The greatest movie ever made...

Rating: 10/10 (5 September 2009)

I've read a lot of the comments here. I've never voted for this movie once, but now I'm going to give it what it deserves. And I am going to try to describe why a lot of Shawshank fans are voting this the best movie ever.
The reasons that this movie is great are: it has incredible acting, incredible story-telling, incredible pace, incredible writing and dialogue, incredible imagery, and an incredible twist and ending.
The Godfather also has these qualities.
But the reason Shawshank is better is because it literally is potentially life-changing. People watch Shawshank and someone truly may believe in HOPE. They may truly believe their lives will get better. They may truly believe others' lives can be made better. Its message is not only told, but it is FELT and oft times ABSORBED. For men, for women, for old, for young, for everyone. It is a masterpiece. What other movie affects people in this way? You don't get that with The Godfather. GF is a great film, but you just come out of it saying, "Wow, that was one of the best films I've ever seen." With Shawshank, you say more than that. You feel more than that.
You will never see another like it. And the mere perfection of this movie, by a novice director, will frustrate experienced and future directors forever.