What ever happened to putting music FROM THE FILM on soundtracks?! This is unforgivable.

Furthermore, there's basically nothing of the score on this CD. Why can't we have more score?

I am so SICK of "soundtracks" that take out music from the film so that some empty-heading record producer can have their favorite band perform music "inspired by" the movie.

Just say no. You can go see this incredible movie three more times rather than buying this soundtrack. Maybe then the record producers will get the point.


Where's John Cale?   April 29, 2002
 22 out of 29 found this review helpful

I don't get it. This movie is great for adults and kids because of it's mature theme wrapped in the fun of a fairytale. The point of the story that brought all the levels together was the scene accompanied by Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah rendered brilliantly by John Cale. (Hat's off to those making these decisions). How did that get left off the sountrack? Rufus Wainright?? Ok, he's got some credential's as a folk singer, mostly inherited, but it's awful in comparison.

Got my money back and bought "Fragments of a Rainy Season"


Fair soundtrack, but not complete... not even close!   July 17, 2001
 21 out of 22 found this review helpful

The movie Shrek was a masterpiece! I loved it... Laughed my fool head off. And after seeing it three times, the fourth was just as good! Great characters, great voices, great story, great animation, great comedy, and most of all GREAT MUSIC SCORE!!! Unfortunately the movie soundtrack doesn't measure up to the expectations of the movie's fans and so I must give it a mere two stars.

I (along with many others who loved this movie) was really disappointed when I discovered there was only one track of actual score from the movie on this CD. Everyone I know who saw this film said, "I love the music in this movie!" In fairness I will say that there are some cool tunes on this CD that will conjure fond memories from the film (like "I'm On My Way" by the Proclaimers, "Like Wow" by Leslie Carter, "I'm A Believer" featuring Eddie Murphy and "Hallelujah" by Rufus Wainwright), but the glory of the movie's musical aspect (as most fans will certainly agree) was its orchestra score and the haunting, ethereal vocals that accompanied. Beautiful, original melodies that helped to create and enhance the atmosphere and emotion of this movie, drawing the audience into the story, sadly didn't make it onto the soundtrack. Major bummer indeed!

Perhaps a "sequel" to this soundtrack will follow. Fans can only hope. I know I will be one of the first to grab it! Until then, this CD is only an adequate passifier, but I still dig it. Two strong stars!


Choosing the wrong target   December 19, 2003
 19 out of 24 found this review helpful

It saddens me that those who point out a major discrepancy between a film's actual soundtrack and the CD version of such get met by comments (and review titles) such as, "Where's your ability to read?" There's simply no call for it. No, the substitution of Wainwright's simultaneously hyped-up and watered-down rendition of "Hallelujah" for the John Cale version in the movie itself is not actually dishonest, and it is indeed announced on the packaging. Still, somewhere out there, there are those who don't know who either Rufus Wainwright or John Cale is, and they simply wanted to buy a soundtrack CD that reflects what they heard in the film. Wainwright is earnest enough and can glide all over the place vocally -- yet Cohen's immortal song does not call for that, and Cale's version remains superior by an order of magnitude in that he *didn't* feel the need to get all theatrical about it. (BTW, Cale's cover can be found on the Cohen tribute album _I'm Your Fan_, which contains many additional treasures.)

One additional star for the inclusion of an Eels tune, even if it's not one of their better ones. That's the best I can offer to this sad sellout of a "soundtrack."


Geez, your kids must live in a bubble!   May 25, 2001
 16 out of 19 found this review helpful

Last weekend my 6 year old son and I had a wonderful time at the movies together when we saw the family film, Shrek. Yes, I said, family. I don't know about anyone else, but as far as I am concerned, "damn" is not a vile, vulgar or obscene word. Granted, I don't want my son to ask me for a bowl of "damn fruit loops" for breakfast, but I hardly fear that his little mind will be scarred. I am sure you were around when the song "Bad Reputation" was originally relased by Joan Jett, therefore, you should be familiar with the lyrics. The song fit the context of the film in the scene in which it was used. I bought my son the soundtrack as soon as we left the theater, as Smash Mouth is one of his all time favorite bands, so here is just another CD we own that includes "All Star". Leslie Carter's "Like Wow" is pure bubble gum fluff as is the rest of the album, great for kids, great for parents. No harm no foul, and for goodness sake, lighten up, the kids will be alright, if the parents don't make such a big deal over little words, they probably wouldnt even notice them!