I have to say

Rating: 10/10 (1 October 2004)

It's been a long time since I saw the movie and I still have it as the best memory when I sit in front of TV and enjoy the magic of a magnificent movie.
Yesterday, we had a discussion on a Chinese movie board about which is the best movie in history. The answer was Shawshank's Redemption. It's a movie delivering good sense of hope in life and the best story to inspire people truly from inside. I feel I gotta say something about it again when it's the time of 10 years anniversary for such a great movie.
Many people are still talking about whether it should have got above Forest Gump in 1995 Oscar. I personally think it's reasonable for Forest Gump winning Oscar. But I think there is one actor who should have won a supporting actor : James Whitmore who acted old Brook in the movie. I don't know why, but his character impacted me the most. Esp. when he got free and began narrate the letter he wrote to his prison folks. I am a young man and did not have enough experience in life, but I felt something there, strongly, something that made me moved to tears. The director did great jobs in this sense, bringing quite a few characters who are far yet close to us. They have weakness and doubt in life just like we did in our lives. Everyone make mistakes, some are small which can be ignored, some are so big that even a life time sentence does not judge enough. But they are common. the thing is what you realize in life: Incarnation or refreshment.
I cant say how much the movie changed my life. This might be the only movie so far to change my life ever. But I can say I became a better person after this. (I am not saying I was a bad guy , keke). And I will think about hopes no matter how bad are the situations. The movie is pure magic.
I saw the movie with my mom, who usually does not see Hollylwood movies. But this is the second movie which did not make her sleep.(keke, the other one was Titanic) I did not expect anything more from the movie , yet it ended as a magic night for me.
I can keep going on and on talking about how great the movie was. And I think the reason for those people who do not enjoy the movie that much is because they already know or expect too many things before seeing it. I am sorry that nowadays there are not so good movies around in Hollywood and I hope I can find another magic one soon.
I will buy the coming DVD and put in my shelf. I hope someday I can let my son see it and tell him how important hope is.