The Shawshank Redemption

Rating:
Summary: Hope.
Review: All time favorite movie. I am not a critic, just a guy who watches movies. I will not talk about the screenplay adaptation, or the score, but merely the single most important part of this movie. Hope. This movie has given me something that I now carry with me. The line "Get busy livin', or get busy dyin'" is the absolute truth, and hearing it has given me something to do now. Get busy livin'. There is hope in the world, and this movie has shown it. A must see in my book, and one that I watch whenever I feel there is nowhere to turn. :-)

Rating:
Summary: Rent it, buy it, just make sure you see it
Review: If the beer scene doesn't touch you, you're not alive.

Great movie. Definitely on my all-time list.

Rating:
Summary: A rarity among Hollywood movies--it celebrates the intellect
Review: In an era when Hollywood applauds idiocy, where movie heros shoot first and make funny quips later, where leading men crush beer cans against their heads, where, as one social critic recently put it, "Stupid people are cool," this movie stands as a shining beacon. The Shawshank Redemption got made because a famous author wrote the story. If it had been written by John Q. Screenwriter, it would still be sitting in a desk somewhere, and if he were lucky enough to get to pitch it to a studio exec, he'd get the patronizing lecture about how things like this just aren't commercial material. As it is, it's a small miracle that a story with no love interest, no women (not even a woman to come home to, the timeless cliché), no sex, little violence (and none of it glorified) and no special effects made it to the screen. But it's a more audacious film than that. The movie dares to tell us that the mind is a beautiful thing, the most beautiful thing. Andy Dufresne doesn't survive by using his fists. He survives by using his intellect. Name me another prison movie where that happens. Heck, name me another movie where this happens, period.

There are few movies in existence where the "egghead" raises the bar of those around him, rather than lowering himself to fit in and be accepted. Yet the film tells us, without being preachy or pretentious, that the chessboard is mightier than the sword, that Mozart and Moliere can do more to rehabilitate the soul than solitary confinement and license-plate making. Ask yourself this: when was the last time did a movie play classical music and did not either denegrate it, or show how pop music is really more "fun" and "cool."

Yet few reviews of the movie really delve into this fact: the Shawshank Redemption unapologetically glorifies the intellect. All the more ironic that it was triumphed that year at both the box office and the Academy by an ode to anti-intellectualism, Forrest Gump. While Shawshank advocated thinking through consequences and taking action based on planning, Gump said "Don't Worry, Be Happy"-is it any wonder it took home the gold? Forrest Gump fell into the comfortable Hollywood niche of "just ask for little and you will receive plenty"-funny how Hollywood's own never seem to live by that philosophy. Shawshank challenged people to be responsible for their actions and motivated to change their fate, regardless of the "systems" around them.

But, as Forrest Gump also observes, "Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know how it's going to turn out." The Shawshank Redemption has been redeemed on home video, where it has become one of the most popular titles of all time. Forrest Gump has done okay too, but I suspect in 50 years' time, when listmakes are compiling the greatest films of the decade or century, Forrest will be forgotten, while this film will stand alongside masterpieces such as Casablanca, The Third Man and The Wizard of Oz-films that also received lukewarm reviews initially, by the way. As Red might say, some things just take time, a lot of time. It's a lession Hollywood will never learn as it starts filming its next dumbed-down idiocy coming to a theater near you and going to Christmas video just as fast.

Rating:
Summary: A Masterpiece!!
Review: What a great great movie. The writer and director put together this BRILLIANT movie. A "Cant Miss" which I watch 5-6 times a year and will continue to watch over and over for the rest of my life.

Rating:
Summary: Dramatic Story, but Gives You Serene Tranquility
Review: This is NOT just a prison drama. When Andy (Robbins) and Red (Freeman) finally get free, viewers also feel they themselves are let loose from the walls surrounding their daily life. This film will give you an implication about the meaning of life.

Rating:
Summary: An Exceptional Film
Review: Very few movies have portrayed a story the way 'The Shawshank Redemption' has. From the development of characters to the script itself, this film is an A+ in every aspect. The film exceeds two hours, but the viewer can not tell the difference. I was engulfed in the magic of the film and its exceptional creativity. This film is a 'must see' for all.

Rating:
Summary: Absolutely Fantastic
Review: Never have I seen such a emotion-evoking film. As always, Morgan Freeman is outstanding and Tim Robbins plays his character superbly. This is not a typical King storyline or genre but if you have not seen it, it really is unmissable. The film has a 'deep' storyline and each character is very defined. There is no dull moment and although it is not really an 'action' movie, it moves you through the whole emotional spectrum. There are some comical scenes and some deeply upsetting parts - and a hint of nostalgia. Absolutely brilliant and a well-deserved five stars.

Rating:
Summary: Storytelling and film-making in perfect form.
Review: I watched this movie again because I wanted a great movie to fall asleep to, since I was having difficulty succeeding at the task. Who the hell was I kidding? Of course, as it has always happened many, many times with this movie before, I got so absorbed with the characters, the excellence of the direction, acting, cinematography, music...taken for a ride of contemplation and emotion that at times I'll admit nearly brought me to a tear - that no sleep was induced. Once again realizing the beauty of this film, I entertained the idea that it would be incredible to see this movie on DVD. I hopped onto Amazon.com to see if it was actually available. To my delight, this incredible movie will be released on DVD with some very nice additions, on Sept. 1st. Just out of curiosity, I read the 1st couple of customer reviews. Then I read the next group of reviews, down to the bottom of the page. Then I clicked on the link that read: Click here for all 74 customer comments... I read them all, and felt so happy to the very end. There is "hope" for humanity after all. I am very glad to share this genuine appreciation of great film-making with you all.

Rating:
Summary: Truly wonderful
Review: I absolutely loved The Shawshank Redemption. This is a film about hope and how we can survive the worst of situations. It's among my all-time favorites behind: 1. Saving Private Ryan 2. Braveheart 3. Forrest Gump 4. Silence of the Lambs 5. The Shawshank Redemption.

Rating:
Summary: One of the best movies I've ever seen.
Review: This is one of the greatest accomplishments ever made on film. It's an awesome movie with the best ending a film could have. If you haven't seen this great drama yet, get it today. It is a must-see movie.