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Journal btlzu2's Journal: Why is The Shawshank Redemption the Best Movie Ever? 33

Journal by btlzu2

Spoiler alert: If you haven't freakin' seen this movie yet SHAME. I don't give a crap about any following spoilers. ;)

Godammit that is one fucking good movie. I think it's my favorite movie ever. I have seen it probably 10 times or more by now and was lucky enough to have a friend drag me to see it in the theater in 1994. I was stunned that what I thought would be another heartless, cruel prison movie turned out to be a movie that affected my views on life.

Tim Robbins played one of the most compelling roles I've seen him in and Morgan Freeman, AH Morgan. What a choice for Red!!! I pictured some yahoo like that one guy with reddish hair or whatever, but Morgan Freeman was so much better. Morgan Freeman has, to me, this aura of wisdom surrounding him. You know those kind of people? He hid that aura so well as his character's growth was revealed. There were many such subtleties that I picked up on his performance as he watched Andy and learned from him.

I think what makes it good is that it is so very hopeful without being a mushy mess. It truly helps center me sometimes when I feel like I can't complete a project or deal with something difficult in life. Yes, it's only a fictitious movie, but there is something soulful and honest about it regardless. Just thinking about the line "Get busy living or get busy dying. That's goddamn right." fills me full of energy and the will to push on forward.

I have a controversial stance leading to my only criticism of the movie. I do not think they should have showed Red walking towards Andy on the beach. The original story ended with Red saying "I hope" riding the bus. That would have been a less obvious, but more potent way to end the movie. He learned his lesson, he's on the way to see Andy--leave us with the anticipation high and the meeting to our imaginations.

Such a beautiful movie anyway.

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Why is The Shawshank Redemption the Best Movie Ever? More

Why is The Shawshank Redemption the Best Movie Ever?

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  • ... but the movie is definately a top 10 if not the best. So I agree (and need to pickup the book).
    • It's actually a short story in the book Different Seasons. The book has 2 other popular short stories--The Body which inspired Stand By Me and Apt Pupil which they made a movie from, but the story was much better!

      • I really like the fact that Shawshank is based on a story by Stephen King who according to literary critics only writes garbage, and too much of it.

        The ending of the Running Man was also much better than in the movie, but then the movie didn't have a lot in common with the story overall either.

  • Always watchable.
  • Its Dune, which I have seen about 20 times. I always watch it after reading the book yet another time.

    But shawshank was the first movie I warez when I first got a broadband connection! I can't put my finger on what makes it great. I always think of the scene when he playes the opera record through the prisons tannoy as the most memorable.
  • ...so "Naked" (aka "Mike Leigh's 'Naked'") is still the best.
    • Thats a great film! Gawd, I loved it. I don't think its in the same class as the shawshank at all. Which is to say I like the shawshank, its one of those slow, easy movies I could watch with somebody's parents. But Naked is waaay up there.
  • No, actually that's just a little bonus. It's actually the best movie ever because it's just that damn good. Still makes me cry every time, too. Maybe it's that all of the characters are very deep and real. Or maybe all of the elements of perfection came together for the movie. I don't know; it's just that good.
  • People want a CONCLUSION. They want the story wrapped up, and they want it to end happy. Far be it from Hollywood NOT to give people what they want!

    I think it's a good movie, but it's not my all-time fave. I do think the movie's better than the story, which is really saying something. And when you think of the book it came from -- Different Seasons, and the fact that Stand By Me came from that book, as well... Well, is there any doubt that Steven King has sold his soul to the devil?

    Which brings us to Mo
    • I saw Monkey Bone, but I'm not a Tim Burton fan for some reason. Never have been. I think Brendan Frasier is hilarious though. Monkey Bone, to me wasn't very memorable unfortunately.

      Oh, also Apt Pupil was in Different Seasons which was a great story, if not such a great movie.
      • See, I'm generally a Tim Burton fan, but I heard Monkey Bone sucked it's own, so didn't bother to see it.

        Oh, and I am REALLY FRIGHTENED of the new Charlie & the Chocolate Factory he's going to be putting out soon....

      • I didn't remember Apt Pupil, but I did read that whole book. It's only been 15 years since then, though... :-)

        The part about Monkey Bone I was thinking of was when they were showing all the people who were in hell or wherever and had sold their souls to the devil. The ones who were responsible for giving people nightmares... And of course, he was there.

        Did you read Misery? I remember a friend in my HS Field Bio class lending me the hardcover of that when I was 15, and MAN, it scared the FUCK out of me!
        • Oh yes, I read Misery and was freaked. Same thing with It. I just fell in love with Stephen King after those two. He's written so many great stories. I was always impressed that I could be frightened without any noises or pictures, just words off a page. Pretty sweet!

          I remember that bit in Monkey Bone! Forgot about it until you reminded me though....
          • Go read yourself some HP Lovecraft. King never managed to scare me, Lovecraft managed to freak me out on more than one occassion(Generally when I was alone, in a house, reading something like "The rats in the walls" [dagonbytes.com]). Also a big influence on King, so check it out already.

            In fact, I didn't like King until bestest drinking buddy heard me saying this and MADE me read the Dark Tower series, which is very cool and finally finished.
    • I saw Monkey Bone at a test screening when the effects weren't all finished, which was interesting. I liked it, but then when it came out in theaters I read how short it was and it was only PG-13, so I passed. Yup, I got to see the R-rated cut! I waited for the DVD hoping the deleted scenes would be integrated back in, but nope.

      Anyone know why Terminator 2 is seemingly the only DVD that gives the option to watch with all the deleted scenes integrated again?
      • Anyone know why Terminator 2 is seemingly the only DVD that gives the option to watch with all the deleted scenes integrated again?
        Because James Cameron is an egomaniac who thinks even his deleted scenes are worth incorporation, when perhaps they're not?

        I think it is up to the individual director and oftentimes they took the scenes out because of pace, or a glitch in the story, whatever and maybe they want their work to remain intact with the ability simply to display the deleted scenes and why they were
        • Ouch. I like the Special edition edit of T2. There's also a well hidden easter egg to play an even more extended edition with a different ending of Sarah Connor about thirty years older in a peaceful park. I don't care for that one. I like the DVD for letting me choose to integrate or watch the deleted scenes seperately.

          I figure there are a number of PG-13 flicks that were better in their R-rated versions, but the studio forced the cuts. Considering how cheap it is to press and sell DVDs over the net,
  • But then again I haven't seen the movie and didn't read your JE nor the above comments
  • and good for the common discourse. It's a part of the social psyche now. I love reading Bill Simmons on ESPN when he throws out some reference on the sly.

    I was hoping Darabont would add to the pantheon of fundamental Hollywood directors. That "I make big Hollywood movies. Epics, Drama, Action. And this is how they are supposed to work." Michael Mann is in this catagory. McTiernan, Ridley Scott.

    But Green Mile? Eh, too similar. The Majestic? No. Maybe his F451 will do the trick. But he's only hi
    • I can't wait to see F451. I just re-read it to refresh my memory about it and it was as good, insightful, and interesting as the first 2 times I read it about 15 years ago. I think he might do a pretty good job of it. I hope.

      The Green Mile was entertaining, but it was no Shawshank.
  • The casting is great (even though I am not a Robbins fan, he did really well) and Freeman? Holy crap they couldn't have cast a better actor in that role. I guess the whole "holier than thou" attitude of the warden rings true too, especially considering what he is really up to. I have literally worn out the VHS copy I have of this movie, eventually I will get the DVD I am sure. Oh and the short story is good too :-)
    • There are 2 DVD versions out there. The original one with no special features and a new one with 2 discs. Needless to say, try to get the second one; especially if you would like the learn more insight into the making of the movie via the special features.
  • Comment removed based on user account deletion
  • One of the best movies I ever saw, and if I find it while I'm zapping, you can bet that I'll watch it again. Someday I'll buy the DVD, that's pretty sure.

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