Soporific epic has moments.

Rating: 6/10 (2 July 2000)

This widely praised film deigns slowly, as a parent to a child, right up until its first execution, which hits the audience over the head with a scene of a violent, tremorous death and ensuing smoke wisping from the corpse's char-broiled body. It then resumes its gentle preach until the second execution, which displays, in lugubrious detail, flames ripping up the side of a man's head, thoroughly cooking his flesh and gassing witnesses out of the room as he screams and while the guards debate the matter.
Special effects, like countless modern films, do not enhance anything but rather only distract. Patience while enduring the slumberous opening and the presentation of unimaginative characters, plus the exhausted screen writing standard of the old man telling his drawn out story in a flashback, is rewarded by a good scene of men crying and an inspiring last line.
Many details were unnecessary, and at over three hours long, it seems someone released the uncut version by mistake. Short naps do not run the risk of missing vital plot developments. At least 45 minutes should have been whacked.
For an infinitely better Stephen King film, see "The Shawshank Redemption".