Why is The Shawshank Redemption considered so great?

[CyberRubberDuck]

Shawshank was great for many reasons. So many people agree.

If you didn't like it that much, so what? It just didn't flick your switch. There's no point explaining what people like about it, there's too much to list.

I loved it when it was new not knowing about all the critical acclaim.

 

[SoulBrotherNo1]

Probably this is the best famous list that represents my taste the best:

http://www.theyshootpictures.com/gf1000_all1000films_table.php

Shawshank Redemption is #607. Its great, but there are many better.

Ive seen 13 movies from the top25, 12 of those I absolutely loved. I will check out the others as well.

BTW it depends on why are you watching movies. Personal taste is just that...PERSONAL. I never understood this concern of what people like the best. Especially when it comes to average people, instead of critics.

 

[Madmick]

And sometimes "the people," are stupid.

Putting stock in this list is only slightly more meaningful than trying to argue that Britney Spears has talent because she has sold platinum-level albums.

Sometimes people who think "the people" are stupid...are stupid. In fact, I've noticed that's damn near law on the internet. Accepting the validity of a perfectly egalitarian opinion means acknowledging an objective lining in the imperfection of subjectivity; that there are truths in this world greater than our individual selves.

 

[Rex Kwon Do]

Probably this is the best famous list that represents my taste the best:

http://www.theyshootpictures.com/gf1000_all1000films_table.php

Shawshank Redemption is #607. Its great, but there are many better.

Ive seen 13 movies from the top25, 12 of those I absolutely loved. I will check out the others as well.

BTW it depends on why are you watching movies. Personal taste is just that...PERSONAL. I never understood this concern of what people like the best. Especially when it comes to average people, instead of critics.

That looks like a solid list. I don't agree with the order necessarily, but I do agree those movies are all great, really great (just browsing, it appears I've seen most of them), and certainly a lot better than TSR.

 

[Benoco]

i know my list would make sense to no one else because they have not lived my life

Deep, walk a mile in Gates of Janus' shoes before criticizing Videodrome.


I haven't studied film, so while I'm sure every second movie that came out in the 40s is arguably the best ever, I just don't relate to the culture and characters of those movies that much, I don't get drawn in. The stuff that shocked/scared/captivated those audiences doesn't do shit for me. So when the end credits of Vertigo are rolling and the aspiring movie snob in me is saying "Jesus, brilliant!.... what mastery.... etc", I can't ignore the fact that for the last half hour I was actually waiting for the film to end, "Vertigo - Check,... now, Ingmar Bergman.....".

All the movies I found the most moving and engaging are modern. For me:

Good Will Hunting > Citizen Kane
Zodiac > Vertigo
Pulp Fiction > Tokyo Story (and I haven't even seen it).


I'd like to see a S&S list of modern films.

 

[Rex Kwon Do]

Deep, walk a mile in Gates of Janus' shoes before criticizing Videodrome.


I haven't studied film, so while I'm sure every second movie that came out in the 40s is arguably the best ever, I just don't relate to the culture and characters of those movies that much, I don't get drawn in. The stuff that shocked/scared/captivated those audiences doesn't do shit for me. So when the end credits of Vertigo are rolling and the aspiring movie snob in me is saying "Jesus, brilliant!.... what mastery.... etc", I can't ignore the fact that for the last half hour I was actually waiting for the film to end, "Vertigo - Check,... now, Ingmar Bergman.....".

All the movies I found the most moving and engaging are modern. For me:

Good Will Hunting > Citizen Kane
Zodiac > Vertigo
Pulp Fiction > Tokyo Story (and I haven't even seen it).


I'd like to see a S&S list of modern films.

Watch Bicycle Thieves if you haven't already; I don't think you'll have a hard time relating to that '40s movie, as it's very emotionally affecting.

 

[IndyCovaHart]

Sometimes people who think "the people" are stupid...are stupid. In fact, I've noticed that's damn near law on the internet. Accepting the validity of a perfectly egalitarian opinion means acknowledging an objective lining in the imperfection of subjectivity; that there are truths in this world greater than our individual selves.

I'm going to go ahead and guess that you think The Dark Knight is a fine piece of cinema that is going to be worshiped 50 years from now and my initial post belittling it somehow got your knickers in a twist.

Oh... and that's just my subjective opinion.

 

[Benoco]

Watch Bicycle Thieves if you haven't already; I don't think you'll have a hard time relating to that '40s movie, as it's very emotionally affecting.

I'll check it out, if nothing else I can scratch it off my list.

 

[Gates of Janus]

Dwaiting for the film to end, "Vertigo - Check,... now, Ingmar Bergman.....".

now, if we are talking Ingmar Bergman, then Persona is his best work. But i have very insane reasons for loving that movie.

 

[...El Ray]

Because, it's an amazing film.

 

[Benoco]

now, if we are talking Ingmar Bergman, then Persona is his best work. But i have very insane reasons for loving that movie.

Go on...

 

[faustian]

 

[last gunslinga]

Deep, walk a mile in Gates of Janus' shoes before criticizing Videodrome.


I haven't studied film, so while I'm sure every second movie that came out in the 40s is arguably the best ever, I just don't relate to the culture and characters of those movies that much, I don't get drawn in. The stuff that shocked/scared/captivated those audiences doesn't do shit for me. So when the end credits of Vertigo are rolling and the aspiring movie snob in me is saying "Jesus, brilliant!.... what mastery.... etc", I can't ignore the fact that for the last half hour I was actually waiting for the film to end, "Vertigo - Check,... now, Ingmar Bergman.....".

All the movies I found the most moving and engaging are modern. For me:

Good Will Hunting > Citizen Kane
Zodiac > Vertigo
Pulp Fiction > Tokyo Story (and I haven't even seen it).


I'd like to see a S&S list of modern films.

I feel the same exact way, although there are of course a few exceptions (mostly noir and hitchcock.)

I've been watching a lot of chaplin, bergman, and tarkovsky movies lately, and I really wish I could say that I'm watching them for any other reason than just being able to say I've seen them. I mean, sure, my eagerness to learn about the history of film plays a part, but that's the only thing I feel like I get out of these movies: learning. it's like I'm just slogging through homework and, as you said, I'm waiting for it to be over.

which is too bad. I wish I could experience the catharsis that some feel at the end of wild strawberries, but instead all I feel is gratefulness that it's over and the desire to watch a more recent movie.

 

[GearSolidMetal]

Its a good movie, not great. It wouldn't crack my top 100 either.

My biggest pet peeve with the movie is the escape. He takes a piece of concrete and bashes a hole into an iron pipe, large enough to crawl through,, with a few hits? Without going into specifics, I could write acouple pages of why this is impossible.

 

[cottagecheesefan]

Ugh @ the S&S lists. 2001 was terrible, IMO. Everything else on the lists are good, but not in my top 10. I won't fault people for rating movies certain movies higher than me tho. I watch a movie to be entertained, not analyze every bit and piece of it by watching it a million times.

My top 10, in no order:

Demolition Man
Bad Santa
Harold and Kumar go to White Castle
SHawshank
Office Space
Fearless
Gattica
Fallen
Princess Mononoke
Fist of Legend

 

[SoulBrotherNo1]

Sometimes people who think "the people" are stupid...are stupid. In fact, I've noticed that's damn near law on the internet. Accepting the validity of a perfectly egalitarian opinion means acknowledging an objective lining in the imperfection of subjectivity; that there are truths in this world greater than our individual selves.

And yet, exactly because of its subjective, you dont have to agree with any lists. Let alone worry about it. It seems like thats what most people do. Insecure as hell:
"OMG people love Persona, but I was bored by it. Ohh noooo, what a conflict, I cant live with it. I cant leave this topic alone, I have to go on the internet ad arrogantly shout "PRETENTIOUS ARTSYFARTSY DOUCHEBAG" in everyones face who has a different personal taste than mine."

 

[Roop Holstry]

It's a good movie but I actually like The Count of Monte Cristo better than redemption. Can't think of why it is rated so highly.

 

[faustian]

And yet, exactly because of its subjective, you dont have to agree with any lists. Let alone worry about it. It seems like thats what most people do. Insecure as hell:
"OMG people love Persona, but I was bored by it. Ohh noooo, what a conflict, I cant live with it. I cant leave this topic alone, I have to go on the internet ad arrogantly shout "PRETENTIOUS ARTSYFARTSY DOUCHEBAG" in everyones face who has a different personal taste than mine."

btw Chris Paul is overrated

 

[Krios]

It's a good movie but I actually like The Count of Monte Cristo better than redemption. Can't think of why it is rated so highly.

Came here to pretty much say this exact same thing. Loved The Count of Monte Cristo. Shawshank was good but not tops.

 

[SoulBrotherNo1]

Would you agree with me if I say that there is no pretentions movie in the world? I honestly think so. Art, by definition, cannot be pretentios.

BUT!

There are tons of pretentious fans. Tons of them. And some of them make me facepalm becuase they are arrogantly pretentious about the movies that I genuinely like.

BUT!

This isnt only true for european style art films from 50-60 years ago. This is true for fucking Batman! There are people who say that Dark Knight has some of the most complex psychological and philosophical questions in cinema history. Yet if you ask them to explain, they wont, because they dont really understand, it just sounds cool.

THATS what really pretentiousness is, and not stuff like enjoying Tree of Life genuinely.