Run a business with my partner, designing, crafting and selling alternative clothing and accessories...
Run a business with my partner, designing, crafting and selling alternative clothing and accessories. You can check it out at www.freakclubwear.co.uk Vicky
Member since:06.12.2000
Reviews:41
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Hello all. I my opinion, a good drama film is one which truly touches you and has the power to create emotions within you. The best drama films are ones which do this and change your life.
Under these criteria, The Green Mile truly is one of (at least) the best drama films ever made. No I know you’ve heard it said before about hundreds of other films, and cynicism may take over, causing you to switch off now I’ve said this. But I urge you to fight this and listen to what I have to say.
This film delves down and touches you deep inside with its harrowing tale.
You will be thinking about it for days if not weeks.
Although it is a sad tale there is a strong message of hope, which is what you take away with you after watching this film. The film projects conflicting images of humanity, which is what makes it so powerful and gives it its ability to affect so deeply.
Are humans good or bad? Or are they just human, and as such, a mixture, each unique, each with their own unique levels of goodness and badness and perceptions.
How do the consequences of our actions affect the lives of others?
How easily do we jump to conclusions about others, without really knowing them, and how profoundly can this affect their lives, perhaps without us even realising it?
These
are just some of the issues this film probes. And even though the film is set in a prison environment, around a ‘miraculous’ person, I feel it has relevance for everyone. The above questions are explored within the film, making you think upon their true meaning. However the points raised in the film about the characters within it are relevant for all people, which is what gives this film its depth.
Unless you are made of stone this film will make you cry at times. It is a very emotional film, and not one which you should watch for a bit of light entertainment. However, it is a film which I would strongly recommend you watch. It is a long film, and you may feel a bit stunned afterwards, so it is best to watch it when you have a whole evening in. I do not recommend that you watch it when you are feeling upset to begin with, as it will upset you a lot further and you will find it very difficult to cope with. However equally I do not advise you watch it when you are in an exceptionally good mood as you will soon be upset and may regret losing the good mood you were previously in. If you watch it with others, especially for the first time, make sure they are people you will not be embarrassed about crying infront of (they will most likely cry too). This may sound a bit silly if you are reading this having never watched the film. However, even if you do not usually cry watching films, or have never cried watching a film, if any film will make you cry it will be this one. At one point it was so upsetting and horrific I actually had to leave the room and could not watch. (I’m glad I’m not having to admit this to your faces, as I’d feel too embarrassed!)
I always get told I do not give enough detail about the plot in my film reviews, however I never wish to give too much away, as I know I prefer to watch a movie and discover the plot for myself. However I will tell you a little bit here to whet your appetite. However this film is about emotion and thought rather than plot in my mind.
The film is set in a prison, in the death row, in 1935. The relationship between the prisoners and the prison wardens is explored, and between the prison wardens. There is a huge variety of characters within the wardens and prisoners, displaying different personalities and levels of humanity. The prisoners often challenge first impressions, and show how the first impressions, caused by racism, result in one man being sent to death row. You discover early on that these preconceptions are wrong, but do not find out until latter in the film exactly how wrong or right they were.
The idea of a film set in a prison did not exactly excite me, however I would urge you to all watch this film, no matter what type of film you usually watch, as it WILL affect your life - if you let it. Watch this with an open mind, and think about it after watching it, to get the most from this.
All of the actors in this film put on an amazing performance. The most famous is Tom Hanks, and it is possibly his best performance. However the show is stolen by the performances of both the prisoner John Coffey played by Michael Clarke Duncan, and the prison warden Percy Wetmore, played by Doug Hutchison. Their characters are more than believable – I’m actually glad I’m not Hutchison, as I’m sure many people will believe that he really is the character from the film – it was that convincing. (And when you see the film you’ll realise why you wouldn’t want to be him!)
I'm sure you're all dying to know how it changed my life. Well without going into too much depth and risking boring you, I'll outline the main thoughts I took away. It reminded me to constantly challenge the assumptions I make about others. It taught me to enjoy each day as it comes, beacuse you never know how long or short your life will be - and I personally have little control over it's length. It also gave me hope in humanity, as well as despair (conflicting thoughts I know, making it difficult to deal with and I still have not fully resolved the conflict, but I doubt I ever will, as humans do not fall into 'good' and 'bad' categories).
I do not want to say this is the best film ever made – it’s not my favourite film ever for a start! BUT I do think it is possibly the best drama film ever made and if you are only going to watch one drama film in your life it should be this one. No wonder it was nominated for 4 Academy Awards!
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Production Year: 2002 - Thriller - Director: Bharat Nalluri, Rob Bailey, Andy Wilson - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Matthew MacFadyen, Keeley Hawes, David Oyelowo, Peter Firth, Jenny Agutter, Lisa Faulkner
Production Year: 2002 - Thriller - Director: K.C. Bascombe - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Jesse James, Rachel Skarsten, Charles Powell, Linda Purl, Kevin Zegars
Thriller - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Timothy West, Neil Morrissey, Tara Fitzgerald, Annette Crosbie, Pauline Quirke, Rob Brydon, Denise Van Outen, John Thomson, Kevin Whately, David Suchet
"The book was better" has been the complaint of many a reader since the invention of ... more
films.The Green Mileis Frank Darabont's second adaptation of a Stephen King prison dramaThe Shawshank Redemptionwas the first) and is a very faithful adaptation of Kin...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
"The book was better" has been the complaint of many a reader since the invention of ... more
films.The Green Mileis Frank Darabont's second adaptation of a Stephen King prison dramaThe Shawshank Redemptionwas the first) and is a very faithful adaptation of Kin...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
Paul Edgecomb (Tom Hanks) is a slightly cynical veteran prison guard on death row in the ... more
1930's. Hi faith, and sanity, deteriorated by watching men live and die, Edgecomb is about to have a complete turn around in attitude. Enter John Coffey (Oscar nom...
Advantages: Fantastic Storyline, Acting Superb, Very Moving and a box office hit Disadvantages: It is 3 hours long and thats the only bad thing you could say
DJ_Rock 16.08.2001 (03.09.2001)
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Review of The Green Mile (DVD)