When Shrek is introduced however the typical fairytale idea is reversed. This is created with the use of presentational devices, where Shrek destroys the setting of mis-en-scene by ripping out the last page of the antique book and using it as toilet paper. Other devices used were; rather than us seeing the traditional fairytale prince we are showed a filthy looking ogre with very disgusting habits. Also instead of having being shown a magical palace we are presented with a filthy swamp, and the main structure in shot being a toilet shack. By using this technique it creates humour which is not normally present in a traditional fairytales. The music suddenly changes from the classical music to a more up beat and modern tune by Smash Mouth called All Star. Though the techniques used, the idea of a fairytale has been completely destroyed, instead it creates a different impression on how the film will continue.
The characteristics of Shrek are like those of a traditional ogre. He is shown to live a disgusting life with bad habits. As well as these it seems that Shrek is careless to the environment around him and is only concerned for himself, it seems that he is happy living by himself and he is aware that he has a reputation of being a very ugly and scary beast.
Despite these characteristics Shrek show signs of his individuality, by not seeming violent or blood-thirsty, as instead of eating the villagers that try to attack him, he scares them away instead. This gives us the impression that he wants to live in privacy. His swamp or home is shown as cold and hard on the outside but inside it seems warn and friendly. In the beginning when it shows the villagers grabbing there pitch forks, it then shows Shrek picking up a spoon eating soup, and this makes him seem a calm and relaxed person, while the villagers are the violent people, reversing the effect that fairytale ogres are blood-thirsty. As the film goes on we see a change in Shrek’s character as he meets Donkey. Rather than being selfish, he changes to be a friendlier individual. He doesn’t mind Donkey talking to him; in fact he is surprised that Donkey is not bothered that he is an ogre. I think Donkey plays an important part in how we see Shrek, he helps to reverse the idea of Shrek being like a traditional ogre.
Further in the film Shrek is shown as a hero when he desires to remove the fairytale creatures off his land. This causes the fairytale creatures to cheer, creating the image of Shrek being a hero instead of an ugly ogre. While Shrek is shown to be a hero Lord Farquaad image also changes from a tall charming prince, to a little selfish and evil ruler. We first get the impression of a tall charming ruler, because of the low angle camera shots, making him look bigger then he actually is, however we then see him walk past a guard and see that he is really a small man, helping to reverse the idea of a tall charming prince.
Using presentational devices, the makers of Shrek reverse the idea of a warm hearted and charming prince with use of the introduction. The mis-en-scene that is created for Lord Farquaad’s entrance is the dark dungeons with torches on the wall, creating a threatening atmosphere, giving us the impression of evil. To help this impression we are then shown Lord Farquaad torturing the gingerbread man, during this however the magic mirror from snow white is brought in, so he stops the torturing and plays a dating game with the mirror’s help. He chooses a princess but while doing this he shows little emotion making him seem selfish.
The people of Duloc help portray the fact that Lord Farquaad is a bad ruler, because we see that they have to be prompted to cheer or clap, for him. When Shrek turns up at the tournament and has to fight with the knights, he first suggests that they settle it over a pint, which suggest that he doesn’t want to fight he would prefer to settle more rationally. However when he has to fight the audience automatically cheer for Shrek without any prompting needed, making it look like the people of Duloc prefer Shrek more than Lord Farquaad.
The tournament was being held so that Lord Farquaad could have the reward of marrying Princess Fiona but instead of him going to rescue her he wants to sent one of his guards to, this makes him seem like a coward. However at the end of the tournament he makes a deal with Shrek, which involves Shrek saving the princess so that he can have his land back.
When saving the princess Shrek doesn’t follow what happens in normal fairytales, for instance instead of kissing her to wake her up he shakes her, secondly he doesn’t slay the dragon before saving her, thirdly he takes a donkey instead of a horse and finally once he has saved the princess he misuses the token of gratitude she gives him. During his return with the princess he develops feelings of love for the princess, which shows a softer side to him. When back he interrupts the wedding to express his love to Fiona, only to find out she feels the same. They get married and live happily ever after, as Lord Farquaad got eaten by the dragon just like a traditional villains death.
I feel the moral of the film was ‘never judge some by how they look rather than their personality’ I think this is shown very well in Shrek.
