Rating: 
Summary: The Friendly Giant gets an Oscar Nod
Review:
THE GREEN MILE
Tom Hanks, Michael Duncan Clarke, 1999
Synopsis
Based on a novel by Stephen King, this is a tale of a giant (John Coffey) who is sentenced to death by electric chair after he is found with two murdered young girls. While imprisoned, with the remarkable things he says and miraculous things he can do, he allows the prison gaurds to believe his innocence.
My Review
The makers of this film wanted Tom Hanks and they got him. But who would play the role of John Coffey? I mean who in Hollywood fits the description of a 7 foot tall muscular black man? Bruce Willis had the answer, and he called the director and told him of a bodygaurd of his named Michael
Duncan Clarke. Newcomer Clarke, devoted himself to the role and gave a performance which earned him an Academy
Award nomination for Best Actor in a Supporting Role.
Rating:
Summary: A wonderful & moving film
Review: This film was better than Shawshank (though I did like it too). The film has some great casting, great script adaptation and a pace to keep you interrested. One of the few film adaptations of King's work that seems to hit a home run for me.
Well worth purchasing for repeated viewing...
Rating:
Summary: Never would have known it was three hours long
Review: I just finished watching this film for the first time and immediately decided to go to the ... Customer Reviews to see what other people think. Frankly, I was rather surprised by how many negative reviews this film received. But then again, I really don't watch a lot of movies so I don't have a whole lot to go on. (especially since I never saw the Shawshank Redemption) Tom Hanks is one of my favorite actors, and he does great here. However, I can't honestly say that it was his best role ever. What I liked about the movie was the rest of the cast (I spent the entire movie trying to figure out where I'd seen them all). I felt that the cast blended together well, and those who play bad guys were just that - bad. I do agree that some of the execution scenes were a bit horrific, but the humorous pieces more than made up for it. Maybe some reviewers here will think that I'm shallow and simple-minded for liking this movie, but when I sit down and watch any movie I don't like to have to think very deeply, I want to be entertained. And that's precisely what this film did for me.
Rating: 
Summary: A Let Down
Review: This movie was a let down compared to Darabount's near-brilliant rendition of King's mediocre "Shawshank". First off, the raw material of this movie is not nearly as interesting as "Shawshank". Secondly, the character of John Coffey in "The Green Mile" is a rehash of the leads in "Phenomenon" and "Powder" (by the way, both of these are EXCELLENT movies in comparison to "The Green Mile" - yes even "Powder" is excellent compared to TGM). Thirdly, this movie is, sorry to say, needlessly long. Fourthly, the characters in this movie are ridiculously one-dimensional, very simple-minded. Fifthly, as other (& perceptive reviewers) have pointed out, the racial climate in this movie is simply unbelievable See "Rosewood" for a more apt description of the times and the mentality. I may re-watch this movie at some point in the future just to see if I feel the same way about it. But in the meantime I have a feeling I'll be sticking to "Shawshank," "Phenomenon" and ~ gasp ~ even "Powder" if I'm feeling like I need to be inspired.
Rating: 
Summary: A well-done, very disturbing movie...
Review: For starters, it's obvious that people either loved or hated this movie. And it's not hard to see why. You either buy into its sentimentality and the magic, or you don't. If you don't buy into it, you are going to hate this movie because it keeps serving you large servings of it for more than three hours. If you do buy into it, you are in for an emotionally draining and disturbing experience. I'm still digesting it, frankly, and I can't quite say yet if I'm happy that I saw it.
Is it well acted? Yes, but remember the emphasis is on sentiment. If you don't buy sentimentality, you won't like the acting.
How about the story? Like most Stephen King, there are several twists and turns and a couple of miracles along the way. It also has an incredibly disturbing execution scene that I fear did damage to my synapses permanently. I don't need that from my "entertainment." This is not a movie for the faint of heart. However, in some ways it is, because people who are not yet supercynical -- the bleeding hearts out there -- are most likely to get caught up in the film.
Another frequent complaint is the length. I'm of two minds about that too. In general I like longer movies. You become more enveloped in the characters, more immersed in the world, but this is still a heck of a long movie when, frankly, not all that much actually happens. I think the director could have easily sliced 20-30 minutes without sacrificing any of the story.
As far as the ending, I'm not going to give it away like some others here do (you are forewarned), but it is more complex than the previous work by the Frank Darabont/Stephen King crew, The Shawshank Redemption. It is a proper ending to the movie, but anybody taking away simple emotions from this movie didn't quite get it, in my view. Shawshank, by the way, I wholeheartedly endorse, as a superior movie. Shawshank is one of the best movies I've ever seen, that leaves you emotionally drained and completely satisfied. The Green Mile has left me drained, but with a sense of unease that I can't quite put my hands on.
Rating:
Summary: leonard maltin don't know what he's talking about...
Review: this movie was excellent. king is a story telling god. and the movie...? awesome. i have no complaints what-so-ever. maybe leonard should should stick to "my fair lady" type movies. the time it took to watch this show went by like it was nothing. i feel bad for people who can't sit in one spot and keep their mind in a movie for over 90 minutes which is the "norm" for movie times. i recommend this movie to everyone who loved shawshank! it's a good story and the movie definately did it justice. just like shawshank. if you love king...you'll love this adaptation. get it! got it? :)
Rating:
Summary: STUNNING!
Review: Stephen King should be extremely proud of Frank Darabont's rendering of "The Green Mile." What an awesome cinematic experience! It certainly does give you a whole new vision of the death penalty, and life in general. What is truly amazing about this film is the casting! They should have given an Oscar to all of them as the most outstanding ensemble cast in years! It's hard to single out any one person, but if you look at the entire cast, you can see how perfect they were for their roles. Of course, Tom Hanks demonstrates why he's considered the best actor out there these days. His portrayal of Paul Edgecomb is simply terrific. His battle with the urinary tract infection is played marvelously, without one word of dialogue, and when he's cured, and goes to the john, the look of relief is something any male can identify with. Truly, an astounding performance. His face never fails to mesmerize, as he anchors this truly touching story. His relationship with his wife (beautifully embodied by Bonnie Hunt) is so beautiful; it's rare to see in movies these days. Michael Clarke Duncan was certainly robbed by Michael Caine of his supporting actor Oscar. Duncan is great. A man of unbelievable size, he still evokes a gentleness and understanding of love in such a wonderful way. His last scene with Hanks is pure gold. The rest of the cast is awesome, too. David Morse (from "St. Elsehwere") is perfect as Brutal. All the guards seem to have a genuine love for each other, and Morse displays strength, compassion and humor in this overlooked role. Jeffrey DeMunn and Barry Pepper as the other "good" guards are brilliant, too. That brings us to Doug Hutchison as Percy, perhaps the most evil and unlikeable character to ever touch celluloid. Hutchison is brilliant in his portrayal of this evil, uncaring, unhuman guard. What he does to Delacort in the electrocution scene is the most cold-blooded murder ever witnessed by this reviewer. You need a strong stomach to sit through this horrible event. Michael Jeter as Delacort, the man who gets an unusual friend in the mouse, Mr. Jingles, is awesome in his role. Likewise, Graham Greene, only on screen for a few minutes, creates an indelible death row victim. And it doesn't stop there: James Cromwell as the warden; Patricia Clarkson, as his dying wife; Harry Dean Stanton as the surrogate victim; Sam Rockwell as the totally irreprehensible Billy Wharton; Gary Sinise in a bit part; and of course Bonnie Hunt as Hanks' wife round out one of the best casts I've seen in years. The Green Mile is one of those movies that sticks in your mind long after you've viewed it; and I almost forgot: Darabont's brilliant decision to cast veterans Dabbs Greer and Eve Brent as the older Hanks and his nursing home confidant. Stunning! The movie never seemed slow, or long; it's hypnotic! It's true film-making at its best. TEN STARS IF WE HAD THEM!!!!
Rating:
Summary: Magic
Review: After watching this film a dozen or so times, I can barely make it ten minutes into the film before starting to cry, in anticipation of the events to come. This is pure fantasy, played with a realism that will break your heart. Gone is the gritty realism of Shawshank, this is a modern fairy tale, but like life in the 21st century, there's no happy ending. If this fails to move you, then I'm sorry that you've lost the wonder of a child looking at the world anew. If you can still believe something you've never seen before, and take delight in it, than this film will affect your outlook forever more.
Rating:
Summary: Where is healing to be found?
Review: In well-paid experts, or in those marginalized, imprisoned people we pass off as beyond redemption? When killers (or supposed killers) heal: what are we, raised in a Christianistic, black-and-white, "this is wrong and that is right" environment to make of such a paradox? More important: what will it make of us? That is what the prison guard played by Tom Hanks finds out. See this movie and if you're connected to your emotions, you will never think of the death penalty the same way again.
Rating:
Summary: Great movie - even better book
Review: I read the book first - and it was fantastic! The movie does it justice, which is not usually the case with books turned into movies! Bravo to Tom Hanks who seems to add magic to everything he touches! Great cast, great story, great movie! Read the book first, just because it's worth the read...but absolutely see the movie. You will laugh, cry and then sit in wonder as this amazing story unfolds!
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