Shawshank Redemption

[Quintessential Archetype]

I recently saw the Shawshank Redemption and I found it to be a really good movie filled with tons of motivation and hope. If you haven't seen the movie, then this post is filled with spoilers, turn away now or forever ruin the suprizes.

When the movie started I never really understood the title, how can a prison be a redemption for your crimes. I didn't think much about it, but as the movie progress I realize that the main redemption was Andy Dufresne who set the prisoners free from the corruption within the prison system warden had imposed. Not only that, but during scenes where they were drinking beer, reminded them of their younger years, the libary was reconstructed and opened for prisoners and place of peace and solitude and Red redeming himself with his honesty and many others.

I'm sure there is more to this film that I didn't catch, but please explaim your thoughts on a classic film.

[Machairan]

I recently saw the Shawshank Redemption and I found it to be a really good movie filled with tons of motivation and hope. If you haven't seen the movie, then this post is filled with spoilers, turn away now or forever ruin the suprizes.

When the movie started I never really understood the title, how can a prison be a redemption for your crimes. I didn't think much about it, but as the movie progress I realize that the main redemption was Andy Dufresne who set the prisoners free from the corruption within the prison system warden had imposed. Not only that, but during scenes where they were drinking beer, reminded them of their younger years, the libary was reconstructed and opened for prisoners and place of peace and solitude and Red redeming himself with his honesty and many others.

I'm sure there is more to this film that I didn't catch, but please explaim your thoughts on a classic film.
It is a great classic with many redemptive themes. It also has a great ending - hope is a good thing, maybe the best thing.

I have thought about doing a series in church about salvation/redemption in modern movies and shows. Shawshank definitely would be one of them.

Some movies are obvious portraits (Narnia, LOR, The Matrix Trilogy, etc.). It is the more subtle ones that are really interesting.

I think I would include Dead Poet Society, Akeelah and the Bee, as well as a foreign film called Babette's Feast.

[Quintessential Archetype]

The Matrix Trilogy, etc.).

Cool, how did you manage to get hope and motivation out of the matrix trilogies. The matrix did capitalize on the themes of many different philosophies and religion, but I never got hope and motivation out of the movie. Can you please explain how you got to that point?

[Yodas_Prodigy]

I truly enjoyed the show when I first watched it. I was amazed that such a good flick was missed by my radar when it was in the theaters. It was many years after its making that I saw it.

The Matrix was the same thing. I was accused of living under a Rock.:shocked: All I could say was, "Oh yeah?" :Megamalmer_aah:I promptly rented it before I went to see #2.:bigtup:

[Tallen]

The movie was pretty good. Morgan Freeman shines as the one that makes the film with his supurb acting, probably his best role IMO. Tim Robbins does his usual over-acting in places, although he is pretty good. I agree that the ending was good as it brought out the hope that Red had when he was finally given his freedom.

There should be a Shawshank Redemption Channel on TV, it's on just about every day and has been played to death. http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/36/36_1_54.gif (http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001_ZSYYYYYYYYUS)





http://www.smileycentral.com/sig.jsp?pc=ZSzeb113&pp=ZSYYYYYYYYUS (http://smiley.smileycentral.com/download/index.jhtml?partner=ZSzeb113_ZSYYYYYYYYUS&utm_id=7921)

[Machairan]

Cool, how did you manage to get hope and motivation out of the matrix trilogies. The matrix did capitalize on the themes of many different philosophies and religion, but I never got hope and motivation out of the movie. Can you please explain how you got to that point?
I would not see the Matrix trilogy as reflecting hope, but definitely using themes of salvation for the story line.

A good series may also include bad examples of redemption/salvation, with discussion of why they are bad examples. Keep in mind that liberation is a key element with the salvation framework. In fact, I would see it as the primary theme.

The violence of the Matrix series certainly does not lend itself to a church setting for viewing. (I am not sure I could do Shawshank in a church setting either.) But as an example of themes of redemption as depicted in our cultural mindset, this makes for a great discussion topic.

Babette's Feast is one I picked up recently from Amazon after hearing about it. It is a rather interesting depiction of events set in the Netherlands (I think) during one of the rebellion in France. As a foreign film I found it most useful to switch the language to English and turn on the subtitles (which are slightly different than the English overlay). The feast itself is the main depiction of redemption. It is not nearly as exciting as some of the others, but the message is very intriguing. It is also a very good story where "all things work together for the good..."