Review of The Shaw shank Redemption

 

The Shaw shank Redemption is a movie based on a story of breaking prison. Since it is a criminal story, people prefer to comment its negative more than positive. But I have different opinions from others; I think it an inspirational movie in fact. In order to express my opinions, so I write this movie review to share some my points of view with you.

In my opinions, The Shaw shank Redemption is a dramatic movie.  In 1947, the leading character Andy was a banker who was convicted of murdering his wife and her lover. Based on the strong circumstantial evidence, he was sentenced to life sentences at Shaw shank prison.  At the beginning of his prison life, Andy met lots of problems there. Such as: fellow inmates pushed him aside; gay gangs did the sexual assault to him.  On the other hand, thanks to Andy’s wisdom and financial experiments, he quickly befriended by most of his fellow inmates, and he has his best friend in the prison —Red; even prison guards and warden took advantages of him (The warden made use of Andy to laundry the money under the false identity of Randall Stevens). Moreover, Andy expanded the prison library for his inmates. That seems like an impossible matter for people in prison, but Andy did it. At the same time, he played a donate long play over the public address system for all inmates to hear.   All he did just want to enlighten and impart one allegory to his inmates--that is everyone should have and maintain his hope when placed in a hopeless position. In 1965, one young man (Tommy) was brought into Andy and Red’s circle friends. Tommy revealed that one of his fellow inmates at another prison had claimed to murder Andy’s wife and her lover—this might prove that Andy was indeed not guilty. Andy reported for the warden that he wanted to appeal his case. Because of fearing the end of his money that Andy was looking after for him and fearing that Andy might disclose his corruption if Andy released, the warden put the guard leader up to kill Tommy and claiming he was an escapee. Andy was clear about that he would stay at Shaw shank prison for the remainder for his life after Tommy’s death. The ending of the story astonished everyone that Andy told his best friend (Red) of his dream of living in a Mexican-pacific ocean town, and instructed Red to find a box Andy left after he was freed.   The day before Andy carrying out his plan, he took the warden’s ledge, suit and shoes away. Midnight was coming... Andy made his escape through the tunnel (Andy had dug it with a small rock hammer over the last two decades) and a narrow sewage drain during a thunderstorm. The second day morning, Andy used the identity of Randall Stevens to withdraw warden’s all money from several banks; at the same time, he sent the evident of warden’s corruption to a news paper. Finally Andy got his redemption by breaking prison and gaining warden’s money despite its illegal behavior. When Andy’s best friend—Red was freed, he followed Andy’s advice to find the box and travelled to Mexico where he met his best friend---Andy. 

In my point of view, The Shaw shank Redemption is also a philosophical movie--despite of its criminal theme--because there are some significant scripts that we should be worth thinking deeply about. As following:

·        Remember, hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things; and no good thing ever dies.

·        I guess it comes down to a simple choice: get busy living or get busy dying.

·        Fear can hold you prisoner.  Hope can set you free. A stronger can save himself.  A great man can save another.

All scripts in the movie convicted two major believes to us(The whole script conveyed two major believes to us): one is hope; another (the other)is freedom. I absolutely impressed by those classical scripts, and I also realize the meanings of them. Everyone (whether he/she is a physical free man or not) needs hope that pushes us insist on our dreams and advance bravely is necessary for our life. When we meet frustrations, difficulties and failures, so long as we adhere to do it along a firmly hope, and we would success in the end. Just like Andy, nobody could image that he could dig a tunnel for escaping with a rock hammer.  But he has a strongly hope and unshakable believe in his heart--that is why he could do that.

Ten years ago, one of my friends recommended this movie to me... but I was not interested in it at that time. I didn’t like the movie that happened in the prison, because I thought the movie with prisoners were violent, cruel, sanguinary and insignificance.  But the Shaw shank Redemption totally changed my mind for that.  Indeed, it was a successful movie with breaking prison; moreover, it was an ancestor for story of breaking prison. In 2005, a TV play series that named “Prison Break” soon was being popular at home and abroad on FOX channel and Internet. Although “Prison Break” was a copy edition for the Shaw Shank Redemption, a lot of people were still crazy for it. I am also like both, not only the dramatic story but also the philosophical scripts inside. If you were also interested in dramatic story, I’d like to recommend you to watch them.  This is an absolutely excellent movie that you shouldn’t miss it.