'Shrek' is Now Rightfully Recognised As The National Treasure It Is
Get out of my swamp ... and into the Library of Congress. Shrek, the long-beloved and frequently meme-d 2001's children's classic is finally getting the official recognition it truly deserves, earning its rightful place in the National Film Archives. Each year, the United States' Library of Congress selects 25 films "showcasing the range and diversity of American film heritage to increase awareness for its preservation," according to their website. This year, everyone's favorite onion-like, Scottish ogre finally made the cut, a testament to the film's miraculous ability to hang around in our cultural lexicon like Donkey on a princess-saving quest.
"Even by DreamWorks standards, the charm and magic of "Shrek" seemed extraordinary upon its initial release almost 20 years ago -- and its power has yet to diminish in the intervening years," the Library of Congress said of the new inductee. "With this story of a green-skinned, solitude-loving ogre, Shrek, who embarks on a noble quest, alongside his new friend, a lovable donkey, the film manages to be both a send-up of fairy tale tropes and an affectionate tribute to them. Entertaining and emotionally impactful at levels to be appreciated by both children and their adults, "Shrek" was a mega-hit upon its release and has been followed by three equally enchanting sequels, a TV holiday special and a Broadway adaption."
It may have taken 19 years, but it's great to see the film taking its place in the archives, joining the ranks of this year's other inductees, which includeThe Dark Knight, The Joy Luck Club, and A Clockwork Orange.
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The full list of 2020's 25 films marked for government preservation, which range all genres and even date back to 1913 are as follows:
Suspense - 1913
Kid Auto Races at Venice - 1914
Bread - 1918
The Battle of the Century - 1927
With Car and Camera Around the World - 1929
Cabin in the Sky - 1943
Outrage - 1950
The Man With the Golden Arm - 1955
Lilies of the Field - 1963
A Clockwork Orange - 1971
Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song - 1971
Wattstax - 1973
Grease - 1978
The Blues Brothers - 1980
Losing Ground - 1982
Illusions - 1982
The Joy Luck Club - 1993
The Devil Never Sleeps - 1994
Buena Vista Social Club - 1999
The Ground -1993-2001
Shrek - 2001
Mauna Kea: Temple Under Siege - 2006
The Hurt Locker - 2008
The Dark Knight - 2008
Freedom Riders -2010
In a shocking twist of events, Christopher Nolan has yet to make any snarky comments about his Batman installment's fellow green honoree, rather releasing a congratulatory statement directed at The Dark Knight's team. "This is not only a great honor for all of us who worked on The Dark Knight, this is also a tribute to all of the amazing artists and writers who have worked on the great mythology of Batman over the decades," the not-so-silent film director said in a statement.
So reader, in a year marked by uncertainty, it sometimes feels like end may be neigh, but at least when doomsday hits, we now know where to find a copy of the greatest ogre-related animated film in history. Hey, now -- he's an all-star.
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Top Image: DreamWorks
