The Shawshank Redemption (Blu-ray)

Directed by Frank Darabont, 'The Shawshank Redemption' is without doubt the most critically acclaimed and well-loved prison drama of all time, although its initial box office success was limited. Released in 1995, the story centres around Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins), a man wrongly accused and imprisoned for the murder of his wife. The main focus is on Dufrane's struggle to maintain hope despite his circumstances, and the development of his relationship with 'Red' (Morgan Freeman), a fellow prisoner who becomes a close friend. Red's character also serves the function of being the films narrator, a job performed as a wise overview conducted in his inimitable ...  Read the complete review

This 1994 film about prison life and attempting to escape is in my opinion the most over rated film of all time. So many viewers of it wax lyrical about how marvelous it is and how it's their favourite film of all time and the greatest film of all time. I have also seen it listed as the best film of all time in various polls that have been conducted. One of these polls is the well respected IMDB poll which currently has it as Number 1 in its list of the top 250 films and has an average rating of 9.1 out of 10. This is based on the ratings of 412,000 voters which is a massive sample of people. It is based on Stephen King's 1982 novel "Rita ...  Read the complete review

This has got to be a MUST for any film collection and is a the very highest bench mark for any prison film since. The film starts off with a simple premise, a banker is accused of killing his wife and despite pleading not guilty is sentenced to life imprisonment and sent to serve his sentence in one of the toughest jails in the US; Shawshank The film takes you through every aspect and emotion you can expect to experience, from the moment you're taken through the prison gates at the beginning to the dramatic climax and savage twist (I won't spoil it for you if you've not watched it). The build up of the complex relationships between the ...  Read the complete review

I think it is fair to say that the Shawshank Redemption is by far, one of the most influential and important films of the late 20th Century. Why do I make such a huge statement....well, simply because I have never seen a film that made me laugh, cry, sigh, wince, scream, gasp and lose my faith in humanity...only to gain it back again at the end. I would say that most people who go to buy this film today would know the premis behind the story, a well to do and respectable man sentenced to life imprisonment for a crime he says he did not commit. It is deeper than just his story also. It is a story of racism, homosexuality, prison brutality, ...  Read the complete review

I bought this movie back in the days of VHS cassettes for no other reason than it was on special offer in a Virgin Megastore. I was a student and was trying to find a fifth VHS movie to buy in a '5 for £20 sale'. It sat on my shelf for over a year. In fact I moved house with this movie and had still never watched it. I think it was eventually a weekday - when I coundnt bring myself to go to class - when I finally sat down to watch this movie. What a great result that turned out to be. This film is so loved by my friends and I that it has become a running joke that if a film is worth watching it will probably be sitting unwrapped on my shelf (the joke is further ...  Read the complete review