Very Excellent!

Rating: 10/10 (3 January 2007)

Just watched this film for the second time so that I could answer the technical questions I had the first time about why certain characters did something and why. Pay attention. It is fascinating.
Aside from that, I easily give this film a #1 ranking on my personal list of favorites. I noticed that "The Godfather" is #1 on this web site. I strongly disagree because that film simply glorifies organized crime violence, while "Shawshank" is very, very moving, philosophical, challenging, and has MANY messages to get across to the viewer. This second time round, here are the messages which I gained from this film (from most obvious to highest level order):
1) State prison is horrible. 2) If you can't do the time, then don't do the crime (or even be associated by circumstantial evidence to the crime). 3) If you ever find yourself in prison, better to make friends than to make enemies - your life my depend on it. 4) Sometimes violence is absolutely unnecessary and wrong. 5) Every human being needs friends and acceptance. 6) What comes around, goes around. 7) Police officers and prison guards who themselves become convicted criminals have little chance of survival in prison - suicide for them is the more attractive option. 8) Hope can help anyone rise above any bad situation. 9) Every life is precious and irreplaceable. 10) Society can treat you like a piece of sh@t, can tell you that you are a piece of sh@t, and can even drag you through half a mile of sh@t, but you are NEVER a piece of sh@t until you THINK that you are a piece of sh@t.