wish is a 2022 computer animated adventure film produced by DreamWork's Animation and distributed by Universal Pictures. It is the sequel to the 2011 film Puss In Boots. It is directed by Joel Crawford and co-directed by Januel Mercado. Based on the character from Shrek 2 (2004) and inspired by the fairytale, the films screenplay was written by Paul Fisher and Tommy Swerdlow, with a story by Swerdlow and Tom Wheeler. The voice cast of Puss In Boots: The Last Wish includes Antonio Banderas and Salma Hayek reprising their respective roles as Puss In Boots and Kitty Softpaws. In Puss In Boots: The Last Wish, Puss In Boots and Kitty Softpaws team up with Perrito (Harvey Guillén) to find the mystical wishing star to obtain the last wish in order to restore the first eight of his nine lives. Also hunting the star are Goldilocks and her three bears crime family (Florence Pugh, Olivia Colman, Ray Winstone and Samson Kayo) as well as Big Jack Horner (John Mulaney). At the same time Puss In Boots tries to avoid a mysterious hooded wolf (Wagner Moura). For the action packed plot, see wiki link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puss_in_Boots:_The_Last_Wish Work on the first draft began in 2012 and by 2014 the working title was Puss In Boots 2: Nine Lives and 40 Thieves. In August 2020, DreamWorks trademarked Puss In Boots: The Last Wish as the new title. The voice cast members were announced in March 2022. The director Joel Crawford wanted the film to retain the adult humour from previous films and also for the film to have a darker tone with the film focusing on Puss' mortality and fear of death. The story uses the concept of Puss being in the last of his nine lives in order to tell a story about how to enjoy life. He drew inspiration from fairytales by the Brothers Grimm, ''Cautionary tales that took you somewhere dark to make you appreciate the light.'' They also depicted Death as a wolf, just as wolves in Brothers Grimm stories were depicted as ''The personification of fear''. Other influences include Spaghetti Western films like 'The Good, The Bad and The Ugly'. As with DreamWork's previous film 'The Bad Guys (2022)' it was decided to make the Last Wish look more like storybook illustrations than previous Shrek movies. Using new technology provided by Lenovo, DreamWorks made the film look like a painted fairytale world quite different from that of Shrek and the original Puss In Boots. Puss In Boots Lenovo hardware links: https://www.lenovo.com/us/en/servers-storage/infrastructure-dreamworks/?orgRef=https%253A%252F%252Fwww.google.com%252F https://news.lenovo.com/pressroom/press-releases/preferred-workstation-innovation-partner-for-dreamworks-animation/ Puss In Boots: The Last Wish was animated with Premo and rendered using MoonRay, DreamWork's Production Renderer. MoonRay was first used in How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World (2019) and continues to be used today in many of their recent productions. In February 2023, DreamWorks released MoonRay as free, open-source software under the Apache License 2.0. https://openmoonray.org/index Puss In Boots: The Last Wish is shown in the 2.39:1 (Cinema-scope) aspect ratio. The musical score was composed by Heitor Pereira, replacing Henry Jackman from the first Puss In Boots. Additionally three original songs were composed specially for the film: 1. La Vida es Una performed by Karol G and co-written by Karol G and Daniel Ovledo. 2. Fearless Hero performed by Antonio Banderas and co-written by Dan Navarro and Paul Fisher. 3. Por Que Te Vas performed by Gaby Moreno and co-written by Gaby Moreno and Heitor Pereira. Some of the music from Shrek 2 which had been composed by Harry Gregson-Williams was used in the film. The soundtrack was released in December 16th 2022 by Black Lot Music. Puss In Boots: The Last Wish premiered at the Lincoln Centre in New York City on December 13th 2022 and was theatrically released on December 21st 2022. The film debuted a new logo opening for DreamWorks Animation showcasing characters from The Bad Guys, How To Train Your Dragon, Kung Fu Panda, The Boss Baby, Trolls and Shrek with a remastered fanfare composed by Harry Gregson-Williams, mixed with several notes from the 2019 fanfare composed by John Powell.

View the new DreamWork’s logo opening in 4K UHD here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zm6LCMdEHJw Puss In Boots: The Last Wish grossed $484.4 Million worldwide as of May 26 2023 and was a box office success. It is the 10th highest grossing animated film of 2022. Puss In Boots: The Last Wish was critically well received with an approval rating of 95% and an average rating of 7.6/10. Puss In Boots: The Last Wish was released digitally on January 6th 2023 for streaming and home media. Then a collectors edition was released on February 21st 2023, including a 4 minute CGI animated short film called Puss In Boots: The Trident. This was released on UHD Blu-Ray, Blu-Ray and DVD. As I've watched the first Puss In Boots and done a recent review on it I decided to checkout the sequel. Link to Puss In Boots (2011) review: https://www.tumblr.com/bjsmall/715865254211584000/100423-we-watched-dreamworks-puss-in-boots?source=share I think that the computer generated visuals are really impressive compared with the first Puss In Boots. I liked the way it is styled like picture book paintings and the movements of the characters appeared jerky like in a classic cartoon. The story is Definity darker perhaps appealing to more adult audiences while retaining much of the adult humour of its predecessors. My favourite character in 'The Last Wish' is Perrito, a chihuahua pretending to be a cat! Character wiki page: https://theadventuresofpussinboots.fandom.com/wiki/Perrito I like Perrito's friendly and caring nature towards Puss In Boots.

[ultimate-swordsmanship-bracket]

RETURN OF THE BRACKET: ROUND 1 MATCH 8: Pearl vs Zorro

A sword collector with a song about risking your life, in battle with a sword, for the person you love... vs the vigilante hero who some consider the first superhero, who inspired a few other characters in this tournament!

VS

Summaries under the cut:

Pearl is the character who trained one of our other contestants, Connie, in swordsmanship, and she's very skilled with that sabre. She also collects swords as a hobby. She sees herself as a knight dedicated to fighting to protect the person she loves, and has a song about this obsessive level of dedication and how willing she is to risk her life in combat; the episode this song comes from is called "Sworn To The Sword" [incidentally, this is one of those phrases that seems designed to make you mispronounce one or the other word. Like Sean Bean.]. Her primary weapon in modern times is a spear, but she can shorten it and turn it into a sword, and in flashbacks she used the sabre and apparently dual-wields swords at one point but I couldn't find an image of that.

Zorro, meanwhile, has been an iconic swordsman for over 100 years through various different adaptations of the story. I'm using an image from the Tyrone Power film because Tyrone Power was the most skilled fencer to portray him (the first film with Douglas Fairbanks was very much stage fighting, fun though it can be), but all versions of Zorro count for this. Yes, including Antonio Banderas' version even though he's not playing the original Zorro but his successor. I mean, he has That swordfight with Catherine Zeta-Jones, it would be sabotage to not allow that in here (the original Wilkinson Sword couple?) His famous trademark of carving a Z in his opponents' cheek or their clothing shows impressive precision with a blade and he's even been shown to somehow pick a lock with the tip of his sword.

[movieloversposts]

The Mask Of Zorro (1998) 8/10

On the run from the men who killed his brother, Alejandro Murrieta (Antonio Banderas) seeks the company of Don Diego de la Vega (Anthony Hopkins) who trains him to be the next Zorro, a masked outlaw/hero of the people. However, Alejandro isn't the only one who is out for revenge.

Let me just say that Antonio is eye candy.

On a more serious note, this movie is entertaining, with eye catching sword fights, and several chases. Anthony Hopkins' appearance here is very stark compared to Silence Of The Lambs. Here he appears friendly and homely, the type of man you'd probably see on your morning walk. Compared to Hannibal Lector, whom you just want to rot in prison for what he did. He plays the mentor to Antonio's Alejandro, a brave, yet slightly naive person who just wants justice done to avenge his brother.

Catherine Zeta-Jones's Elena is so elegant, and soft spoken. She has moments of anger, and her fierce personality comes through at times, but she just wants peace, if anything. She's well rounded, and not easily swayed as she makes herself look. She's underestimated by the men in the film, but she finds a way to prove them wrong, in her own way.

The character Zorro is also the inspiration for Puss In Boots, also another character that Antonio Banderas plays. The hat, the signature 'Z', the boots and cape, are all stark references with Puss. (However, Puss uses a 'P' instead of 'Z').

There's not much thinking involved; this is a movie about getting revenge, really. That would be one of the themes. Another theme would be successor and mentor. There's also racism, sexism, and how the rich will do anything to stay rich, while keeping the poor people poor. All of these speak for themselves.

This is a good, funny, romantic action movie to watch, especially if you're bored.

[adamwatchesmovies]

Shrek: Forever After (2010)

After Shrek the Third, I suspect many didn't even bother with Shrek Forever After but this final instalment in the series ties up the franchise in a pleasant, satisfying way. It’s not on the level of the first two. What it does well, however, does make it worth seeing.

Shrek (voiced by Mike Myers) has grown weary of his present situation. The monotony of home life with Fiona (Cameron Diaz) and the three ogre children make him pine for the days when he was a “real ogre”. When Shrek meets Rumpelstiltskin (Walt Dohrn), the imp tricks him into signing a contract that alters the past. In the new present, Shrek never rescued Fiona and Rumpel rules the kingdom of Far Far Away.

This story isn’t all that original. It’s yet another take on It’s a Wonderful Life. It still works. The previous film introduced many ideas that would’ve hampered any conventional sequel. The number of magical creatures to keep track of ballooned with the introduction of the three ogre children - essentially non-characters -, Shrek regressed emotionally by going back to his swamp and no one wanted more of Arthur or Merlin (neither of which are even mentioned in Shrek 4). Putting Shrek in a situation where he’s all alone is a good move. He and the audience get back some of that magic from the first movie when Smash Mouth’s All Star played and the green-skinned terror was doing whatever he wanted. Then, we remember the growth we’ve experienced since that first adventure and want it back.

A big part of this film's success comes from Rumpelstiltskin. The character is hilarious. Walt Dorn's voice tells you everything you need to know about him instantly, and his mannerisms make him a great, memorable - and original - foe. Every time he’s on-screen, he steals the show. He’s a great addition to the series, much more than the numerous ogres introduced - part of a resistance against Rumpelstilskin's dominion. They feel like a cheat because they come out of nowhere. It isn’t as though previous movies dealt with other ogres besides Shrek. How would him not being born make them spontaneously appear?

The previous chapter made it clear the well of jokes at the expense of Grimm’s Fairy Tales and nursery rhymes had dried up. Well, almost. This film shows us two stories we haven't seen before: Rumpelstiltskin and the Pied Piper. Those aren't enough to carry an entire 93-minute running time, which is why the bulk of the jokes offered come from the franchise itself. We see an alternate version of Puss in Boots (Antonio Banderas) who, from lack of adventuring - has become fat and domesticated. Shrek meets Donkey (Eddie Murphy) for the first time again but now, Shrek is the clingy one. The ogre must get Fiona to fall in love with him, which causes us and the character to remember how well the love plot was executed in Shrek. At this point, it feels right to use nostalgia as a tool and our expectations being turned on their heads make for clever gags.

Shrek Forever After doesn’t quite have the same magic as the first two movies. The story isn’t as inspired, the musical choices don’t hit the mark the way they used to. By focusing on nostalgia and the love story, it makes up for these flaws. Although this is a more serious story than we’ve seen before, the laughs come consistently. It’s a fitting conclusion the fans will be pleased with. (October 4, 2019)