Prepare to be moved

Tim Robbins stars as Andy Dufresne, a successful young banker who is sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of his wife and her lover. Andy is sent to Shawshank prison, a dour and depressing place where brutality from both guards and other prisoners is commonplace. Andy makes friends with Ellis Boyd “Red” Redding (Morgan Freeman), a lifer who has already spent many years inside. Red specialises in smuggling items into the prison for the other prisoners. Red soon discovers that Andy is a most unusual prisoner, although at first it seems to do him little good – he is brutalised by other prisoners

He starts to get both other prisoners and guards on his side when he offers to help one of the most notorious guards with a tax problem in exchange for bottles of chilled beer for everyone in his work party. From then on, Andy always seems to be working on one thing or another. He improves the prison’s tiny library, and helps those prisoners who want to study. He also handles the guards’ tax returns, and even helps the swindling Warden (Bob Gunton) cook the books. Over the years, he gains the respect of most of the other prisoners and guards. More importantly, he never loses hope for the future – a hope he tries to pass on to the other prisoners. He never stops believing in life’s possibilities, but to make the most of them he needs to be free.

Based on the Stephen King (non-horror) novella “Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption”, this is a simple story of hope made remarkable by the interaction between the two lead characters. Both Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman do a fine job in terms of making their roles genuine and appealing, and also in the way they work so well together. The production values throughout are outstanding, but this is not a “fancy” film. Rather, it sticks to the story it is telling without resorting to flashy tricks to grab the audience’s attention. Although there is violence, some of it extreme, it is necessary to show the kind of place the prison is and is certainly not gratuitous. The main theme is hope, not despair, and the violence serves only as a backdrop to that message. Unashamedly a feelgood movie, by the end one is wishing only that it would continue for a few more moments.

Shawshank Redemption -Get busy livin' or get busy dyin'

While not a box office hit, this movie is a favorite of many viewers, and has achieved the distinction of being one of the best classic films of all time.

"I guess it comes down to a simple choice, really. Get busy livin' or get busy dyin'..." , and the choices made by Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins) are what make this movie long, yet thrilling. Based on the Stephen King short story "Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption," Frank Darabont succeeds in making this film so powerful that viewers often mention watching it 5, 10, even 20 times or more.

Filmed at the Ohio State Reformatory,(a historic Ohio prison built between 1886 and 1910 that remained in operation until 1972) "Shawshank" is much more than "a prison movie." It is film about hope, and of an undying friendship that develops between the rich, white, innocent, young banker, Andy, and "Red, (Morgan Freeman) a black convicted murderer and prison hustler.

This film is a must see.
And...the title of that opera song playing in the prison yard?
It's Duettino - Sull'aria from the Marriage of Figaro.

Don't be Misled! Not a typical Stephen King movie!

There are no ghosts nor strange goings on in this movie, which illustrates prison life and its effects on its inhabitants. We have Andy Dufresne (played by Tim Robbins in a memorable performance), falsely convicted of murder, who meets up with various prisoners, some of whom are forgettable and others are timeless. The most unforgettable is Red (Morgan Freeman), who smuggles in items for the prisoners like a Sears-Roebuck catalog, and James Whitmore, the librarian with the pet bird that grows into a huge hawk. Then there is Hayward, the prisoner who checks out Dumas' "Count of Monte Cristo" from the library and refers to the author as Dumb Ass. But what is so unforgettable about this movie is the theme of "hope"--hope to get out of prison mainly. But what happens to the prisoners when they get out is not always so good.

You will be mesmerized by Andy (Tim Robbins), who hides a getaway hole behind a Rita Hayworth ("Gilda") poster and then a Marily Monore poster ("Seven Year Itch") and finally a Raquel Welch ("One Million Years B. C.")poster. What he also does to win over the warden and his assistants is also worth watching. He uses a lot of psychology and accounting knowledge, but then turns it around against them. For anyone with an accounting background, it is so satisfying because we are on the side of the prisoners anyway. But there are frightening moments too--especially a few rape scenes especially of Andy.

This is an unforgettable movie. This is one that will stay high on your all time favorites list. You will never guess that Stephen King wrote the book called "Rita Haworth and the Shawshank Redemption."

This movie was nominated for 7 Academy Awards. Morgan Freeman for Best Actor. In addition, it was nominated for Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Editing, and Best Sound. It won none. This was the year for the "Forrest Gump sweep."

The Shawshank Redemption *The most UNDERATED movie EVER

Everyone always complains about Steven King stories evolving into the cinema as being "unsavory"

This movie is a true masterpiece, and if anything, much better than the story.

The story was originally written by Steven King as a different title in the book Different Seasons. It was called "Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption"

I think the movie is even better than the book (largely due to Morgan Freeman and Timothy Robbins), but everything that shines in the movie is here in the book.

An innocent man, convicted of killing his wife and her lover, gives new meaning to the term patient resolve - and has a profound effect on some of his fellow prisoners. I think it's the ultimate prison story, as it shows us the good and the bad of prison life and imbues its characters with a humanity rarely seen in prison-based stories.

Definately worth watching, even more than once!

A great film in a great edition

This is one of the greatest American films -- a great story matched with superb actors and terrific direction. It is widely held that Darabont's screenplay is a prime example of excellent storytelling, and even Stephen King has praised the film for improving on his short novella [i.e. some minor changes for the film medium actually made the story better].

Though available on DVD for several years, this deluxe edition is superior. The director actually made some minor changes to his original film -- a couple of continuity errors that had bothered him since the film's initial theatrical release -- and his commentary tracks are further illuminating of the craftsmanship that went into this film. This set also boasts numerous extras, including a funny parody starring Morgan Freeman's son.

I was delighted to finally win an eBay auction of this set -- previous auctions always went higher than my budget allowed, or were But It Now listings that had just been snagged by someone.

I'm very pleased with this item. When it arrived, I actually cancelled a dinner date so I could watch it.