Puss in Boots

Puss in Boots (2011) is a spinoff from the Shrek series covering the cat's life before he met Shrek. Puss is a wanted outlaw. He is after the magic beans, which lead to the giant's golden eggs above the clouds. Along the way are his childhood friend Humpty Dumpty and a cat named Kitty. The film ties the tales together: Jack and the Beanstalk, Humpty Dumpty and the goose that lays golden eggs are pieces of one story. The visual language breaks from Shrek; there is a Spanish western texture. Puss is a swordsman and the fights deliberately resemble the Zorro films. Antonio Banderas voiced the character in both English and Spanish; the Spanish version is his own work, not a dub of someone else's. Salma Hayek and Zach Galifianakis are also in the cast. The most remembered thing is the character's trick of widening his eyes, and the film uses it like a weapon. The dance sequence and the cat fight are the best parts. It works without any knowledge of Shrek. It runs 90 minutes. Good for: watching with children, adventure animation, and Shrek fans. Less good for: the story is simple and there is less of Shrek's adult humour.