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HTF REVIEW: The Shawshank Redemption - Two Disc Special Edition. - Page 2

post #31 of 55
10/13/04 at 3:10pm
Oh yeah, thanks for the review.
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Gear mentioned in this thread:

The Shawshank Redemption (Two-Disc Special Edition)
post #32 of 55
10/13/04 at 10:25pm
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post #33 of 55
10/13/04 at 10:37pm
Quote:
And none of these beat my absolute favorite film of 1994 (Shawshank ties): Leon.


(Hangs head) How could I forget Leon? Yes, 1994 was a great year.

Sorry to temporarily derail this thread.

Good review, Herb. You've just notched up another sale for Warners and I can't wait for my copy to arrive.
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post #34 of 55
10/13/04 at 11:04pm
Herb,

Great review. Oh yeah, it was nice being able to match the face to the name in the HTF National Meet scrapbook. I hope I can scrape up the money to go next year!
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post #35 of 55
10/14/04 at 1:05am
The ending to this film always creates a debate in every Shawshank thread. Personally, I love the ending and it makes perfect sense to me. To expand on Joe Kamsan's post,

Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show)
to me it's obvious that what actually happens in the film, within its reality, ends with Red travelling on the bus. What comes up on the screen after that is imagined. My interpretation is that we never actually see Red and Andy reunite; the images of the beach are there because Red falls asleep on the bus and is dreaming about meeting his friend. Just look at that image of a deserted beach; the sand and the sea shot through a soft filter - it doesn't look real, and it isn't supposed to, because it doesn't happen.

Perhaps Red will locate Andy but it's just as likely that since he is a fugitive who has violated his parole, he will be captured at the Mexican border or perhaps earlier during his journey. It doesn't really matter, because whatever happens to him after he boards the bus, happens to a free man. He has left the prison, managed to stay alive (he was worried about ending up dead by his own hand) and is leaving to find his friend. He finally feels alive and free.
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post #36 of 55
10/14/04 at 7:26am
That's an interesting take - and the music supports it too.

I agree with the line of thought that Red's narration on the bus is his last part in the story. The next shot at the beach is for the audience.
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post #37 of 55
10/14/04 at 7:17pm
Guys, if you want it, I made a alternate cover for this release with the original poster art.



Personally, I like the Struzan art, but I can see how some folks don't think it reflects the movie as well. Anyway, you can download this version right here.

Great review, Herb!

Ric
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post #38 of 55
10/14/04 at 7:38pm
I just listened to the Frank Darabont commentary. He notes that he digitally altered one shot for the 10 anniversery DVD, in order to correct a continuity error:

Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show)
Warden Norton's bullet wound after he commits suicide.
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post #39 of 55
10/15/04 at 4:43am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Guys, if you want it, I made a alternate cover for this release with the original poster art.


Now that's what the cover should have looked like - absolutely perfect.

Great job Ric.


Herb.
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post #40 of 55
10/15/04 at 5:46am
Awesome cover, Ric. I was just thinking last night that I was wishing someone would make a good custom cover. Nice work!
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post #41 of 55
10/15/04 at 8:15am
Damnit, Ric, how many times are you going to make me buy ink cartridges?! You better start making some crappy covers soon, or I'm going to have to get a new printer.

Seriously, great job. I like Struzan, but like you said, the new "floating heads" cover doesn't really reflect the movie very well. Now if only DDD would actually ship my copy to me...
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post #42 of 55
10/15/04 at 9:12am
Quote:
just listened to the Frank Darabont commentary. He notes that he digitally altered one shot for the 10 anniversery DVD, in order to correct a continuity error:


Would anyone have screen shots so we can compare?
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post #43 of 55
10/15/04 at 9:39am
Great job, Ric. Thanks a lot.
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post #44 of 55
10/15/04 at 9:46am
Terrific cover Ric. I just wish DVDCA was still around so you could share it with more people.

I'm going to have to watch the movie again to see the corrected continuity error. Darn!
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post #45 of 55
10/15/04 at 10:50am
Great job, Ric!
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post #46 of 55
10/15/04 at 7:40pm
Ric: Well done! VERY well done!
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post #47 of 55
10/22/04 at 2:47pm
Is it ever really made clear that Andy is innocent? People always talk about this film in terms of Andy being wrongfully incarcerated, but I've always thought that his guilt or innocence was left intentionally vague. Yes, you have the prisoner who claims to know who really committed the crime, but this is a convicted felon we're talking about here, someone who could easily fabricate a story just to get a deal with the DA. And because he's killed, we never know for sure whether he was on the level or not.

Of course, Andy isn't really the main character in the film anyway. He's a catalyst for change, most significantly in Red, whose redemption is what the title refers to. In a way, though, if Andy did commit the crime, then he is redeemed to a certain extent too because of his acts while behind bars. I don't think those acts make up for killing two people, but it's a minor redemption of sorts.

RE the idea that the ending isn't real: I'd never considered that, and it's certainly a valid interpretation. Like the ending of Taxi Driver, which some argue is going through DeNiro's character's head as he dies, the ending of Shawshank could certainly be Red's daydream.

Does Darabont discuss this in the commentary at all?
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post #48 of 55
10/22/04 at 9:12pm
Quote:
Is it ever really made clear that Andy is innocent?
The book and the movie make it quite clear that Andy is innocent.
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post #49 of 55
10/22/04 at 9:40pm
Yep, I didn't see much ambiguity about Tommy's old cell mate being the one who did the killings (in either the book or the movie).
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post #50 of 55
10/22/04 at 9:53pm
Ric's link doesn't seem to be working. I would've snatched it earlier but I didn't see it.
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post #51 of 55
10/22/04 at 10:12pm
I love the Shawshank Redemption. To me, it is clear that Andy is innocent. He's the opposite of the warden. He works within the rules while the warden flaunts them. I agree with the dream interpretation of the ending.

Even if it was real, it speaks to the redemption of Red and the justice for Andy. It makes me feel so great to see that. To know that not only is the warden brought to justice in a way that will deny him God, but also that Andy is able to retain his goodness and not fall to the depths that he was accused of. Even when he was cooking the books for the warden, he was doing the right thing by maintaining the real records to convict the warden.

To me, it is uplifting to see the good ending, rather than a tragic ending or being left wondering.
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post #52 of 55
10/23/04 at 5:49am
It is Andy's innocence that powers his drive to not become institutionalized.
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post #53 of 55
10/23/04 at 7:08am
Hi folks, thanks for the kudos on the alt cover. It is temporarily unavailable. I've hit some kind of snag with the kind folks that have been hosting many of my covers. I'll let you know when they are available again. Should be a day or two.

Thanks,
Ric
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post #54 of 55
10/23/04 at 1:07pm
The above cover link should be fixed now. Sorry about the snafu!

Ric
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post #55 of 55
10/23/04 at 2:58pm
That´s almost exactly the cover for the Japanese edition with DTS, and in my opinion, the best edition when it comes to A/V.

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The Shawshank Redemption (Two-Disc Special Edition)
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