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The Green Mile

The Green Mile

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: This Darabont adaptation beats Shawhank hands down
Review: A movie that does not fail to deliver the goods. It is perhaps the best movie adaptation of the 90s, or in recent times. It tells the story of John Coffey, a Christ-like figure who has the power to heal. It is set back in the 1930s, with Tom Hanks as one of the main people at the prison. Every one of the cast does an outstanding job. It would also be noticed that one of Hank's men is the sniper who quotes scripture in SAVING PRIVATE RYAN (another outstanding film with Hanks in the lead role).

The novel itself is an anomaly. It was published in serial format, and all six parts were on the best sellers list. The only time that has happened was in a separate field, when The Beatles dominated the top ten with (I think) 8 of the top ten back in 1963.

This movie is the rarest of breeds. Darabont out does himself. I did not know THE GREEN MILE was also directed by the man who did Shawhank. SHAWHANK, is a very impressive movie, but this leaves it in the dirt. To anyone who has seen SHAWHANK, they know what a great film that is. Now imagine that achievement doubled, perhaps tripled. Truly two of the best prison movies of Hollywood. Not only is THE GREEN MILE equal to King's novel, it perhaps also betters it, leaving little out. Only very rarely does this happen where the quality of a movie reaches the quality of the book.. The story is fully realised on the screen. The horror of a botched execution is brought to the watcher, and then with a steak drives it fully home. Percy's evilness is contrasted sharply with Coffey's goodness. Mr. Bojangles, the mouse, is a nice little part in the movie also.

It also brings out an aspect of King which I have believed for a while. One gets the impression that the author knows about God, and knows what God is capable of, but is confused. Although not called so in terms of the movie, but Coffey is obviously a Christian. He loves everyone, and wants to use his gift to do what he can for other people. A Christian writer could have told the same story, and very little difference would be in the plot. But because King only knows ABOUT God, and does not KNOW God, the perspective is partially skewed. However, this movie points to God. I recommend this movie to anyone.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Grossly overated
Review: The Green Mile had so much potential it's unbelievable. A Frank Darabont (Shawshank Redemption)prison drama starring Tom Hanks based on a Stephen King novel. If that is not a sure fire Hollywood recipe for success then I don't know what is.

Unfortunately the results are more mixed than you might expect. There are a great many things that are done badly with The Green Mile and no matter what anyone will tell you The Green Mile did not deserve its Oscar nomination. Not in a million years.

First of all the Green Mile is incessantly long. With a movie like Magnolia, Braveheart or Casino I don't mind investing three hours of my time watching something great. The Green Mile is not one of those movies however but is, in fact, a melodramatic bore could have been at least 30-45 minutes shorter.

The story is, like the Shawshank Redemption, a very uplifting tale. The Shawshank Redemption however was far more clever and avoided the usual Hollywood cliches when tugging on the heart strings. The Green Mile embraces every single little cliche known to man and beats them to death. If you really love movies then you will be able to see everything coming ten miles down the road. The Green Mile manipulates the viewer again and again in the most predictable fashion. I think we all knew the stupid cute little mouse would be involved somewhere didn't we? That mouse is perhaps the most offensively obvious attempt at manipulation I have ever seen in a film. Why not throw Old Yeller in there as well just for the cheap sympathy. I remember when the mouse first entered the movie screen I heard a collective "Ohhhhhh" from the crowd followed by even a few people saying "he's so cute." I thought to myself, you saps. Don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with a movie having some emotion but come on, if you fall for this old trick then you do have problems.

Tom Hanks does his usual "good" role like we have all seen at least 5 times before. This one is kind of a Saving Private Ryan meets Apollo 13 role with a Forrest Gump accent thrown in for good measure. I don't think there's an actor alive in more need to play a villain than Tom Hanks, just to add a little assortment to his know stupefyingly boring roles. Michael Clarke Duncan plays the big teddy bear prisoner on death row, he got an Oscar nod but he's boring too. David Morse is the best thing acting wise ont he screen, he's restricted to small parts however and cannot flex his talent enough here.

Overall the Green Mile is long, dull and extremely overated. I can see why a lot of people did like this film but I've seen this plenty of times before and done far better.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: The Boring Mile
Review: I'm not anti-long films since I'm a big fan of P.T. Anderson, but this film is way too long for the lack of story that is displayed. I'm a huge fan of Stephen King, but I would rate this as one of his worst novels. I just found the entire story boring and uninteresting. Still I went to see the movie, sure that they were going to add some filmaking excitement to it, but I was sadly mistaken.

The film has its moments for sure, but the length of the movie was a major turn off for me. I couldn't stop looking at my watch and wondering when it was going to be over. The only exciting scenes come during the executions, and I thought the scenes with the mouse dragged on for too long. I know that this is supposed to be a deep, insightful movie, but I think that it would have been much better if it had been a little shorter. I can't believe that it got an Oscar nomination for best film, because although the story itself was good, the movie should have been about 45 minutes shorter.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Cliche ridden hollywood...
Review: ... Take every hollywood cliche, add a bunch of"actors" whose idea of acting is to look up at the ceilingwith tears in their eyes, throw in an overbearing score (no matter how much sad music they pumped in I felt nothing for these one dimensional characters) and you have a complete disaster that is The Green Mile. Darabont tries so hard to get emotional responses by hammering the viewer over the head. Frank try some subtlety next time PLEASE. That this film was nominated for an Oscar shows what a joke American film has become. Check out The Iron Giant instead that silly ol' giant will bring tears to your eyes!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A 3 boxes of tissue movie
Review: One forgets that Stephen King can write spiritual and uplifting stories. This movie is much in the same vein as "The Shawshank Redemption." If you enjoyed that movie then this is the movie for you. Worth purchasing and adding to your collection of movies. This movie is sure to become a classic in the years to come. An outstanding performance by Michael Clarke Duncan.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Green Mile is not a long ride
Review: As a long time fan of King's work, I too have been disappointed with most of the screen adaptions of his books. Not this time! I sat entranced for 3 hours and 20 minutes....not realizing until it was over that I had actually sat there that long. There were few dry eyes in the theatre, let me tell ya! This movie should have won some awards. The casting is flawless and the acting is top notch and believable. If you think Steven King is all gore and creepiness, this movie will change you're mind. It is superb and I cannot recommend it more highly.Now if we could only get THE STAND redone as well as Green Mile was done!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Great Flick
Review: This is by far the best movie based on a Steven King novel I have ever seen. Powerfull, good acting, good storyline, and heart-wearming.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A masterpiece!
Review: Though it could have been argued that a 6-part serial novel could not be made effectively into a movie, it can also be seen that it happened.

Frank Darabont (known for King's adaptation of the Shawshank Redemption) wonderfully sculpted and told Stephen King's tale of a death row during the Depression. Though he jumped a few years and changed the state, the basic elements of the novel are intact. Furthermore, Michael Duncan and Tom Hanks stepped flawlessly into the roles of John Coffey and Paul Edgecombe, respectively.

Only one gripe: Darabont's film wrapped things up too nicely; he answered too many questions. The end turns out much too nice. The one drawback to cinema anymore is that audiences need a happy ending, so this slight oversight is easily forgiven.

Though over 3 hours long, The Green Mile successfully sets the tone and images. It makes the viewer feel sorry for not only John but also for Paul. It is a tragic yet uplifting story, that will leave the viewer pondering over it for many hours. It leaves a feeling of loss, and it inspires the search for justice.

A great movie for King fans, and even better for movie fans.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The Green Mile And Its Appeal
Review: I read the book 6 times because I loved the story so much, and when I went to see it in the theaters it made all my invisions come true. This movie has the best story that I've seen in a while (and I'm a movie freak!). The movie will touch your heart and even me as a guy i cried every time I read the book and watched the movie. The film adaptation stays true to the Stephen King masterpiece, and deserves 80 stars, and is put up as my top ten best movies of all time! (by the way this is Frank Darabont's THIRD adaptation of a stephen King adaptation, he did Shawshank and The Woman In The Room for the nightshift collection) just to correct ya'll.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Tom Hanks is great
Review: The Green Mile is a feel good movie. Great acting throughout the movie, a nice story, but very, very predictable. Absolutely no twists or turns in the plot. Definitely not the best movie of the year or an important work of American cinema, but a very nice movie.


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