I read the book and was quite entranced with it. Any time a movie is made from a book I like or love, I want to see it. Occasionally I am disappointed, but not this time. The movie stays true to the story. Interesting plot, although somewhat predictable. For anyone who has ever attended a circus, this shows some of the behind-the-scenes aspects of the trials and tribulations of both the manager trying to keep the circus afloat financially as well as the performers' grueling day-to-day activities.
Frank Darabont's critically acclaimed, quietly popular 1994 debut The Shawshank Redemption comes to DVD in a simple presentation that features a widescreen, anamorphic transfer, Dolby Digital 5.1 Audio, a stills gallery, and the theatrical trailer. With an understated, well-crafted film like this one, the focus should be on the finished work, but a Darabont commentary, filmography, "making of" featurette, and other extra features would make a nice counterpart to the film's restraint. Hopefully, Warner Home Video will see fit to release a deluxe version of The Shawshank Redemption that gives the film the treatment it deserves.
Stephen King is a true master story teller. This story has none of the spookiness associated with King's works. It's just a marvelous story. Because it was a novella, the movie is true to the story line; none of the subplots were eliminated as are so many movies made from books. Some movies even "Hollywoodize" the ending! How frustrating is that to those who either read the book before or after seeing the movie.
My Best Buy number: 2665565115
What's great about it: Stephan King wrote the short story.