Change Your Image
gar42
Reviews
The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
One man's lifelong fight for freedom, and one of the finest films of the last decade
After reading the two tirades submitted three days-apart (May 28/03 & June 1/03), absolutely shredding this fine film I felt I had to submit my own views. Everyone is indeed entitled to their own opinions, but when so many people love this film and give it the highest kudos possible I have to wonder about the judgement of someone who gives it a zero out of ten! Shawshank has become one my personal favorites over the years and if there was an injustice done in the 1994 Oscars, it's that the film didn't win. I was surprised at the time that the voting membership gave Forest Gump the nod over Shawshank for best picture, but Gump was full of U.S. patriotism and that always goes a long way at the Oscars. The Oscar Committee should maybe check Gump's position in the IMDB top 250 list, or lack of position as the case may be. Shawshank, based on a Stephen King short story and directed by Frank Darabont (The Green Mile and The Majestic, two more of my favorites) is a very well written tale of one mans' false conviction, subsequent imprisonment and his life long crusade to gain his freedom. It is about not surrendering to the hopelessness that must overcome even the strongest of wills after decades behind bars. It is about brotherhoods and friendships bonded over decades and also about the hatreds and evil that the same elements can foster. Like the other great prison film, Cool Hand Luke, the movie takes the side of the prisoners against the system, In story the warden and head guard are portrayed as truly evil as the rapists and murderers that they hold sway over. This film indeed deserves its high position on the best of list, and in my opinion should perhaps be moved up one more notch!
The Majestic (2001)
A nostalgic trip into movie theatres of the past
Most people that I suggest this film to usually come back with "Jim Carrey, I don't think so". After all, Pet Detective, The Mask and "shudder" Dumb and Dumber don't leave the best taste in most peoples mouths. But then there's The Truman Show, still a bit "Jim Carreyish" but an excellent film all the same. In The Majestic Carrey shows that given the right vehicle he can indeed carry the show without the slapstick antics. The movie itself is directed by Frank Darabont, the director of two of my personal favorites, The Shawshank Redemption and The Green Mile. The film itself follows one man's loss of his identity; his subsequent adoption of another mans life and the eventual melding of the two into one better person. The supporting cast in this film is amazing; it is very pleasant to watch a film in which you find not just one or two characters that you learn to love but easily a dozen! I cannot suggest this film too strongly; I enjoyed it from beginning to end.
It's Pat: The Movie (1994)
Should be higher on the worst ever list
Having seen most of the SNL skits that have been made into movies I must say this was the worst of them, (Until such time that they make the cheerleaders skit into a movie)! It's been a few years since I saw this dog but my memories of it remain quite clear, I do believe it's burned in there permanently! I read some where that it holds the box office record for the lowest gross sales ever, an honor it most definitely deserves.