Not just a great prison movie, one of the great movies of all time.

Rating: Null/10 (15 November 2002)

One of the ways that I figure out if a movie is really good or not is by watching it several times and seeing if it keeps my interest.
Some movies are just good movies with people that you associate with and like to be around. "Forrest Gump".
Some movies make you envy the star or the character and make you a better person for the watching (Gary Cooper in High Noon).
Some movies are just cool (Pulp Fiction).
This movie is one you want to watch because you feel the respect between two men, the determination of one man, and the power of friendship. Watching Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman develop their relationship over the course of 20+ years is a journey you don't want to miss and a journey that you enjoy seeing over and over again. The grit and determination to survive in a world that was so alien to Andy is a revelation on the human spirit.
Finally the friendship that Andy and Red developed, kept Red from committing another crime just to go back to something safe and familiar. This is a testimony to the ability for one man to truly change the life of another. This is one of the three best movies of the 90's and one of the best films of all time.