The Shawshank Redemption

I've lost count of the number of times I have seen this moviebut it is more than 20. It has to be one of the best movies ever made. It made me take notice Morgan Freeman and Tim Robbins like I had never noticed any actors before.

I have from a very young age been a huge fan of anything Stephen King writes and had already read the short story that this movie is based on years prior to seeing this movie.

Not everything Stephen King has written that gets turned into a movie comes out wellbut this is as close to perfection as it gets and has everything you could ever want in a movie.

Something that is outstanding is the fact that it has no real actionno special effects and no gimmicks. 99% of the movie is just men in a prison uniforms talking. Yet it absolutely hooks you almost from the beginning and has you glued to the screen to the end.

For me what really makes this film one of the best is the message of eternal hope it conveys throughout. The never ever give up hope attitude of the main character so well conveyed by Tim Robbins. The ending is just spine tingling every time I see itno matter how many times I have seen it.

Brilliantbrilliant movie and a must see for everyone.

I have never seen such an amazing film since I saw The Shawshank Redemption. Shawshank encompasses friendshipshardshipshopesand dreams. And what is so great about the movie is that it moves youit gives you hope. Even though the circumstances between the characters and the viewers are quite differentyou don't feel that far removed from what the characters are going through.

It is a simple filmyet it has an everlasting message. Frank Darabont didn't need to put any kind of outlandish special effects to get us to love this filmthe narration and the acting does that for him. Why this movie didn't win all seven Oscars is beyond mebut don't let that sway you to not see this filmlet its ranking on the IMDb's top 250 list sway youlet your friends recommendation about the movie sway you.

Set aside a little over two hours tonight and rent this movie. You will finally understand what everyone is talking about and you will understand why this is my all time favorite movie.

One of the finest films made in recent years. It's a poignant story about hope. Hope gets me. That's what makes a film like this more than a movie. It tells a lesson about life. Those are the films people talk about 50 or even 100 years from you. It's also a story for freedom. Freedom from isolationfrom rulefrom bigotry and hate. Freeman and Robbins are majestic in their performances. Each learns from the other. Their relationship is strong and you feel that from the first moment they make contact with one another. There is also a wonderful performance from legend James Whitmore as Brooks.

He shines when it is his time to go back into the worldonly to find that the world grew up so fast he never even got a chance to blink. Stephen King's story is brought to the screen with great elegance and excitement. It is an extraordinary motion that people "will" be talking about in 50 or 100 years.

Misery and Stand By Me were the best adaptations up until this onenow you can add Shawshank to that list.

This is simply one of the best films ever made and I know I am not the first to say that and I certainly won't be the last. The standing on the IMDb is a true barometer of that. #3 as of this date and I'm sure it could be number 1. So I'll just skip all the normal praise of the film because we all know how great it is. But let me perhaps add that what I find so fascinating about Shawshank is that Stephen King wrote it.

King is one of the best writers in the world. Books like IT and the Castle Rock series are some of the greatest stories ever told. But his best adaptations are always done by the best directors. The Shining was brilliantly interpreted by Kubrick and of course the aforementioned Misery and Stand By Me are both by Rob Reiner. Now Frank Darabont comes onto the scene and makes arguably the best King film ever. He seems to understand what King wants to say and he conveys that beautifully.

What makes this film one of the best ever made is the message it conveys. It is one of eternal hope. Andy Dufresneplayed by Tim Robbinshas been sent to prison for a crime he did not commit. But he never loses hope. He never gives up his quest to become a free man again. His years of tenacitypatience and wits keep him not only sanebut it gives his mind and a spirit a will to live. This film has a different feel to it. There has never been anything like it before and I don't know if there will again.

I'm not going to say any more about this filmit has already been saidbut just suffice to say that I am glad that Forrest Gump won best picture in 94. I would have been equally glad if Pulp Fiction or Shawshank would have won. It is that good of a movie and one that will be appreciated for years to come.

It is no wonder that the film has such a high ratingit is quite literally breathtaking. What can I say that hasn't said before? Not muchit's the storythe actingthe premisebut most of allthis movie is about how it makes you feel. Sometimes you watch a filmand can't remember it days laterthis film loves with youonce you've seen ityou don't forget.

The ultimate story of friendshipof hopeand of lifeand overcoming adversity.

I understand why so many class this as the best film of all timeit isn't minebut I get it. If you haven't seen itor haven't seen it for some timeyou need to watch itit's amazing. 10/10.