A reclusive ogre starts a reluctant friendship with a talkative donkey. They embark on an adventure to rescue a princess from the clutches of a dragon and return her to the local Lord for marriage.

Some of the best animation to reach the big screen thus far. The textures and lighting effects are truly a marvel. Besides technical brilliance, Shrek has a pretty strong story and several very funny moments. It might be predictable, but hey, it's a fairy tale. Most laughs come courtesy of Donkey (Murphy), but some of the bigger jokes surround a tortured gingerbread man. Count on plenty of "ass" jokes, too.

This, and both Toy Story films, could be the most perfect children's movies I've ever seen. Although, because of the pure fantasy in Shrek, the Toy Story films seem easier to relate to. That's not a knock against Shrek, just an observation. Shrek can stand on its own against most films; and certainly against any children's film. Shrek is close to perfect when categorized as a Children's Movie, and nearly as impressive on a broader scale.

Directed by Andrew Adamson & Vicky Jenson.