All-Star Cast, Advances in Computer Animation Make Shrek 2 a

 

Alan Silverman

The rotund green ogre and his fairy tale character sidekicks are back for another comical computer-animated¹ adventure: a sequel to the Oscar-winning 2001 box office champion. Alan Silverman has a look at Shek 2.
When we last left Shrek and Fiona, their love had overcome all the obstacles and they were on their way to living happily ever after as ogres in Shrek's swamp. However, Shrek knows the honeymoon² is over when they travel to the kingdom of Far, Far Away to meet her mom and dad: the in-laws.
Once again, the path to happily ever after is strewn with misadventures and reinterpreted fairy tale favorites.
In the English-language version, Spanish-born Antonio Banderas does the voice of the swashbuckling Puss in Boots as a comic riff on his live-action Zorro.
"Most of the characters that appear in the movie are international characters. In Spain, Puss in Boots is called 'El Gato con³ Botas;'" explains Banderas, "but many of the fairy tale characters are characters that I grew up with.
The word that defines Shrek for me is a very beautiful word in English that doesn't actually exist in Spanish: it is wit," he continues. "I think that is what the movie is all about; but after the humor, I think there are a couple of messages that I think are very important. One is the message of friendship with two characters that are opposite in personalities⁴. Donkey is kind of annoying sometimes, but they relate to each other and love each other, respecting each other's faults and defects. There is a beautiful story about friendship."
For the English version, English-born actors John Cleese and Julie Andrews voice Fiona's parents, the king and queen of Far, Far Away which is actually a juicy send-up of Beverly Hills and its Hollywood elite⁵. No stranger to children's entertainment, Andrews says she nevertheless found the voice acting⁶ for Shrek 2 surprisingly challenging.
"You have no idea in animation⁷ whether you are on the right track, really: am I reacting too strongly? am I over the top? am I real enough or should I be more animated . . . more cartoon-like in my delivery? You just don't know and so they ask for a lot of things because I think, sometimes, they are not sure until it's all put together which take they will use. It's a whole new experience and I was very interested in it and I liked it," she says.
Shrek 2 features a new song by the rock band Counting Crows, written for the film by lead singer Adam Duritz.
注释：
obstacle [5CbstEkl] n. 障碍，障碍物
ever after 从此以后一直
ogres [5Eu^E] n. （民间传说中的）食人魔鬼，怪物
swamp [swRmp] n. 沼泽，森林沼泽
in-laws姻亲，亲家
strew [stru:] vt. 充满，撒满
misadventure [5misEd5ventFE] n. 运气不佳的遭遇
reinterpreted [7riin5tE:prit] vt. 重新讲述
do the voice of 配音
swashbuckling [5swCF7bQkliN] adj. 恃强凌弱的，虚张声势的
Puss in Boots 穿长靴的猫
riff [rif] n. 即兴段
live-action [laiv5AkFEn] （影片）直接从大自然或以真人表演摄制的
Zorro n. 佐罗
wit [wit] n. 机灵，机智
defect [di5fekt] n. 缺点，不足
voice [vCis] v. 配音
juicy [5dVu:si] adj. 有趣的
send-up n. n. 滑稽可笑的模仿，戏谑
Beverly Hills 美国加州贝弗利山庄
elite [eI5li:t] n. 精英，精华
nevertheless [nevETE5les] adv. 仍然，
animation [7Ani5meiFEn] n. 动画片（制作），卡通
on the right track 想得对，做得对
feature [5fi:tFE] n. 以……为特色
rock band 摇滚乐团
Counting Crows 数乌鸦合唱团

1 animated   

adj.生气勃勃的，活跃的，愉快的

参考例句：

• His observations gave rise to an animated and lively discussion.他的言论引起了一场气氛热烈而活跃的讨论。
• We had an animated discussion over current events last evening.昨天晚上我们热烈地讨论时事。

2 honeymoon   

n.蜜月（假期）；vi.度蜜月

参考例句：

• While on honeymoon in Bali,she learned to scuba dive.她在巴厘岛度蜜月时学会了带水肺潜水。
• The happy pair are leaving for their honeymoon.这幸福的一对就要去度蜜月了。

3 con   

n.反对的观点，反对者，反对票，肺病；vt.精读，学习，默记；adv.反对地，从反面；adj.欺诈的

参考例句：

• We must be fair and consider the reason pro and con.我们必须公平考虑赞成和反对的理由。
• The motion is adopted non con.因无人投反对票，协议被通过。

4 personalities   

n. 诽谤，（对某人容貌、性格等所进行的）人身攻击； 人身攻击；人格, 个性, 名人( personality的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• There seemed to be a degree of personalities in her remarks.她话里有些人身攻击的成分。
• Personalities are not in good taste in general conversation.在一般的谈话中诽谤他人是不高尚的。

5 elite   

n.精英阶层；实力集团；adj.杰出的，卓越的

参考例句：

• The power elite inside the government is controlling foreign policy.政府内部的一群握有实权的精英控制着对外政策。
• We have a political elite in this country.我们国家有一群政治精英。

6 acting   

n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的

参考例句：

• Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她，她只是假装的。
• During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代，她的表演生涯黯然失色。

7 animation   

n.活泼，兴奋，卡通片／动画片的制作

参考例句：

• They are full of animation as they talked about their childhood.当他们谈及童年的往事时都非常兴奋。
• The animation of China made a great progress.中国的卡通片制作取得很大发展。