Sometimes movies grab you and let go after you are done watching it. This one keeps on holding.

Rating: 10/10 (14 November 2004)

Most people who see this movie for the first time are not going to appreciate it completely. This is maybe the only movie, in my opinion, that keeps getting better the more times I watch it. Having seen the movie at least 20 times I feel that it is quite possibly the best movie ever made. Some may be more entertaining, like say Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, but none as compelling. The movie creates a world of different emotions, mainly through its two main characters, Red and Andy. The acting is incredible. The message is stronger than that of most any movie, and is stated very clearly. "Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies." After being drained by the sad events that occur in the movie, the ending uplifts, and thoroughly fulfills the gaps that it could leave you with.
Although this is a great and uplifting movie I realize that are a few things wrong with it, like in any movie. The issue of race is not addressed because it wasn't originally meant to. In Stephen King's short story, Red is white. In casting Morgan Freeman the movie is left a little empty on that subject. This does not devalue it, but does leave the audience a little confused about why it is not addressed. Do not watch this movie and expect to be completely entertained, just watch it for its quality, and maybe you'll be left with as much thought-provoking material as I was. I am glad it is ranked as high as it is, which shows that does get through to most people, but I think it should move two spaces up on the list.