Dreamworks' Animated Films

Even though my main loyalties lie with PIXAR and Disney  ^*

, I'd be lying if I said I never enjoyed a Dreamworks film. Honestly, I know that they can be cheesy and cliched at times but damn they are a also a heck of a lot of fun to watch! Sure they've made some bad films, but they've also made several really funny and awesome ones as well (particularly How To Train Your Dragon, of course, as well as Madagascar and the first two Shrek films are pretty enjoyable). The way I see it, while PIXAR and Disney are moreover emotional and Tear Jerker s, Dreamworks' Animated Films are pure "for the lulz." At any rate, I think their films are grossly underrated.

edited 23rd Oct '10 2:09:39 AM by Mattonymy

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Funnily enough, they started out as way more serious than Disney. The Prince Of Egypt, man. Heaaaavy. And Spirit Stallion Of The Cimarron, though that one wasn't as successful.

And I am and always will be a Road To El Dorado fan, though that one is definitely more "lulzy." Still, it was also a pretty emotional film at times. To this day, I can't watch "Friends Never Say Goodbye" without getting mightily misty.

"Proto-Indo-European makes the damnedest words related. It's great. It's the Kevin Bacon of etymology." ~Madrugada

Monsters vs Aliens is their best film so far. Better than all of Pixar's films except Ratatouille and The Incredibles.

Hope for sequel.

"Religion isn't the cause of wars, it's the excuse." —Mycroft Next

Prince of Egypt, of course, but I think Sinbad Legend of the Seven Seas needs more love as well.

I liked El Dorado and Prince of Egypt in their 2D animation department, Chicken Run (Aarman!), and How to Train Your Dragon and Kung-Fu Panda. Shrek flip-flops— 1 was okay, two was good, three was bad and I haven't see 4. The rest of their output is subpar—I tried watching Madagascar and was bored in 10 minutes. Stuff like Shark Tale, Bee Movie, and Over the Hedge is pretty bad.

Thanks for the all fish!

The sequel to Madagascar was surprisingly good. Not nearly as good as Kung Fu Panda, but serviceable and a lot funnier than the original.

Shrek was pretty great, though I felt Shrek 2 was much better. This is kind of a hot-button topic, so I'll leave it at that.

Oh, of course. The Aardman films were produced by Dreamworks too. I haven't seen Flushed Away, but the other two were pretty cool.

edited 23rd Oct '10 11:35:50 AM by OldManHoOh

Yeah, Shrek 2 is the best of the Shrek series. The first one is excellent too, though.

Didn't like the third, haven't seen the fourth.

"Religion isn't the cause of wars, it's the excuse." —Mycroft Next

Shrek 2 was the best in the series, though not particularly memorable. Shrek was okay, the third was a disaster, and the fourth was So Okay, It's Average.

Prince Of Egypt was a good start for the studio, though I'm slightly miffed they had to nerf the story.

Shark Tale and Flushed Away are examples of why I can't give them the unconditional trust I give Pixar. Over The Hedge was slightly better, albeit predictable.

Curse Of The Were-Rabbit was very good, though I see that as an Aardman film, not a Dreamworks one.

Kung Fu Panda is the only movie they've done that IMO matches Pixar's for storytelling.

And I don't know why everyone gushes over How To Train Your Dragon.

—R.J.

So... no other Monsters vs Aliens fans here?

edited 23rd Oct '10 5:06:10 PM by EddieValiant,Jr.

"Religion isn't the cause of wars, it's the excuse." —Mycroft Next

Monsters vs. Aliens needed a better villain. It was decent but the villain keeps it from being really good.

Meanwhile, I hated Shark Tale and liked Shrek The Third (come on, it wasn't THAT bad). I also hated Shrek Forever After (they should have ended the series after three movies and there's no way it's better than Shrek The Third). Also, I think Over The Hedge needs more love.

More Buscemi at http://forum.reelsociety.com/

I really hated Madagescar 2

except for the penguin parts. Those guys are great.

^^^ Yes I am. Its not my favorite film by Dream Works, but I certainly do enjoy the amount of throwback it has to classic monster films and War Of The Worlds. And Stephen Colbert as President? Hilarious.

^^Agreed, Shark Tale was a pretty weak film, and while I think Over Thr Hedge didn't do that mix better, I still think it was a pretty faithful adaptation to the strips.

^Thats literally the only reason I wanted to watch it.

You are displaying abnormally high compulsions to over-analyze works of fiction and media. Diagnosis: TV Tropes Addiction.

Dble post

edited 24th Oct '10 10:57:44 AM by Mattonymy

You are displaying abnormally high compulsions to over-analyze works of fiction and media. Diagnosis: TV Tropes Addiction.

I still don't get what the big deal is about those penguins.

"Religion isn't the cause of wars, it's the excuse." —Mycroft Next

Do not underestimate the power of Everythings Better With Penguins

edited 24th Oct '10 3:46:11 PM by Mattonymy

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Monsters Vs Aliens is pretty fun, but I found myself really digging it most simply as the story of Ginormica. She's everything a good protagonist needs to be—likeable, just a little bit woobieish, butt-kicking beyond a shadow of a doubt but still just vulnerable enough. Also, you gotta cheer when she realizes that she can stand on her own two giant legs and make the best of her situation.

edited 24th Oct '10 9:17:32 PM by FreezairForALimitedTime

"Proto-Indo-European makes the damnedest words related. It's great. It's the Kevin Bacon of etymology." ~Madrugada

Shrek 3 was atrocious. The only reason I sat through it was because my kid wanted to see it, otherwise I would've hoofed it out of there.  ^*

Monsters vs. Aliens was okay, but I felt there was too much focus on Susan and not enough on the other monsters.

—R.J.

I liked Monsters Vs Aliens because for once it actually had a female central protagonist, something that PIXAR has failed to do yet.

edited 24th Oct '10 11:00:59 PM by Mattonymy

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...and that Pixar still hasn't done.

edited 25th Oct '10 7:41:38 AM by EddieValiant,Jr.

"Religion isn't the cause of wars, it's the excuse." —Mycroft Next

Shrek 1&2 were great, but you have to be a bit older to get some of the jokes.

How to Train Your Dragon is the second best animated movie of the year. It's pure awesome.

I always hated Madagascar. I thought it was boring and not all that funny.

Monster VS Aliens is very good, if not great.

I think the main difference between Dreamworks and Pixar is that Dreamworks is a bit more action-oriented while Pixar is more character-oriented.

And yes, I wish Pixar had a female protagonist for once. Though their female characters aren't bad. Most of them are extremely competent.

edited 25th Oct '10 8:00:07 AM by collex

Precoisely. Although I'm definitely looking forward to Brave, I still think Pixar's done well in the female character department. Bo Peep's the only useless one, really.

"Proto-Indo-European makes the damnedest words related. It's great. It's the Kevin Bacon of etymology." ~Madrugada

:D

*brofist* My older sister and I like to watch that and pick out what we missed as kids. It's such troperfuel!

I liked the first two Shrek movies. The last two, particularly the third one, made me want to chew off my wrists. They've done some things that are better than the other CG companies and all, but in particular Over The Hedge and the Ice Age sequels stand out as laaaaaaaame.

Ice Age was Fox not Dream Works.

I dunno, I'm having my doubts about Brave after Brenda Chapman was replaced as director in favor of Mark Andrews. Also, I know that this has been said time and time again but with PIXAR's first female-centered film, why does it have to be a freakin' Fairy Tale? I mean, isn't that what Disney is for? I know it's going to be awesome, as usual, but it still bothers me that they couldn't come up with a more inventive and modern setting.

Anyway, I really liked Monsters Vs Aliens, and even that spinoff Halloween Special they had.

edited 25th Oct '10 12:31:37 PM by Mattonymy

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I like Shrek and All, (Yes, Even 3) the sequels. Monsters Vs Aliens was good.

Madagascar is Great, thoguht The Sequel was only decent