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The Green Mile

The Green Mile

List Price: $19.96
Your Price: $14.97
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Bloody brilliant.
Review: What can I say but absolutely fantastic. Brilliant acting, fantastic directing and cinematography. Just everything possible about this film screams "I am a God" from the second the jail scenes start to the chilling tearful climax. (Any sensitive souls should have a plentiful supply of Kleenex as the show nears the end, and you will know when I mean the end!). For anyone else left in any doubt of the sheer excellence of this film then I urge you to at least see it even if you have no intention of buying it, as the pure quality will have you reminiscing for weeks about the unfairness of law and life!.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A Perfect Translation of King's Best!
Review: It was with unprecedented anticipation that I awaited this film. The prior collaboration of this team of talented filmmakers resulted in the production of my favorite film of all time: The Shawshank Redemption. And, indeed, while The Green Mile hasn't assumed that title, it certainly remains one of the greatest movies I've ever seen, one of the greatest movies ever made. Some argue and complain about its length. I counter with the claim that length is only of importance when you can count the minutes pass; in the case of The Green Mile, the film is far too entertaining to ever bore, far too involving to ever allow the viewer to exit back through the fourth wall and out into the audience again. It is that engaging, that beautiful a film, and it deserves all the respect one can bestow upon it.

Simply put, the story is positively phenomenal. Some might find a few of the films more somber plot points to resonate with a silly perversion, but with the backward light one cannot help but admire everything that went into creating this tale. The structure is magnificent, as we travel from episode to episode, covering every fascinating subplot and side-story, and then intertwining all of them together in the end. Acting is phenomenal. Tom Hanks, like always, cannot disappoint. Michael Clarke Duncan plays a role that no other actor could have played. Even in the DVD documentary, director Frank Darabont makes comment on the difficulty in casting the role as John Coffey. Certainly, Duncan has all of the physical attributes that make him appropriate for the part, but moreover his performance excels beyond what anyone expected. The character in the novel is one that can hardly be imagined, it is such an innocent brute of gentleness, yet Duncan manages to capture all of that and more. Frank Darabont's direction is immaculate, as always. It's amazing what he is able to accomplish in such a limited set. Most of the film occurs within the death row penitentiary block, yet he somehow manages to capture a new image in every shot, making it perpetually interesting, and never redundant despite its solitary location.

In short this film not only met my high expectations, it exceeded them. I had read the books years prior, enjoyed them heavily, and thus waited eagerly for the film adaptation. Every aspect of this film is enjoyable; every aspect is entertaining; and so when this is assembled into a near three-hour movie, length no longer becomes an issue. The film keeps a steady pace that develops and moves on, never straying--though bearing the appearance that it is--from the ultimate plot. The finished product is a near seamless adaptation of a fine book, transporting it to an exceptional movie. It has become a perfect addition to my DVD collection, making a fine companion besides it's sister film, Shawshank. Indeed, Mile even manages to surpass Shawshank in several respects: it has a more emotional basis, its stories are better entwined, it conquers the mood of the moment more wholly. The Green Mile stands as one of filmmaking's best, one of my favorites, and one that is sure to please you as well.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Captivated me and still lurking
Review: I did not read the book so I can't opine on the relative merits of the movie and the book. I can say, however, that from the first scene to the last, this movie grabbed me. I found the story to be interesting and compelling and the acting to be terrific. While much attention is on Tom Hanks, I really thought Michael Clarke Duncan was the key to the movie. (He's not really that big in real life is he? How did they do that?).

If, like me, you stayed away from this movie because you did not want to watch a movie purportedly about a child molester or brutal prison guards, give this movie a second chance. The direction is nearly flawless. I loved it! It is not a bold prediction to believe that you will too.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Lots of Unfulfilled Promise
Review: This movie had the potential to be great. For about the first 2 1/2 hours, I loved it. But somehow, things spin out of control toward the end.
When a writer spends 2 1/2 hours developing a character, one would hope he/she would be consistent with that character. This movie fails miserably in that department.
For the vast majority of the movie, John Coffey is presented as a "gentle giant". A peaceful soul who means no harm. So why does he end up (directly or indirectly) responsible for the death of a fellow inmate as well as for a guard ending up in an institution?! The inmate was going to die anyway. The character King created wouldn't have felt it was up to him to mete out the punishment. It just isn't logical.
Likewise, Tom Hanks' character is portrayed as a man of compassion and humanity. A man with a conscience. Such a man wouldn't "play dumb" as he executed a man for a crime he knew he didn't commit. As a result, a potentially great movie becomes a complete waste of time.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: King and Hanks together
Review: What more can you ask for? Lots more and this movie has it. As a rule I steer clear of prison movies but this movie transcends the prison genera. They depict the prison as a working environment where the guards calmly control the prisoners through quiet resolve instead of cattle prods. It maintains King's "more than life" world with out the "you'll-be-et" monsters. Michael Clarke Duncan made a great John 'Johnny' Coffey and some credit needs to go to the mouse that was a much better actor then the one in "Mouse Hunt". Even thought we know that the guards do not really wear uniforms. They were an added plus in the movie; you knew when the hat was on that they meant business.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A masterpiece
Review: I am so happy that hollywood din't ruin this great Stephen King series. I loved this movie and every aspect of it. It is tear-jerking and just the best drama you could ever have the fortune to see. I would recomend this movie to everyone and anyone who wants to be entertained for a while. This movie just blew me away. I had to buy this one! Awesome and flawless in every sense of the word. Makes you laugh, makes you cry and it makes you want to believe. Merely a masterpiece!

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: A good rainy day movie
Review: This is a slow but good movie. I gave it a 3 only because it is somewhat bland in its location and costumes. It takes place all in the jail house which is boring after a while. But it is a great watch for those rainy have nothing better to days.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Ugly and Depressing
Review: It's hard to watch a movie about child molestors and mean guards tormenting death row inmates, but apparently everyone else enjoyed watching it. Tom Hanks is good, but the real star is the guy with the "gift". Just when you think there might be a reason to appreciate this film, a ridulous and deliberately sad ending leave you wondering why you paid money to be depressed. It's easier to write sad stories than funny ones. All you have to do is have characters die and be treated unfairly. Tom Hanks has done one too many of these "deliberate tear-jerkers" too. After "Philadelphia" and "Green Mile", I decided to skip Cast Away. If you want to see Tom Hanks really shine in a good (and uplifting) film, check out "That Thing You Do". And let's stop encouraging Hollywood to make movies that depict children being molested.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: wha-hoo
Review: I loved this movie. I hate a lot of parts because there disturbing but you have to get the point. The writting was exellent and music too. I loved John Coffee. Anyway good movie!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Not Green, My Friends; Golden!
Review: I just want to say right up front that the only reason I saw this movie in the first place was because Tom Hanks was in it. I probably would have seen it eventually, but since Hanks is my favorite actor, I naturally couldn't miss it. As it turned out, this movie would have been great with or without Hanks. Each character in the movie, directed so richly by Frank Darabont, is a full-fleshed 3-D character. There are no cardboard cut-outs in this movie.

Tom Hanks plays Paul Edgecomb, a both complicated and physically hurting man who runs death row at Cold Mountain Penitentiary. Things are not exactly "peas and carrots" for Hanks' character; his job is strenuous enough, but he also has to deal with the infection of his manly area. Hanks is great in these scenes; the pain on his face as he tries to relieve himself is excruciating to watch. It made me squirm in my seat just imagining it.

Things are fairly standard until a giant-sized man named John Coffey ("just like the drink, only not spelled the same"), played by the very talented Michael Clarke Duncan, is brought to the penitentiary. Edgecomb and his fellow friends know immediately that there is something different about this guy.

And from there the movie just gets better. I've heard people complain about the running time (189 minutes, not counting the 10-minutes bonus feature after the film, "Walking the Mile"), and I can honestly say that time was never an issue with me. If you're looking for a movie to give you a quick fix, then honey, you best be looking someplace else. This is a beautiful and complex story and Darabont does not rush it. He lets the story take on its own life and allows it and the characters to evolve fully.

There are many wonderful scenes in this movie (and some honestly horrific ones), and one of my favorites is near the end of the film. If you haven't seen the movie, I won't spoil it for you, but I will say that it makes me cry every time. No matter how many times I brace myself for it, I still get emotionally charged by it.

After the film, there is a 10-minute documentary, "Walking the Mile," that has interviews with the cast, crew and writer of the film.

"The Green Mile" is a very powerful and moving tale. Hanks, Duncan and every other member of the cast give award-winning performances; this cannot be said for all movies. And plus, it's got the best acting mouse in Mr. Jingles you'll ever see! That right there should be enough incentive to give this movie a try. You haven't seen a rodent perform circus tricks until you've watched Mr. Jingles strut his stuff.


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