This is a classic movie and I just had to get it on DVD, I already have it video and they wear out. A must own movie!!!
October 6, 2008 |  | If You Haven't Seen It, See it: If You Have Seen It..... See It Again! |  |
The "Green Mile" is a triumph as an incredible story and an incredible movie that tells that story. The actors all share equally in the strength and emotional impact of the storytelling. Tom Hanks is ostensibly the lead character, but you feel that all of the characters are critical to the story; even one tiny mouse. I won't go into the plot or setting of the story because the movie needs to be seen to do either of them justice. I will say that I have seen this movie in the theater, on VHS several times and now on DVD. Each time it has delivered a deep and emotional experience. I originally read the serial presentation of the "Green Mile" in the six little mini-books that Stephen King decided to write. They were outstanding and the movie is just as good. This cannot be said for most of Stephen King's book to movie translations. (Exceptions; "Shawshank Redemption", "Hearts in Atlantis" and "Stand By Me")
This DVD is a worthy purchase because of the great picture, sound and extra features the VHS never had.
October 3, 2008 | | Of mice and men... and murderers. | |
That it should've been, at least. But let's start at the beginning, which is, I might add, terribly slow. A lot of time passes before something actually happens. King & Darabont use this time to carefully put their chess pieces in place before making their move in the last 60 minutes or so. There's a host of details during the first 2/3s that later become significant. And since I'm not one of those who need to see fireworks of action and suspense from the first instant of a movie, that's fine with me. After all, the pace increases considerably during the course of the movie. Some of these aforementioned details are so predictable that I could guess the next turn of events half an hour in advance. And that's never a good thing. The last hour, however, makes up for a lot of the film's former trappings. There's no arguing that the solution is quite touching. So finally, a movie worth watching, but there were still a few things that bugged me. First, I would've liked to know more about the inmates as murderers, which I guess they were supposed to be. (You never notice, though.) In the way they're portrayed, these are good, righteous people that are good friends with the wardens, love a cute mouse and are generally lovable. So- why are they in death row anyway? I understand the novel shed some light on this, and the film could've certainly needed some of this other side of the story to avoid some of the schmaltz. Second, isn't this prison just lovely? I mean, it seems like a camping tour at some points. If death row is like that, I want to be in it! If The Green Mile was supposed to make any statement about the right or wrong of the death sentence, you'd better watch Dead Man Walking to form your own opinion instead of being manipulated into believing that all killers ultimately become nice people once they're in Our Favorite Death Row. It works for tearjerking, but not for discussion of that subject. But, mind you, I couldn't help being manipulated myself- and it worked. I was genuinely moved at the end and, despite the occasional predictability, the story had its clever moments. So, it was an OK movie, at times even a bit more, but it sure didn't deserve its Best Picture nomination at the Oscars, and it sure can't hold a candle to King's and Darabont's first joint venture, the brilliant The Shawshank Redemption.
October 1, 2008| | | Superb story and first class picture and audio quality. | |
The acting is amazing in this film. The story is about the evils of man and has some very emotional moments. The film is split into 2 discs, but don't despair, this makes the quality of the picture and audio outstanding. I have an Oppo DVD upscaler and viewing this movie at 1080p on my 40 inch was just like a 4 out of 5 quality Blu-ray. The immersing storyline and acting kept me totally absorbed and I finished the film feeling deeply enriched by its message. The Green Mile is a very satisfying piece of entertainment that also exposes many facets of human nature that turn a story into a legend.
August 28, 2008Tom Hanks, in my opinion, gave the performance of his career by bringing emotion and depth to his part. The only actor that bettered him was Michael Clarke Duncan. How he made this giant like character into a vulnerable pussycat was a marvel. On whole, the cast came together and gave the best performance I have seen in a movie for a long time. Not one of them let the side down by being weak. David Morse who is more known for his supporting roles was also excellent and hopefully not long till he's carrying his own movie. The Green Mile isn't a movie about hope and friendship, as The Shawshank Redemption was, it is a movie about a miracle of a man, and the people he affects.
August 20, 2008More reviews at Amazon.com ...
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