The Shawshank Redemption (3 Disc Special Edition Box Set) [1995] | ![The Shawshank Redemption (3 Disc Special Edition Box Set) [1995]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51BA55H51VL._SL160_.jpg)
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| Director: Frank Darabont
Actors: Tim Robbins, Morgan Freeman, Robert Gunton, William Sadler, Gil Bellows
Studio: ITV DVD
Category: DVD
List Price: £19.99
Buy New: £6.90
You Save: £13.09 (65%)
New (14) Used (7) Collectible (1) from £5.00
Rating:  153 reviews
Sales Rank: 4732
Format: Pal
Language: English (Original Language)
Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
Region: 2
Discs: 3
Number Of Discs: 3
Running Time: 136 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.7
Dimensions (in): 7.6 x 5.5 x 1
EAN: 5037115066237
ASIN: B0002MGZEQ
Theatrical Release Date: September 23, 1994
Release Date: September 20, 2004
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.co.uk Review
When The Shawshank Redemption was released in 1994, some critics complained that this popular prison drama was too long (142 minutes) to sustain its plot. Those complaints miss the point, because the passage of time is crucial to this story about patience, the squeaky wheels of justice and the growth of a life-long friendship. Only when the film reaches its final, emotionally satisfying scene do you fully understand why writer-director Frank Darabont (adapting a novella by Stephen King) allows the story to unfold at its necessary pace. Tim Robbins plays a banker named Andy who is sent to Shawshank Prison on a murder charge, but as he gets to know a life-term prisoner named Red (Morgan Freeman), we soon realise his claims of innocence are credible. We also realise that Andy's calm, quiet exterior hides a great reserve of patience and fortitude, and Red comes to admire this mild-mannered man who first struck him as weak and unfit for prison life. So it is that The Shawshank Redemption builds considerable impact as a prison drama that defies the conventions of the genre (violence, brutality, riots) to illustrate its theme of faith, friendship and survival. Nominated for seven Academy Awards including Best Picture, Actor and Screenplay, it's a remarkable film (which many movie lovers count among their all-time favourites) that signalled the arrival of a promising new filmmaker. --Jeff Shannon
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| Customer Reviews: Read 148 more reviews...
Stunning Film September 11, 2008
Mr. B. Ambrose (London, England)
What can I say about this except wow. From the moment it starts and you start to hear the narration of Morgan Freeman and he leads you along in the story, and tells it so well you feel like you are a part of it.
The film is very much a message of hope, and redemption, as the title says. Even in the darkest situations hope can be our salvation and it is so true. The film is put together perfectly. The on screen acting with Morgan Freeman and Tim Robbins is a masterpiece. What brings the film together for me is Morgan Freemans' voice it's so powerful, in his acting on screen in the film as well as his narration.
The acting in certain parts of the film in particular Reds 3rd parole hearing it sums up total acceptance of what he's done and he can be open to them about how he truly feels without a care or worry in the world. 10/10 Acting for this scene alone, and makes the film worth buying purely for that.
The way time progresses is an essential aspect in this film and that's another excellent example you see of Andy and the Warden almost becoming partners in crime and they develop this close bond. Prison Drama? No that description doesn't give this film justice it's a pure masterpiece and if you haven't seen it I would advise buy a copy now you won't be disappointed. Even after many viewings I still find it to be the best film I have ever seen.
The special features really make this DVD package that extra something special. Great interviews with the cast, along with pictures, and information on the film, makes this whole set very worth while purchase. 5 stars are not enough for it. If you want to own something special then definitely buy this set.
 Passionate prison drama August 30, 2008
Stampy (England)
Tim Robbins (War of the worlds) stars as Andy, a man who is sentenced to life in Shawshank prison after the murder of his wife and her lover.
In this adaptation of Stephen King's novel, director Darabont delivers a touching tale about one man's quest to live and to survive in one of the toughest prison's in the country, with great acting, a wonderful plot, and a few other little tweaks to make a beautiful crime drama.
Nominated for 7 Oscars including Best Picture, Shawshank is a true touching crime drama, built around Andy Dufresne, who's approach to life in prison, his attitude towards life and the care for his inmates, makes him the most caring guy in prison you will ever see, which is helped along by a stunning performance by Robbins. He is the symbol of hope, the guy of light and talent to aspire to.
The ideology of hope is issued throughout the 2 hour film, and will leave you feeling inspired come the end.
Robbins is helped along by Oscar nominated Morgan Freeman (Million Dollar baby) who plays Red, the man who can get things. Red to, is a symbol of hope and light out of the darkness of the cruel surroundings, and his narration really gets an idea of what life in Shawshank is really like.
Red's tale is very sharp, and very dramatic, giving a thoughtful approach to prison life. The settings of the prison are very drab, a very dull place to serve your life sentence. The ruling of the place is equally as dramatic as the settings with cruel beatings, a place called the hole and fellow criminals to make life a misery. These approaches to running the prison is also controversial, a shocking portrayal of the system but justifies the genre exceptionally well.
Having never read the novel, this film has inspired me to take an interest in Stephen King's novels, as did Misery and The Shining, but being a fan of drama rather than horror, makes this top of my list.
Not the best of King's films I have to say, with The Shining and Misery true film greats, but the touching tale of one man and his punishment makes Shawshank Redemption a remarkable stunning watch.
8/10
Get busy watching... August 18, 2008
BD (UK)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
The Shawshank Redemption is a warming tale of the human spirit, friendship and justice. Like so many great films this has been adapted from a Stephen king novel.
The official category is of a prison drama but in my opinion this sells the film short. The prison only provides the backdrop for the heart warming story of humanity that unfolds. The story could be set anywhere. The escape from prison could be a metaphor for any situation which requires courage and strength to escape from, and the friendship and positivity between the two lead characters could build under other circumstances.
Like so many other reviewers I find this film hard to criticise. The narration by Morgan Freeman nudges the story along beautifully, the casting is perfect and the film is paced perfectly and devoid of the usual Hollywood cliches. This film shows just what can be achieved with great acting and a fine script instead of over the top CGI stunts and predictable plot lines. A typical example of this is the final scene in the film. The camera pulls way without cheesy dialogue or over acting, the images say it all.
I have yet to meet anybody who genuinely dislikes it and with good reason, it's a classic.
One of THE Masterpieces! July 30, 2008
A. Norman
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Whoever said that this film was too long for its plot must have been so inpatient as to find running slow. It is long, in that they were right, but it is gripping, dramatic and brilliantly acted, every minute of it. The brutality of '30s American prison life is convincing, shocking, powerful and the sinister nature of the officers and their sadism encapsulates and emulsifies the utter despair of the inmates, particularly the innocent Andy Du Fraine, making the prevelance of hope and goodness all the more uplifting, wondourous and majestic. This is one of those films that you must see before you die.
"Get busy living, or get busy dying!" July 11, 2008
Mr. TC Kong (Peterborough, England)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
There have already been so many reviews of this film on this site alone that, even if you haven't yet seen the film for yourself (in which case, where have you been for the last 10/15 years? Mars?!), you should, by now, have an idea of what happens in it! So straight to my analysis and opinion of the film.
"The Shawshank Redemption" can be seen as an allegory about life and the human condition. Many people feel trapped in their daily lives, often because life has dealt them an unlucky card at some point. So they struggle on in occupations and relationships that give them very little mental stimulation or personal satisfaction, working for managers or living with partners who appear to care little, if anything, for them, their morale or their aspirations.
Red (Morgan Freeman) warns Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins) that hope, especially for the inmates at Shawshank prison, can be a dangerous thing. However, for Andy, hope is the only thing that keeps him alive. Hope that he WILL get out of Shawshank, alive, so that he can fulfill his dream of moving to the Mexican coast, buying a boat and doing it up, and getting revenge on the prison warden and senior guard. In this respect, Andy Dufresne acts as an inspiration and unlikely hero, encouraging the rest of us to take responsibility for our own lives.
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