Rating: 
Summary: Touching, engaging character study. Keep your kleenex handy!
Review: This is somewhat of a departure for author Stephen King. Although some of King's "spooky" touch remains evident, this is a brilliant character study surrounding a death row inmate wrongly convicted. -- Set in 1935, a "deep South" prison holds among many others the few men who are destined to meet "Old Sparky". The wardens are generally good men, "just doing their jobs", except for one bad apple. -- There are many wonderful moments, and some miracles, all in the right measure. After spending 3 hours spellbound by this film, one truly reflects on one's own existence, pondering how life all makes sense. This film will move you to tears, so keep the Kleenex box handy!
Rating:
Summary: The Bible According to King
Review: The first time the world heard this story, it left enough of an impression that we're still telling it two millenia later. That this time the story has come from the pen of Stephen King is no surprise to those of us who have felt before the deep spirituality that often hides within King's writings. The Green Mile is as disturbing a film as any I've seen: the script, the acting, and the cinematography are crafted to lend an air of historical authenticity to the terrible story which unfolds, so that we wonder if we might stumble someday upon the graves of the men we watch die. Indeed, much of King's signature genius lies in weaving together elements of fiction which COULD easily be fact, before injecting a story with a supernatural tone which challenges belief. And director Frank Darabont has done a masterful job of using those truth-cored elements to support-almost overshadow-the miraculous events which surround a mysterious death row inmate. But there's something more, something messianic, about John Coffey; at each turn we fall deeper into a soul-rending romance with the doomed innocent, ashamed of ourselves for the fear he inspires in us.Coffey ("like the drink, but not spelt the same"), a burly black transient in 1935 Louisiana, has been arrested and convicted for the brutal murder of two young girls. His tearful, sobbing defense-"I tried to take it back, but it was too late"-is as enigmatic as "you have said so," and gives us reason from the outset to believe that the "jury of his peers" was wrong to condemn him. Rather, as the story unfolds, we begin to understand that John Coffey, like another figure with similar initials, has spent his life-and in fact is doomed to GIVE his life-seeing and feeling the pain, injury, and shame of others. The miracle is that Coffey is able to take in all that ugliness, feel it and own it, and then cast it away, literally on the wind. Coffey feels joy just as deeply and powerfully as he feels pain. Life to him is exhausting; we finish the film wondering if any of the other characters on the screen-and if we ourselves-have even begun to live life as fully as he has. Coffey's unearthly power infects the lives of every person he meets, whether death row inmate, prison guard, or cancer patient. None, having met John Coffey, will ever be the same. King closes "It," another of his novels, with a challenge: "there are so many happy endings that the man who says he does not believe in God needs to have his rationality called into serious question." The Green Mile does nothing to disprove this dictum. In fact, this story, for all of its gut-wrenching awfulness, for all of its sorrow and injustice, still radiates the presence of God in the midst of, and in spite of, the shame of humanity. It is, in essence, a story of Grace and Redemption.
Rating:
Summary: Green Mile is Brilliant
Review: I was not expecting what unfolded(I won't spoil it for some of you who have not seen this one), but this is an incredible film experience with a strong cast that includes Gary Sinise and James Cromwell. One of the best films to be set in a prison since Shawshank Redemption(another King masterpiece), but it is more than just a prison picture. Film is not for squeamish as there is an electrocution sequence that is pretty horrific.Film is long so it is 2 VHS tapes. If you have DVD capability, rent the DVD!Brilliant all the way through.
Rating:
Summary: Masterful Storytelling
Review: "The Green Mile" is what a motion picture should ideally be: a wonderfull epic story that engages the mind and the emotions. Tom Hanks just can't miss, and he does a fabulous job bringing his role to life. The rest of the cast is also brilliant, and the sotory just comes alive form there. This is the type of tale that we need in this day and age. A tale that shows you that good things can happen and that people are what's most important; not careers, ambitions, or any other selfish motivations. "The Green Mile" tries to show us that caring for people and living our lives the best we can is more important than any other consideration. I enjoyed the film and thought it was masterfully done. Everything drives the story foreward. The characters are all engaging and you are allowed to get personal with each one. The film is long, but movies like this that can get away with being long SHOULD be long. Believe me, you won't notice anyway.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Adaptation
Review: Mr King and Mr. Darabont must read each other's minds. or they must be great friends, or both. The adaptation was wonderful. I admit to not being a serial reader. I read the book in it's entirety, without having to anticipate the next chapter. I could not put the book down. As I watched the movie, and knowing I would be so empathetic to Paul and John, I was still compelled to visualize what my mind had already created. Not unlike "Shawshank", Mr Darabont has lovingly taken a Stephen King story and put it to cinema. The characters were true to form; Michael Clarke Duncan jumped right out of the book. There could be no other John Coffey. If you've read the book, see the movie. There are some nice positive changes....like Mr. Jingles. If you haven't read the book, see the movie. You will be in for an emotional ride.
Rating:
Summary: Deeply felt drama that stays faithful to the book
Review: This movie will definitely be remembered as one of the strongest anti-death penalty statements in cinema. Its screenplay will also be remembered as the one that stays the closest to the book author's intentions. Stephen King is often dissatisfied with the way his novels are adapted for the screen, but I am sure he was pleased with "The Green Mile." In turn, I am pleased with the fact that Hollywood is still capable of releasing important pictures amongst its usual annoying pea-brained one-nighters the likes of "Scream"s and, ironically, "American Beauty." Good art needs to carry a message, no matter how controversial, films or books without a clear stance of issues deserve no attention from civilized public. The only complaint I've heard about "The Green Mile" is that it's "too long." Well, to shorten it in any way would be detrimental to the story. The character development and the setting of right environment for this kind of drama needs time to come through. John Coffey's powers needed to be demonstrated sparingly and with great deal of care. Similarly, the humanity of prison wards could not just be introduced right away. It would have been just a farce appropriate for some cheesy "family channel". Instead, by slowly increasing the volume of the message, director Frank Darabont makes a viewer a participant. Tom Hanks became America's leading dramatic actor thanks to good directors who noticed a huge potential housed in a "regular joe" appearance. In recent years, hit by hit, he continuously displayed enough sensitivity and charisma to make his characters memorable, yet he never over-did it and the "pathos" that he delivers are of subtle nature, he lives every role, no matter how unusual, and brings the essential humanity and kindness to the viewer. His character here, Paul Edgecomb, is rather a hardened fellow, forced by the Depression to do a job he would rather leave to the likes of Percy Wetmore. The thing that seems to Paul perfectly natural - treating prisoners as people, was (and still is) almost an out-of-touch quality. His friend "Brutal" Howell has, apparently, learned this by watching, and took it to his heart. There is definitely more to this athletic looking guy than meets the eye! Now, for the huge (and I mean huge!) surprise - Mr. Michael Clarke Duncan. He is simply sensational! When I first heard about the movie, my concern was who could play John Coffey convincingly? Who would not take the role of an unlikely healer lightly, who would give it soul and dignity? Mr. Duncan has broken all the expectations, he is Hollywood's biggest find in the recent years, and I hope to see more of him, preferably in dramatic roles. The culmination scene - the miraculous (and extremely taxing on John) treatment of the warden's ill wife is chilling, I literally held my breath. Kudos to the Frank Darabont for finding the most wild "Wild Bill" imaginable! I felt sorry for the actor, actually. Young "protégé" Percy is exactly as King drew him - repulsive and dangerous at the same time. Overall, this movie is not to be missed for anything! Many of my friends and I, as well as many respectable film critics, thought it was worthy of an Academy Award. Unfortunately other films swept them up, but that's to be expected in a world where endless sex scenes pass for romance and insults and filth pass for humor. We the viewers know what we like and "The Green Mile" on video gets the well- deserved recognition.
Rating:
Summary: Classic Filmmaking
Review: WOW, what a movie! I still rembember seeing this gem at the theater and feeling the audience's reactions, and it felt great. Having read the book, and now seeing the movie, I feel that the movie does equal the book. And there both great. When I saw that Frank Farabount was going to direct The Green Mile, I was thrilled, being the director of one of my all time favorites (THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION). But never the less The Green Mile dosen't quite live up to the power, and feeling of hope that The Shawshank Redemption left, its still a superb movie none the less. Michael Clark Duncan, is really in oscar form, with his performance as John Coffey, and the rest of the cast dosen't lack with acting abbilities either.
Rating: 
Summary: Terrible movie, more Stephen King Schlock
Review: This endless movie was a reminder of why I hate Stephen King stories, 3 hours of my life wasted on this drivel. The Green Mile represents death row in a Louisiana prison of the 1930's, when a huge black man, sentenced to death, reveals remarkable powers of precognition and hands-on healing. However, this story is mired in implausible situations and a lack of believeability. We have the gratuitious scenes of Tom Hanks peeing for comic or shock value, the frequent graphic executions of death row inmates, the mumbling cajun accent of Michael Jeter, the remarkable coincidence of Sam Rockwell also landing on death row even though no one seems to make the connection that he also worked for the family whose daughter John Coffy is accused of murdering. Mr Jingles is a mouse used as a plot device to tug at your heart strings, although it becomes tiresome after a short while. The character of Purcey is useless and adds nothing to the story. John Coffey spends this entire movie sweating and blubbering his way through his sentence. Even his miraculous healing of a woman with a terminal brain tumor isn't enough for Tom Hanks to somehow intervene and get this miracle worker off death row, but instead, he reluctantly executes him in the climax of the movie. Should we also believe that John Coffey, via touch alone, bestowed practical immortality upon Tom Hanks and Mr Jingles? Give me a break. By the end of the movie we learn that Mr Jingles is now about 65 years old, which has to be about 25 times a normal mouse life span; Tom Hanks will also live 25 lifetimes? Does no one at the nursing home question his age of 108? Give me another break. Obviously Stephen King is filling some gaping plot holes with quickie and implausible explanations. All the actors do a very fine job, but..... This movie is terrible, don't waste your time. Rent Shawshank Redemption instead!
Rating: 
Summary: Expertly Acted and Emotionally Satisfying!
Review: Frank Darabont adapts yet another brilliant Stephen King novel and brings it to the screen, whether you think the book is better, or whether you think the Stephen King saga about prison guards and miraculous prisoners is better presented on screen, it doesn't diminish the enjoyment of this supremely well-structured film. The movie features expert casting, and every actor brings his character to life. An excellent cast, Tom Hanks continues with his string of good movies with another role in another Best Picture Nominee, he delivers a credible performance but he never really gets the opportunity to shine because of the limitations of his character. Which is the exact opposite of Michael Clark Duncan's performance, he gets shine in many scenes, and he plays the key role so convincingly that the movie's success is largely due to him. Darabont is an expert storyteller, when you watch his movies, one gets a sense that he is enjoying a good book. The key scenes are extremely well staged, and the character development is high quality (thus the 3hr+ running time). The film succeeds on many levels, and while it is a bit overlong, it delivers the goods. From a scale of 1-10 I give this film an 8!
Rating:
Summary: All that!
Review: When I first heard of this movie, I thought oh another prison drama. But this movie is something. You have this head guard who is humane with his charges, a sadistic childish guard who gets his comeuppance in the end, an alternating idiotic, yet dangerous prisoner, then this tall,hulking black man who has the power to heal. Unreal. Yet the makings of a great story. I really hurt for poor Del in the chair cause he didn't deserve to go out like no fried chicken. John didn't deserve it either, but he said he didn't want to continue living in a world that didn't treat him well. My thing is this; If a person was truly guilty of killing someone, he sure wouldn't sit there at the scene crying his eyes out with the victims at his side. It is funky that from the word go, Hanks never thought Coffee did it, and when he really found out who did it, he was truly torn. My favorite part is when he heals the warden's wife, and when he heals Tom Hanks and Del starts screaming like a chicken..Boy, I laughed on that one. But, the thing was some of those guards actually cried when they were strapping Coffee to the electric chair. I felt they were touched by him. It is something how a person could touch so many lives. Gripping, yet realistic and good. Now, I cannot imagine how they chose American Beauty instead.perhaps it wasn't as gripping
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