Shrek and Snow White Essay Example

demonstrated in various ways. For instance, Snow White's story is presented in Received pronunciation instead of a Scottish accent, which would have been deemed unacceptable at that time. Additionally, modern viewers tend to be lazier compared to the past. While it was effortless for the earlier audience to read the book on a screen, contemporary audiences prefer to have the story told to them without having to read anything. This is illustrated in Shrek, where the story is read aloud.

Upon ripping out a page and declaring "What a load of rubbish!," Shrek subverts expectations set by traditional storybooks. The ripping of the page is accompanied by loud, modern music and represents our initial introduction to the character. Emerging from a toilet, Shrek's appearance diverges greatly from other fairy tale creatures, as he carries out his daily routine. Despite being an unattractive green ogre, his friendly smile endears us to him.

The character in "Shrek" is portrayed as using bug slime for toothpaste and farting during his bath - actions that would have been deemed inappropriate in 1930s films, creating a contrast with "Snow White". "Shrek", written by William Steig and produced by Disney in 2001, defied conventional fairy tale rules by featuring an ugly ogre as the leading character, along with a talking donkey and a short, misshapen lord.

In addition to featuring established fairytale characters, like Pinocchio and the wolf from Little Red Riding Hood, Shrek exaggerates the characters to create humorous stereotypes. Despite sharing similarities with Snow White in terms of beauty, Princess Fiona differs in appearance with her long ginger hair and freckled skin.

Snow White's appearance is comparable to that of an

'English rose', with her dark locks, fair complexion, and red lips. Unlike Fiona, who has a tomboyish disposition and a penchant for fighting her own battles - such as when she takes on Robin Hood and his gang - Snow White is a traditional, soft-spoken woman from the 1930s. These differences can be attributed to the distinct time periods in which the films take place and the varying audiences who view them.

Fiona is an admirable example for contemporary girls as she embodies independence and assertiveness in expressing her emotions. In contrast to the societal expectations placed upon women during the 1930s, which required them to be meek and modest, Fiona displays a boldness that sets her apart from Snow White. While Snow White is characterized by her sugary sweetness and grace, Fiona exemplifies the traits of modern girls, possessing a straightforward nature and a sense of humor.

The musical styles in the two films diverge significantly. Shrek employs a lively and current soundtrack, while Snow White relies on a mellow and traditional score. These choices are appropriate for each movie's intended audience and era, and help to maintain their distinctive moods. Snow White must maintain a pure and child-friendly atmosphere, whereas Shrek features many humorous moments that resonate with contemporary viewers.

One important but often overlooked distinction is the use of camera angles, which depict characters from various perspectives. This technique is highly impactful, as exemplified in the scene where Shrek and Donkey first meet. When Donkey persistently trails him, Shrek becomes infuriated and confronts him, resulting in a low-angle shot.

Using various camera angles adds depth to a story and brings characters to life through the

use of special effects. By looking up at the subject in a shot, the subject appears larger and more threatening, as demonstrated with Shrek. On the other hand, a high angle shot can make a character seem small and unimportant, as seen with Lord Farquaad. The evil stepmother in Snow White is made to seem tall and dominating through the use of these angles. This technique connects the audience to the story by allowing them to see events from the character's perspective.

Although the audience may not be aware of it, camera angles play a crucial role in making a film visually impressive. Shrek is a comedic masterpiece that draws from various fairy tales, satirizing them to hilarious effect. One scene in which Fiona battles in the woods mirrors the action film 'The Matrix'. In contrast, while Snow White has some amusing moments, it lacks the humorous punch of Shrek. All of Shrek's characters are comical, not only in their dialogue but also in their appearance.

Both Lord Farquad and Dopey add comedic elements to their respective movies. Lord Farquad's diminutive size gives him a resemblance to a playing card's 'Jack', while Dopey's clumsiness and misunderstandings are the source of his humor in Snow White. Despite their differences, both films share some similarities. Both include a princess, hero, villain, and happy ending, despite the 70 year age difference between them.

In my opinion, although I also really like Snow White, Shrek is the better of the two films. Its use of technology and humorous gimmicks align well with current film trends in this genre. Additionally, I believe Snow White holds significant importance as a cornerstone for subsequent animated

works.