The Shawshank Redemption

He had a good many years to work it out, and he'd know that the sewer pipes had to come out somewhere, just as well there wasn't a grille on the end of the pipe.

Maybe he knew that the black stone was already there, because didn't he say he'd asked his wife to marry him by that tree. ?

Anyway, Shawshank has got to be one of the best films ever. Fantastic !
 
I don't really agree with that... if it was riddled with cliches everyone would live happily ever after and everytime something bad was about to happen Andy/whoever would be miraculously saved just in time, which is the usual prison fair. Part of the reason I like the film is even tho Andy makes it out and Red is finally given his freedom there are many many bleak upsetting moments. Andy suffering rape, the old guy hanging himself, the young "Elvis" kid getting killed, and the fact that Andy is so damaged by his experiences that he chooses to live in virtual solitude after escaping. Don't forget that at the movie's beginning Andy was a successful guy. Anyway, enough rambling, it's a classic! :D
 
This is one of my favourite films - it's absolutely stunning with great performances from Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman - it's also from a story from Stephen King whom I love. I find it disturbing but uplifting. Wonderful!

I've see The Shawshank Redemption topping various lists of the best films of all time.
 
I only got around to watching this about 2 years ago:o before watching I wondered what all the fuss was about. After watching I realised what all the fuss was about! Its a wonderful film with great performances.
 
It was actually very well received by the critics and nominated for seven Oscars.

It was the initial box office figures which were not favourable.

That said, nearly 15 years after its initial release, it is now considered a true classic by many and regularly features among many "Greatest Films" poles.
 
The other thing which got me about the differences from the book is that in the book he doesn't manage to shake the sisters, they continue to attack him throughout - more realistic but slightly depressing.

Also, the final monologue by Morgan Freeman is pretty much word for word the last paragraphs of the book. As such, in the book you never find out whether Red makes it to Mexico. In some ways I prefer that although it is nice to see the bit in the film where they meet up on the beach.

By the way this is one of my top 5 films of all time!
 
amazing film. one of those ones that you remember where you were when you first saw it.

i cannot see the role of Red, being played by anyone but Morgan even if it was written for a red headed irish man.
 
Good point! :)

Another thing I was thinking was that as the tunnel he was digging from his cell was very narrow and facing downwarRAB it would be difficult for him to reverse back up it each night into his cell :confused:
 
Not really, as Stephen King is far more than the horror writer he is often stereotyped as being.

He writes very good character-driven books, and hence forth Shawshank is very much the sort of thing he would write well.

That said, I think this is one of the rare occasions where the adaptation is actually better than the King story it is based upon. The book lacks the surprise element that the film contains, as the twist is given away pretty much from the get go in the book.
 
I guess the surprise for me was that there didn't seem to even be a "magic" element (for lack of a better word) in it like in the Green Mile. Parts of it did show some cerebral horror like quality though, and I still close my eyes at some parts believe it or not.
 
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