Rating: 
Summary: A Wonderful Film
Review: It's my understanding that I can only write 1000 words for this review. It'll be a challange to curtain my thoughts about this movie to meet that parameter. To put it mildly, this is an excellent film that everyone will enjoy and get something from. It is acted excellently, the script and story are wonderful, and the cinematics are outstanding. I've seen this motion picture several times, and the underlying meaning to this film still effects me profoundly. Its message is a simple one; hope exists in all circumstances and the human spirit can overcome any adversity. To summarize, I thoroughly enjoyed this motion picture, I'd recommend it to anyone, and it will remain one of my personal favorites for years to come.
Rating:
Summary: A Flawless Masterpiece of Film
Review: I remember seeing this movie for the first time back in '95. The movie wasn't getting good reviews mostly because of its length, so I didn't want to see it in the theater. When it came out on video, I grudgingly borrowed it when nothing else was available. 4 amazing hours later, I realized that not only was it the best movie I had ever seen, but it was the kind of movie that changes my whole outlook on the way movies should be. The Shawshank Redemption is not about prison life, or about unjust crime, but it revolves around human emotion and the strength of one man, Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins), who must find the injustice around him and find his own freedom. It is also about how such a man can change the people around him, like Andy does to Red (Morgan Freeman), the (as he puts it) "guy who can get it for you". At first, Red doesn't believe that Andy can make it through a terrible place like Shawshank, but Andy continues to prove his friend wrong everyday, because of his will to be free and his undying hope. Hope is another central part to this movie. Although Red warns Andy of hope's dangerous grasp, Andy knows that it is the only thing that keeps him alive, the only thing that can help him go on in the corrupt and filthy world of the prison. And after the remarkable and surprising ending (which is still exciting after every viewing), Red realizes Andy's great internal strength. Frank Darabont does a terrific job with the directing and the script; his adaptation of Steven King's novella is downright flawless. The visuals and cinematography is also flawless. Flawless is really the only word to describe this movie, and it is a shame that it did not receive the kind of attention that it deserved. Thankfully, the movie has made a pseudo-revival through video and DVD release. Robbins and Freeman (who should've won the Oscar but lost to Tom Hanks (Forrest Gump)) are sensational in their roles, considering the fact that they couldn't rely on flashy sets of dramatic changes of scenery. Wearing the same clothes and being in the same set scene after scene can truly demonstrate fine acting. I'm very glad that I picked up this movie on that one night; I learned never to listen to critics drag on and on about film length, and to never underestimate the power of one film. This movie truly shows the fine craft that is a timeless movie, one that remains in your mind since the first time you finished watching the ending credits. 147 minutes? Please, there should've been more time for this movie.
Rating: 
Summary: it's really good but...
Review: Don't get me wrong, I love this movie. In fact, I've watched it over and over again, but I have to point out that the DVD is not as sharp and clear as I had expected it to be. In one scene towards the end where Dufresne and Red talk about Zijuatanejo, you can notice artifacts carried over from the theatrical version. The spots and scratches on the film were carried over to the DVD. Not that it is really noticeable, but you notice it as you watch it over time...
Rating:
Summary: more than a 5 it is like a 10,000
Review: this si most definatly one of my favorrite movies of all time . it has everything is it that any viewer will want to see . the whhole movie is about a man who is thought to have mudered his wife because she was having a affair . this happenes in the begining . throughout the whole movie you are able to see what a real life prison is like . this includes all the griddy details such as gayness among inmates , death , beatings , punishment , and many other detailed things . even though this movie has many unwanted desciptions in it there are many sceens that will make the whole movie worth watching . if you have not seen it is awsome and i highly recommened it to you .
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely superb
Review: The Shawshank Redemption ranks among the top five movies I've ever seen. Who knew such a heartfelt and poignant story could come from Stephen King? I was throughly impressed with the storyline, which follows like a mirror when compared to the written work (which I also recommend). If you don't know of the story, Tim Robbins plays a banker who is falsely accused of murdering of his wife. No, the one armed man didn't do it, but he surely didn't. He has no proof, is convicted and sent to Shawshank Prison, where he eventually befriends a kind-hearted ex-con played by Morgan Freeman (who more than deserved his Academy Award-nominated performance). I won't give anything more not only because everyone else probably has explained the story in full, but I will say this: This movie has such a great finale. It gives you so much hope for the future and that all that is good eventually works out for the best. Skip The Green Mile because compared to this similar prison movie, it blows.
Rating:
Summary: Absolute greatness
Review: The Shawshank Redemption is one of the best movies ever made. The acting is incredible, the characters are great, and the story is gripping. Tim Robbins, who plays the main character, Andy Dufresne, does an incredible job. He plays the heroic role of Andy to perfection, gaining the audience's sympathy and respect, while capturing their hearts with every step his character takes. While Robbins is great, though, Morgan Freeman is the one who steals the show in my eyes. His narration adds a lot to the movie, as does his overall portrayal of Ellis "Red" Redding. To think that he didn't win the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor is truly mind-boggling. Together, Freeman and Robbins have incredible chemistry, and make for one of the best on-screen duos in recent memory. The story is a great one. Without giving anything away, I will only say that although this is a rather lengthy movie (bordering on 2 and a half hours), it is time well spent. There are highs and there are lows; there are offensive points, such as excessive swearing and sexual innuendos, but nothing in the movie is done without purpose. As Freeman's character puts it during the movie, "prison is no fairy tale." When you watch this one to the end, you'll have an appreciation for the realism that was presented within the film. This movie isn't just for those who enjoy prison movies; almost everyone who sees this movie will have an appreciation for it on some level. The Shawshank Redemption is a great one, folks; the fact that it didn't win Best Picture at the Oscars is truly a shame. If you have managed to avoid watching this one so far, don't put it off for another day. Rent it immediately, give it a watch, and I think that you'll find it difficult to resist buying it. I would also recommend buying the DVD of this movie if you have a player to accomodate it. It is admittedly short on features, but the picture is incredibly crisp and clear, and the sound comes through brilliantly. Don't shy away from buying this one unless excessive features are a must for you.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Movie!
Review: I actually saw this movie before I read the book, like most people did. In fact, I doubt many people read the book at all; in case you were wondering, it's by Stephen King. Now hold on, don't leave yet. Stephen King has written some pretty bad stuff before, but this isn't bad at all. It's an incredible story, and the movie is even better. It's the best prison drama ever made. It's a must see for anyone who loves great movies. In this wonderful screen adaption, Andrew Dufresne, played by Tim Robbins, is a young banker who is convicted of killing his wife. At first everything points to him as the suspect, and a Maine jury has no problem convicting him of the crime. Andrew, or Andy, as he becomes known, is sent of to Shawshank, a Maine prison, to live out his life sentence. At first Andy doesn't fit in, but soon the convicts around him begin to respect him for his persistence in trying to become free. He makes friends with a man called Red (played by Morgan Freeman), a man who can get things. This friendship grows, and soon becomes very strong. You begin to realize, as the plot plays out, that Andy may not be guilty. In the end, this is a movie about hope, about never giving up. Andy strives to succeed, even in the looming shadow of the cruel warden. The acting in this film is great, enough so to match the plot. It is a true classic, one that everyone needs to see.
Rating:
Summary: OAR - no rowing!
Review: To add to the clarity, here. The "full screen" version of this movie includes the soft matte. When the movie was first shot for theater, it was filmed with 4:3 ratio photography. The film was edited to "widescreen" for theatrical release, which is known as Original Aspect Ratio (OAR), which is what you will see if you view the widescreen DVD or VHS. Instead of destroying the unused top and bottom portions, which usually include information that the director deems unnecessary for the picture, they included it in the full screen edition VHS. This is bonus material and was not part of the original theatrical version. You are NOT being cheated.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful, beautiful movie!
Review: That does not begin to describe how good this movie is. This movie is a must have for your DVD collection. This movie is a very heart warming story about two men and how one never gives up hope and the other begins to learn hope and gets a second shot at life. This is a wonderful bargain buy this movie!
Rating:
Summary: One of my favorites
Review: This has to be one of my favorite movies. It is a great movie of hope and prison life. It is about a man the is sentenced to life in prison for a crime he didn't commit. He goes to prison and meets friends and wants to make them happy, so he gives the warden some financial tips, if he can give his "Co-Workers" some beer. He says yea and soon he is the prisons banker. He does everything for them but is really just planning revenge. I highly reccomend this great movie. You will want watch it over and over again, even though it is over 2 hours long.
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