Cinematic mastery of a not-so-masterful King story.

Rating: 7/10 (20 August 2000)

Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed watching this movie and I recommend it, and the director/writer/producer did a fine job.
The main complaints of critics was that the film is too long. Poppycock I say, a great movie is a great movie no matter the length. The film never sags or gets boring. I never found myself disconnecting from the film to check my watch. I was caught up in the film and forgot about the passage of time-- the mark of a true cinematic experience.
The only negative thing I have to say about this film is that unlike Shawshank Redemption, in which the director/screenwriter took a Stephen King short story and created a truly transcendent experience, the Green Mile is one of King's hokier recent stories (originally sold *by the chapter* if you can believe it), and in the end King lets us down gently with a somewhat unspectacular climax.
However, if you think that "Shawshank" is one of the best films of modern times as I do, then you'll enjoy this film. And if you haven't seen Shawshank, watch it instead-- or watch it after you see Green Mile, and save the best for last.