Shrek (2001) - 15 questions

Question: In a movie with talking ogres, pigs, mice, wolves, and all sorts of animals, why is everyone so surprised to find a talking donkey?

Answer: Who is "everyone"? The only person surprised he can talk is the one human who is processing the fairytale creatures for banishment, and this was used as a plot device to highlight a joke (between him flying and talking).

Question: Just after Shrek asks, "What kind of quest?" someone in the background appears to be laughing. Who is it and why is he laughing?

Answer: I ran through the DVD three times and after Shrek says, "What kind of quest?", there is NO laughter at all! He says the line, then there is a quick edit to the next scene where Shrek and Donkey are emerging from a sea of sunflowers. There IS a backround noise of a bird; maybe that is what you heard?

Question: Where did the inspiration for Shrek's ears come from?

Answer: The Andorians on Star Trek.

Question: I'm still confused about something. Why was Fiona turned into an ogre in the first place? All she says is that a witch cast a spell on her, but they never mention it again.

Answer: The Fairy Godmother curses her so that her son, Charming, can free her and become king. This is made clear in the second movie.

Question: How come the movie was rated PG-13 for the theatrical release, but was changed to PG for the VHS/DVD release?

Answer: IMDB has the movie listed rated at PG, not PG-13. http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0126029/.

Question: Near the end, when the knights are attacking Shrek, what is Lord Farquaad saying in the background?

Answer: "Ugh. It's disgusting. Guards. Guards. I order you to get that out of my sight now. Get them. Get them both."

Question: In theatrical trailers, when the dwarves put Snow White on Shrek's table, he says "Dead girl off the table." In the real movie, however, "girl" becomes "broad", according to the subtitles. Is there a reason why?

Answer: This is most likely because "broad" isn't too nice of a word, and children of any age could watch the trailer. Parents wouldn't want their children to copy inapropriate language, obviously.

Question: I've seen the French version of the film, and the opening credits have been taken out. Can someone please tell me why this might be?

Answer: Because none of the English-speaking cast 'appear' in the film, as all of the voices were redone by French-speaking actors. As such, the original credit sequence is pointless, and it would have been a lot of work to redo the credit sequence for every single different language that the film had to be redubbed into. Hence the choice not to have one.

Question: In the French version of the film, the names Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, and John Lithgow do not appear in the beginning. Can someone please tell me why this is and what other versions (Germany, Italy, etc.) if so, have this occurrence?

Answer: The actors' names do not appear because the actors do not feature in any of the international versions where the voice track is dubbed rather than subtitled. As only their voices are used, not 'live action' performances, the non-english language releases are essentially different movies with a totally different cast list.

Question: Did Fiona kill the bird on purpose to get its eggs?

Answer: No, it's a dark, ironic joke based on Snow White. There are several reference to Disney and its products throughout the movie.

Question: When Fiona is trying to hide from Donkey in the old windmill and falls through the floor, she gets up and spoofs something. What does she spoof?

Answer: Any monster film which reveals the monster from a low angle, dusty, silhouetted character with arms spreading out from the sides. Just a classic entrance for a villain or for a big reveal of a character.

Question: What is the song played near the end, and who sings it? (The "Alleluia" one.)

Answer: The song is called Hallelujah, written by Leonard Cohen and performed by Rufs Wainwright.

Question: I was wondering if anyone could tell me what the words are to the song in the Duloc information booth? I have been trying to figure them out for ages, but the words aren't clear enough, and I can't check subtitles because I have the tape, not the DVD.

Answer: Welcome to Duloc, such a perfect town. Here we have some rules, let us lay them down. Don't make waves, stay in line and we'll get along fine. Duloc is a perfect place. Please keep off of the grass, Shine your shoes, wipe your ... face. Duloc is, Duloc is, Duloc is a per-fect plaaaaaaace.

Question: What is parfey, which is supposedly the most delicious thing on the whole damn planet?

Answer: It's parfait. It's a cold dessert made of layers of fruit, ice cream, flavored syrup,sometimes cake and whipped cream. While I wouldn't call it the most delicious thing on the whole damn planet, they are pretty darn good.

Question: In the scene where Lord Farquaad and the gingerbread man are talking, they start talking about the 'Muffin Man'. What is this all about?

Answer: It is an old children's fairy tale (just like almost everything else in the movie). For further information, check this website: http://www.kididdles.com/mouseum/m027.html.