Rating: 
Summary: Great Film, Less than stellar DVD
Review: This may be my all time favorite film, which is why I have the most trouble understanding why it recieved only minimal treatment in the DVD format. With all the great "Special Editions" and "Criterion Collection" films that have come out, films that are worthy of true in-depth exploration, why hasn't Shawshank gotten its proper DVD release for the people who love this film. I try to get the most for my DVD dollar, and love DVD's for the "behind the scenes", "making of", "directors/actors commentary" "alternate endings", "storyboards" special features. Shawshank doesn't have any of these to speak of....just production stills and trailer. This edition is really a glorified VHS copy, and that is a true shame....a big let-down for me.
Rating: 
Summary: Phenomenal
Review: I don't think I can say enough good things about this movie. Great performances by Freeman and Robbins. Great story telling made intensely more effective with Freeman's narration. Characters you can truly empathize with. A really beautiful movie.
Rating:
Summary: The very best movie of the year 1994 (MINOR SPOILER AHEAD)
Review: Forrest who? The Academy got it wrong. The best movie of 1994 was "The Shawshank Redemption," with "Pulp Fiction" a close second. The sequence in which Andy's secrets are revealed qualifies as one of the five most thrilling movie sequences I have ever watched. Nevertheless, the Hollywood moneymaking machinery spurned this movie in strict accordance to the golden rule, "Thou shalt not give the Best Picture Oscar to a commercial failure." At the time the movie was seen as a failure because it had not broken even during its theatrical release, but as millions of movie buffs around the world will enthusiastically remind you, "Shawshank" honored its message about the value of patience and endurance, by becoming a runaway word-of-mouth hit on video.
I bought this movie on Laserdisc on an impulse, six and a half years ago, although I had not seen it and knew almost nothing about it. That was the most fortunate gamble I ever made. Now that I have practically discarded my old Laserdisc player, I bought myself a copy of "Shawshank" on DVD from Amazon. It holds a place of honor in my collection.
Rating:
Summary: cast fusion
Review: I do believe that this is one of the finest movies I have ever seen. It is an excellent adaptation of a Stephen King piece. A great story, great camera work, great music, great everything. But the main reason why I like this film so much is the excellent performances from EVERY actor in this movie. All the way from Freeman and Robbins to the the chubby guy who gets beat on his first night in. The characters are well developed and the performances are stellar. No doubt a testament to Mr. Darabont's skill as a director.In 1994 I could understand why Forrest Gump got the nod over this film for Best Picture. But as time goes on "Shawshank" gets better every time I watch it. "Gump", even though it is a fine film, does not. If you do not own this DVD do yourself a huge favor and buy it, or at least rent it. However, It sure is nice to just be able to pull this one out without having run out and get it.
Rating:
Summary: Guess again Mr. 1 star. Your bullet missed its mark
Review: My preceding review critic (the viewer from the truth) not only missed the mark, he (she)_ failed to hit the board at all. Stephen Kings masterpiece transended to the film version a terrific cast which fielded a great uplifting story. Andy Dufrane ( Tim Robbins ) was the by most standards a middle class sucess story until his life was turned upsidedown by a cruel twist of fate. The twist is that the redemption so much sought after by the viewer turns out to be something other than Andy's freedom. The story actually chronicles the transformation of life time inmate "Red" played brilliantly by Morgan Freeman. The political line within the corrections facility plays out in true to the audience and enables the viewer to keep cheering for the underdog, no matter what the senerios. The story is fantastic and solidified with well chosen actors. It's a movie with an "edge of your seat" flavour and it delivers the true meaning of HOPE. A true 5 star feature worth seeing more than once. At least 30 times for me.
Rating:
Summary: Great Movie
Review: This movie is great for men and women alike. Great plot with several twists and surprises. Wonderful ending.
Rating:
Summary: Get busy livin' or get busy dyin'--aint that the truth!
Review: This is one of the best films ever made. It has one of the most powerful messages about hope. Frank Darabont does a masterful job of creating true suspense about what happened to Andy in the end. Morgan Freeman shows us his skills at acting as Red, the life-sentence prisoner, who knows he is in for the rest of his life, and is bored with telling his parole board that he really is repentant of his crime.
Rating: 
Summary: overrated treacle
Review: This paean to middle-aged scofflaws, attempts to persuade the viewer to side with rapists, thieves, and murderers. If Mr. Freeman didn't want to imagine what it was like inside that pipe, then he should avoid viewing this waste of celluloid, I assure you it is 100 times worse. A rampant glorification of gynicide.
Rating:
Summary: Whoa
Review: Often after watching a movie I can immediately review it, finding it easy to pick out scenes on the spot, and remember the better or worse points in the movie, while still fresh. I have not dared to try and summarize my thoughts about "The Shawshank Redemption" until days after seeing it, as there is so much to process, to take in. The minute this movie begins you are thrown into the world that our characters live in, and you do not emerge out from it until the final scene has played out. The acting, direction, scenery, script, cinematography, music...everything is flawlessly connected and interweaved into what can only be described as a masterpiece. Tim Robbins is stunning as the heart-breakingly mild mannered man who is sent to prison, charged with murdering his wife and her lover. I could spend 10 reviews worth raving about Tim Robbins's performance in this film, and it is well deserved. Had anyone else been cast in the role played by Tim Robbins, this otherwise flawless movie would have fallen apart. The perfect look, charisma and acting skill put into this by Robbins makes this entire movie worth while, in itself. It would be unfair of me to explain the plot any further, as this movie is best seen when fresh, and when the viewer is unaware of the turn out, or various surprises that occur throughout the plot. Although not a horror flick, or scary movie...this is perhaps one of the most chilling movies I have ever come across. Visually and emotionally stunning, this movie is right on target.
Rating:
Summary: Epic Drama
Review: If we could recruit Shakespeare to write Hollywood Blockbusters this would be his first one!
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