Got home from an excellent night in the pub with some of my best friends, switch on channel 4 to catch the last hour of the shawshank redemption.....I thought to myself life really doesn't get any better than this, (obviously it does, just really happy right now)

So many people I know have shawshank in their top 10 films of all time, surely its the best film in the world.....thoughts?

It truly is a brilliant film, based on the novella by Stephen King.

I saw it at a time in my life when I was down, and the two lines I remember from the film were :

"You have to get busy living or get busy dying"

"Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies."

They made a lot of difference to me at teh time, and they still do now.

Joe

:) Its wanna the best films ever made

2nd only to The Godfather on IMDBs top 250 list (http://uk.imdb.com/chart/top).

I'd agree with that rating (except I'd have Usual Suspects as No1 and knock the other 2 down 1 rank each) :)

It truly is a great film (in my top 5 without a doubt).....


....but The Awakenings pips it for me .

I don't mind bigging it up as well. Brilliant film, brilliant story, brilliant cast, just brilliant!

I watched it for the first time just after watching Schindlers List and can remember thinking "If this a taste of things to come the film industry is looking pretty sweet"

I never tire of this film.

Very brilliant.

I must be in a small minority who thinks it's a little overated.

I bought Shawshank a few years ago when I first got a DVD player, and to be fair, I wasn't blown away with it. I might re-watch it this weekend and see if it's grown on me! :)

K x

Originally posted by Tubthump
I must be in a small minority who thinks it's a little overated.

I say the same about The Green mile.

Originally posted by venger
I say the same about The Green mile.


Awww, Venger, I love The Green Mile! One of my best films ever! :D

K x

Yep, i loved 'The Green Mile' too :wink:

Love this film! It doesn't seem to matter how many times I see it - it's still amazing and still has the same impact on me.

And I still grin like an idiot right at the end. :D

I love this film. It is interesting though that the ending was changed at the request of the producers, I think it is better with the original ending.

Originally posted by davus78
I love this film. It is interesting though that the ending was changed at the request of the producers, I think it is better with the original ending.
Great film....watched it again last night and enjoyed it more the 2nd time
Just out of interest what is the original ending?

From the book and original showing to the producers the final scene is Red going away on the bus saying "I hope" which is just beautiful.

The producers wanted a happier ending - people to go away knowing it worked out so they added the beach scene, where we see Andy and Red hug, afterwards.

I can understand that but I think the original ending is more poignant and underscores the thing that really hits me about the film and the ending in particular - hope through adversity. I like it left to the audience to imagine whether Red made it or not. For me its not as relevant and the original is more powerful.

Still, a great film and the ending is still powerful - and as I say I can understand the happy ending slant - we have been through so much with Andy and Red we want it to work it and Red to be happy.

Originally posted by davus78
From the book and original showing to the producers the final scene is Red going away on the bus saying "I hope" which is just beautiful.

The producers wanted a happier ending - people to go away knowing it worked out so they added the beach scene, where we see Andy and Red hug, afterwards.

I can understand that but I think the original ending is more poignant and underscores the thing that really hits me about the film and the ending in particular - hope through adversity. I like it left to the audience to imagine whether Red made it or not. For me its not as relevant and the original is more powerful.

Still, a great film and the ending is still powerful - and as I say I can understand the happy ending slant - we have been through so much with Andy and Red we want it to work it and Red to be happy.

Oh, that original ending sounds beautiful - perfect. That's how the film should have ended, literally with the word 'hope'. That's just so exactly right - the film is all about hope, how without hope there is nothing but with hope, miracles can indeed happen. ANYTHING can happen, where there is hope.

That was clearly the true ending for the film - beautifully crafted, in keeping with the spirit of the story.

I find it a very hard film to watch, but it is a wonderful story, with the most moving themes of all for me - Hope and Redemption.

StarSparkle

I agree StarSparkle. Red says "hope" and we see the bus going of in the horizon as the sun sets. Gotta love that.

Originally posted by Kristian
Awww, Venger, I love The Green Mile! One of my best films ever! :D

K x

And John Travolta turned down the role..... gave it to their second choice, Tom Hanks.........wonder if Travolta would have done much better ?

No Way.......Tom Hanks was awesome, main reason why the film was so good

Was my number 1 film until I heard someone ask the question...

"How did Andy get the poster back on the wall?"

I guess it's a plot flaw that I can overlook......

He never took the poster off the wall. It was only fastened at the top.:thumbsup:

Kept being told to watch this film, but thought it wasn't my type (going on my favourite all time being GREASE) but eventually watched it and - Its a brilliant film.:thumbsup:

It is one of the greatest ever films I have seen. Like Starsparkle says - it can be hard to watch at times - I especially remember feeling so sad for the old librarian when he is released and goes out into a society that doesn't care.

That few minutes of film that follow his departure is so hard-hitting, it makes you want to put your arms out and take the poor man in.

Originally posted by Ginner


I guess it's a plot flaw that I can overlook......

If the sewer pipe was only running a quarter deep, how come it sprayed 3ft in the air when he cracked it open????

...or conversely.....

If the sewer pipe was full enough and under enough pressure to spray 3ft in the air when he cracked it open, how come it was only running at a depth of about 6" when he crawled into it???

Originally posted by cgksheff
If the sewer pipe was only running a quarter deep, how come it sprayed 3ft in the air when he cracked it open????

...or conversely.....

If the sewer pipe was full enough and under enough pressure to spray 3ft in the air when he cracked it open, how come it was only running at a depth of about 6" when he crawled into it???

Also, Red narrates that the next morning Andy visited a number of banks and withdrew money . . . where did he get that suit dried, ironed and pressed so early?

I don't really get the bit about the tree either . . . it could have been ANY tree!! . . in ANY field . . .

But anyway, top, top film! :thumbsup:

Top film - I really love it but like the sewer thing....and his appearance all clean and smart etc

I wondered about the likelihood of an inmate being in exactly the same cell for 20 years...:confused:

Imagine just being inches away from breaking through at the otherside and have the warden move you to another cell for a change of scenery!! ;)

Just my 'plot flaw', would have been more believeable if he managed it from a 'communal' area of the prison!!

Still loved it though and would have preferred the book ending...Hope...very apt!!

:thumbsup:

I have Shawshank in my video collection excellent film.

Anyone seen American History X - it's very good and thought provoking, I recommend it. :thumbsup:

Originally posted by Lestat
. . . where did he get that suit dried, ironed and pressed so early?



I thought that it was all packed up in plastic, being pulled behind him on the 6ft length of rope.
After he fell out of the sewer into the stream, he just ripped off his prison clothes and went naked into the night. They found his clothes the next day.
Was he wearing the warden's shoes at the time, though?

I'm not too worried about the field and the tree. There was enough time supposed to have elapsed for Red to have been given exact instructions off-camera. Which would explain him buying the compass in order to follow those directions.

He was given the cell and allowed to live in it alone as his reward for being the warden's creative accountant.

Rates in my top 5 too.

There's a list of goof's here:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0111161/goofs

Everytime this film is on I think - nah not going to watch it again. Everytime I do and everytime I shed a tear when 'Brookes' hangs himself.

It is in my top 5 films. And when it was released I had to be dragged to see it at the cinema as I thought it would be load of old rubbish.

And it can have it's little faults because I love it anyway.

Originally posted by saxon51
He never took the poster off the wall. It was only fastened at the top.:thumbsup:
Definately looks stuck down as far as the hole (goes taught when Warden Norton sticks his arm through it...).

Gave me a great excuse to watch it again tho.

Pedantic mode off... I'm not that bothered by it... really
:P

I'm amazed. You people surely aren't holding up Shawshank Redemption as one of the greatest ever films?

Have any of you seen any other films? Ever?

Come on then Agent Gypo - your nominations are?

Hmmmm, tough one.

Ok, without thinking too hard about it;

Pi
Kooyanisqaatsi
JFK
Raging Bull
Alien
Requiem for a Dream
Blue Velvet
Full Metal Jacket
Blade Runner
Psycho
Wild at Heart
The Shining
Mullholland Drive
Naked Lunch
The Fly (remake)
Platoon
City of God
Natural Born Killers

I'll have missed loads off here too....

The reason people were discussing Shawshank Redemption as opposed the many other excellent films you have mentioned was because is what shown the following night - therefore prompting the discussion on what an excellent film it was.

Can I add American History X to the list. :thumbsup:

Originally posted by dawny1
The reason people were discussing Shawshank Redemption as opposed the many other excellent films you have mentioned was because is what shown the following night - therefore prompting the discussion on what an excellent film it was.

I personally think it's a distinctly average (though well crafted) film.

Originally posted by dawny1
Can I add American History X to the list. :thumbsup:

No, you can't. It's my list so :shakes: Though if you like that, get hold of Romper Stomper or Made in Britain.

Not heard of those two - will hunt them out cos let's face it - there's a load of c**p on T.V most nights! :help:

American History X is a fine film IMO. Edward Norton at his most lethal best :thumbsup:

I like Romper Stomper too. Russel Crowe makes a great skin head :wink:

Has anyone seen Chopper starring Eric Banna? Put 3 or 4 stone on to play that part, very mean guy! :suspect:

Originally posted by Agent Gypo
Hmmmm, tough one.

Ok, without thinking too hard about it;

Pi
Kooyanisqaatsi
JFK
Raging Bull
Alien
Requiem for a Dream
Blue Velvet
Full Metal Jacket
Blade Runner
Psycho
Wild at Heart
The Shining
Mullholland Drive
Naked Lunch
The Fly (remake)
Platoon
City of God
Natural Born Killers

I'll have missed loads off here too....

Everyone of those films is better than Shawshank (if you exclude the clunky Oliver Stone efforts)

Can't believe I missed off Crash! I don't mean that overacted, formulaic sentimental load of **** that just hit the cinema either.

Do you mean that effort of a film made about 7 years ago with James Spader et al who get their sexual kicks out of damaging their bodies in car crashes? Christ, that has got to be one of the most appalling films I have ever seen!

Thats the one. Dark and subversive daddy.

If you like them dark and subversive, how about the works of

Todd Solondz, director of: Happiness, Welcome To The Dollshouse, StoryTelling, Palindromes.

Or Lucas Moodyson, director of: Lilya 4 Ever, Hole In My Heart

Or Takeshi Miike, director of: Audition, Gozu, Ichii The Killer

Or Chan Woon Park, director of: Sympathy For Mr. Vengeance, Oldboy

Or Gasper Noe, director of: Irreversible.

Or Lars Von Trier, director of: The Idiots, Europa, Dancer In The Dark, Dogville, Breaking The Waves

I could continue...

Disturbing? How about Closet Land? Alan Rickman is great in it.

Originally posted by Tubthump
If you like them dark and subversive, how about the works of

Todd Solondz, director of: Happiness, Welcome To The Dollshouse, StoryTelling, Palindromes.

Or Lucas Moodyson, director of: Lilya 4 Ever, Hole In My Heart

Or Takeshi Miike, director of: Audition, Gozu, Ichii The Killer

Or Chan Woon Park, director of: Sympathy For Mr. Vengeance, Oldboy

Or Gasper Noe, director of: Irreversible.

Or Lars Von Trier, director of: The Idiots, Europa, Dancer In The Dark, Dogville, Breaking The Waves

I could continue...

Some good ones there, though Audition, Dogville and Ichii The Killer are about as disturbing as a mince pie.

Originally posted by Agent Gypo
Some good ones there, though Audition, Dogville and Ichii The Killer are about as disturbing as a mince pie.

Audition is a bit gruesome though. Don't tell me you watched it without wincing!

I found it a bit tiresome really.

Originally posted by Agent Gypo
I found it a bit tiresome really.

"Sigh... Darling, can we watch something else now? Once you've seen one graphic representation of a foot being cut off using piano wire, you've seen them all. Is Corrie on yet?"

;)

(I agree that the rest of the film is a little dull)

Originally posted by sugarnspice
Love this film! It doesn't seem to matter how many times I see it - it's still amazing and still has the same impact on me.

And I still grin like an idiot right at the end. :D

Totally agree, I do exactly the same:)

Why haven't we got the War Channel yet? I demand to see reckless abandon with flying shards of death.

It may not be fashionable to say it, but Shawshank really is a terrific film. Yes it's sugary sweet, yes it presents prisoners as paragons of moral virtue and the guards as pure evil and yes, the whole escape plot is a little ridiculous. But it all holds together so, so, well and it's impossible not to be drawn into rooting for Andy and Red.

Not the best film of all time by any means, but it's certainly touched an awful lot of people. When Steven Spielberg pulls off the same trick he's lauded as a genius – why doesn't Darabont get the same respect from the critics, especially seeing as his film wasn't even marketed?

Spielberg has been reeling off some real turkeys recently. Minority Report and The War of The Worlds instantly spring to mind. I loathe most of his back catalogue really.

Originally posted by Agent Gypo
Spielberg has been reeling off some real turkeys recently. Minority Report and The War of The Worlds instantly spring to mind. I loathe most of his back catalogue really.

I hated War of the Worlds but didn't think Minority Report was bad at all until about twenty minutes from the end.

But Spielberg is responsible for some undeniably brilliant, boundary-pushing, breathtaking films: Close Encounters, Jaws, ET, Jurassic Park etc.

Originally posted by Agent Gypo
I personally think it's a distinctly average (though well crafted) film.



No, you can't. It's my list so :shakes: Though if you like that, get hold of Romper Stomper or Made in Britain.

made in britain is a exellent film as is romper stomper the latter was banned i think for a while but is well worth watching if you like that kind of thing

btw is the 3 disc version of shawshank worth getting as ive already got the single disc version from a few years back is there much in the way of decent extras etc

Shawshank Remix....Click here! (http://banklocater.com/images/shawshank.wmv)

:hihi:

If you like prison films you should watch Papillion, its really good. Dustin Hoffman and Steve McQueen in French colonial prison.

Originally posted by kathythebean
If you like prison films you should watch

Ghosts of the Civil Dead

Dir: John Hillcoat

Starring: David Field, Mike Bishop, Chris DeRose, Kevin Mackey

Australian film, set in a prison of the near future, detailing the events leading up to a 'lockdown', when the prisoners are confined to their cells. Minimal dialogue, told mostly in voiceover, it's not an easy film to watch. It's worth the effort, though it's completely pessimistic and brutally realistic nature makes it very different from other 'prison' films.

Trash City review

Originally posted by kathythebean
If you like prison films you should watch Papillion, its really good. Dustin Hoffman and Steve McQueen in French colonial prison.

I agree, i'd say Papillion is one of the best movies made.

Originally posted by Tubthump
If you like them dark and subversive, how about the works of

Todd Solondz, director of: Happiness, Welcome To The Dollshouse, StoryTelling, Palindromes.

Or Lucas Moodyson, director of: Lilya 4 Ever, Hole In My Heart

Or Takeshi Miike, director of: Audition, Gozu, Ichii The Killer

Or Chan Woon Park, director of: Sympathy For Mr. Vengeance, Oldboy

Or Gasper Noe, director of: Irreversible.

Or Lars Von Trier, director of: The Idiots, Europa, Dancer In The Dark, Dogville, Breaking The Waves

I could continue...

Now ya talking...!

My kinda cinema :thumbsup:

I just watched Oldboy and Sympathy For Mr Vengeance. They started well, but they're ruined by the absolutley ridiculous developments in the later stages.

Moderately entertaining, but not great.

Yep, defo it's up there with Alfie and Zulu for me, doesn't nudge GlennGarry GlennRoss off my number one spot though, that film has the finest acting I have ever seen.

And as for TV, Carnivale and Deadwood are up there with classic films, even though they are serials.

MY FAV FILM OF ALL TIME, YEP I REMEMBER WATCHIN IT ON CH4, I JUST BEN TO SEE A CLARAVOIANT YES I REMEMBER IT CLEARLY IN MY CRYSLE BALL
I ALSO LIKE GREEN MILE TOO, GOT IT 4 XMAS LAST YEAR. :wow: CANT BELIEVE U ALL TALKING ABOUT THIS FILM, ITS PROPER ACE, AND NOONE ELSE LIKES IT, BUT I FOUND U ALL

Originally posted by qwerky
MY FAV FILM OF ALL TIME, YEP I REMEMBER WATCHIN IT ON CH4, I JUST BEN TO SEE A CLARAVOIANT YES I REMEMBER IT CLEARLY IN MY CRYSLE BALL
I ALSO LIKE GREEN MILE TOO, GOT IT 4 XMAS LAST YEAR. :wow: CANT BELIEVE U ALL TALKING ABOUT THIS FILM, ITS PROPER ACE, AND NOONE ELSE LIKES IT, BUT I FOUND U ALL

Shawshank gets me evertime I watch it, the end bit where he finds the money under the rock and meets him on the beach. (lump in throat)

Same with Untouchables (seen it 7 times) again, lump in throat when Connery drags himself across the floor after being hit with several bullets, then dies whilst the Opera music is playing.