An interesting adaptation of a surreal story

Rating: 7/10 (6 August 2002)

I find it very interesting that this movie has ranked so high in this database. One professional reviewer elsewhere had referred to it as an "overrated cult film," and I can see why. It is one of those movies that is so unique that it just grabs hold of some people while doing very poorly with the general public at the box office. But to be ranked as one of the best movies of all time? I honestly don't see why.
Personally, I thought the Stephen King story it was based on was much better. True to his style, it was a very surrealistic tale about something that couldn't possibly happen in real life. SPOILER AHEAD! Come on, it is sheer fantasy to think that someone can dig himself out of prison with a rock pick over the course of many years without someone catching on to what he is doing. I think that's why the movie is so popular: it's a feel-good fantasy that pretends to be a prison drama.
But it is very entertaining, and keeps you wondering if Andy really did kill his wife. The ending is too predictable, though.
Overall it is a very well-acted and directed movie. However, the objectionable language and the homosexual rape scenes were totally unnecessary to the plot. It would have been MUCH better if those aspects of Stephen King's fertile imagination had been left out of the movie. If not for those parts, I would heartily recommend anyone to see it.