Shawshank - explain, please...

[amberdreams]

I've been meaning to watch Shawshank Redemption for years, and finally got round to it last night. Now I have to ask - what was so special about it? Seriously, I just don't understand. I've heard people talking about it as a classic, utterly brilliant film, not to be missed, etc etc. And I thought it was ok, it held my attention but didn't engage my emotions at all. Or at least not as much as I'd expected.

The violence and the injustice stung, of course - but I'd been much more moved by the Green Mile, and a hundred times more invested in Cool Hand Luke.

So I'm left wondering - why do people love it so much/rate it so highly? What did I miss?

Comments

[bflyw.livejournal.com]

I really can't put it into words, but it just hit me so hard when I first watched it. Maybe because I was younger? Maybe because I had NO IDEA what it was about and had not heard of it before I saw it, so I had no expectations - but it left an impression, and I cried so much. I think it's on my top 3 list of films that has hit me heard.
The green mile was also an emotional film which I loved, and I remember thinking "this is a film I can watch again." I've never done it though - because for some reason, that's a film I have been able to watch, love but then move on....
Shawshank Redemption however is one I have kept thinking about, and have gone back to watch. I have to admit, it didn't hit me as hard the second time around. Maybe because I was older? Maybe because I knew the story? Maybe because I've seen plenty of films in the meanwhile?

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

I'd actually done a good job on staying spoiler free - all I knew about it was it was set in prison, starred Tim Robins and Morgan Freeman (who I love) and that it had all these rave reviews.

It's interesting that your initial gut reaction didn't carry over to the second viewing.