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A final thought: In wrapping up this three-week Shrek-a-thon, I'm beginning to wonder if this debate might not be caused by a simple misunderstanding. I actually agree with Metaxas—fairy tales like Beauty and the Beast and The Little Mermaidcan be seen as powerful allegories of the human spirit longing to be "changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye," transformed into the unblemished perfection that God has designed for us through his grace. C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien made similar arguments, getting to the spiritual truths underlying many lasting fairy tales. We long to be lifted from our sins, made new.

But I don't think Shrek is attacking fairy tales … I think it is poking fun at the way they are told, especially by Disney. Disney does not only supply us with stories … it delivers images. And the relentlessness of Disney's images has a powerful and detrimental effect on our culture. While the fairy tales tell one truth, the imagery of Disney movies is having its own influence. Generations have been raised seeing Disney's approximation of a physical definition of beauty that is usually white, slender, Barbie-and-Kennish. (And Disney isn't alone. Advertising in all its forms, network television, fashion … you name it. The media sell us every day an idea that your beauty is defined by your appearance.) This has come to feed our obsession with judging a person's value by their conforming to a certain "type." I don't think Jeffrey Katzenberg of DreamWorks would tell you that Beauty and the Beast is a bad story. He just wanted to tell a different one, with a different lesson. Disney's The Little Mermaid illustrates the longing to be made new and reunited with the Bridegroom. Shrek illustrates our need, as broken creatures, to love each other for more than just our physical appearance … to learn to see each other through the eyes of love. I received another letter just as I finished this column. The writer says, "What did God say to Samuel? I think it was, 'Man looks on the outward appearance, but God looks on the heart.'"

CORRECTION: Last week's Film Forum included a reader recommendation of the film Central Station, which was referred to as an Argentinean film. It is actually a Brazilian film.

Next week: No, I haven't forgotten about your movie recommendations. This week's column has run long, though, so we'll be sure to include some of them next week. We'll also check out critical response to The Fast and the Furious and Doctor Dolittle 2. (Don't worry … only one week until Spielberg arrives to try to save the summer.)

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June (Web-only) 2001, Vol. 45