Shawshank Redemption (1994) | FIRST TIME WATCHING

[@MRLBOYDMOVIEREVIEWS]

FULL LENGTH REACTION IS AVAIL ON PATREON AT SECOND TIER .. www.patreon.com/MRLBOYD

[@MFBloosh]

The Warden handing Andy back the bible with the rock hammer in it and then saying "Salvation lies within" is such great foreshadowing and writing.

[@dioneberts1715]

Not to mention when Red tells Andy that getting out was "a shitty pipe dream" when ,in fact, Andy had to crawl through s shitty pipe to get out.

[@PaliSvapna]

Yes it is never noticed

[@MegaForrestgump]

It's even better when he opens the bible at the end and the carved rock hammer pages begin at Exodus.

[@racheldrum1982]

I'm disappointed that most reactors don't mention the Book of Exodus. As you said, well played.

[@jeffj6815]

In the end the hammer was in Exodus. Never heard anyone mention that. More good writing.

[@kleinnel]

Every time I stumble on this movie on tv i say i'm only going to watch a couple minutes. I always end up watching the rest of it again because it's just so good.

[@martini1179]

Out of the 630,000 or so films that IMDb rates, this film comes in at number one. Out of 630,000.

[@Justin.Franks]

It has occasionally swapped the #1 spot with The Godfather, but it is definitely on top most of the time.

[@MFBloosh]

It's crazy that Shawshank, Pulp Fiction, and Forrest Gump all came out the same year. Probably my top 3 movies.

[@just_gut]

Go watch Quiz Show, another Best Picture nominee from that year. Also a stellar piece of filmmaking. Leon, Clerks, Lion King. Even some just straight out schlocky entertainment like True Lies, Maverick, and Stargate. 1994 is just an absolute banner year for excellent films. Yeah, there's some garbage, there always is, but not many years hold a candle to the absolute volume of excellence that came out in '94.

[@matthewgoodyear8818]

1994 had many other great films. Ace Ventura The Mask Dumb & Dumber Legend Of the Fall Lion King Speed

[@katieoberst490]

'94 was a great year for movies!!

[@dlweiss]

I always assumed that the lack of aging makeup on the actors was to help the sense of "losing track of time" while in prison. The years speed by, and it's only when someone mentions the year that we realize how long it's been. In a way, it helps put us in the same mindset as the characters - because if you see someone every single day, it's much harder to notice them aging (at least until you glimpse a picture of when they were younger).

[@randyjohnson6960]

And Andy's pin up posters is also a reference to time (Rita Hayworth, Maryland Monroe,Raquel Welch, and the Era of music played alot of time references just a bit Suttle in all the action. GREAT MOVIE YA CATCH SOMETHING NEW AT EVERY WATCH.👊🇺🇸♥️

[@tykroner1133]

I’m surprised by people saying there wasn’t aging done to the actors - maybe I’m misunderstanding. They all have graying hair at the end, bags under their eyes, and more wrinkles. Maybe not as much as they would’ve had IRL, but for how much detail he picks up, I’m surprised he didn’t notice that. When you say “lack of aging makeup”, I’m assuming you’re admitting there was SOME but not a lot?

[@83gemm]

Its 19 years in the movie. He’s a young man when he goes in. He’s only in his mid -late 40s. How much aging you want? They gray the hair, add glasses, laugh lines, etc.

[@dlweiss]

@@tykroner1133 Yup, exactly - I'm referring to how subtle and unobtrusive the bit of age makeup is. It's quietly there if you really look closely, but it never calls attention to itself, and can be easy to miss if you're not looking for it. This is especially in contrast to how many other films use age makeup: boldly, obviously, and making sure you don't miss it (clearly gray hair, deeper frown/smile lines, maybe even a slightly grayer/paler skin color).

[@SebasTian58323]

​@@dlweissI don't know if it's just me, but he also looks at better, even younger, at the end when he's fixing up the boat, as if all the time he was in there has been forgotten in a place with no memory

[@dylanrcoh]

The symbolism of the handfed bird being set free is something I never thought about. Nice

[@paullow3377]

I have never seen anyone analyze the beginning scenes before. Your read on the fingerprints not being on the doors and bedroom was impressive. Also, when you said Andy being emotionless in court because he is not longer attached to his wife and whatever he's feeling is just normal behavior was outstanding. I was even more amazed when you talked about the casings part, because the prosecutor mentioned Andy having to reload to shoot them again, there should be some left behind at the scene of the crime. The maggot that was pulled from the food is real. The one fed to the bird is a prop made of baby food. There's a corridor after Andy's cell that leads to the back row of cells. Even though Andy's cell is the last unit of the row, there are cells around the corner. You can see it when the perspective changed to Red giving Andy the stare after he lost 2 packets of cigarettes.

[@speake7777777]

The Rita Hayworth film they are watching is “Gilda” (1946). She was a huge star running nearly 2 films a year during her career.

[@SethWilson]

Dude I love your Marilyn Monroe analysis. I know we’re in the minority, but I for one appreciate your thoughtful, nuanced, intellectual reactions.

[@user-dz6fy6qv2l]

The rewatchability of this movie is really high. The second time you watch to see the clues you missed, the third time is for the performances. This is one of those movies that no matter what part it's on, if I see it on TV I will watch it to the end. I do cry at the Brooks scene half the time. That broke me.

[@brandonmason388]

I’ve rewatched this so many times. I’m to the point now where I can put a KZbin reaction to this on and do my commute to work. I never take my eyes off the road because I always know what’s happening on screen based on what I’m hearing. It almost plays like an old radio program in that with the narration, perfect dialog, and brilliant foley work you can picture what’s happening without even seeing it (it doesn’t hurt that I’ve seen it many times).

[@warden821]

You were completely right about Jake (the crow), in the book at least Jake dies quickly after being set free, since like Brooks he was completely incapable of adapting to life outside of prison.

[@dunbardunelm3924]

😟😪😪

[@krisfrederick5001]

"Get busy living, or get busy dying..." You're damn right. -Brooks was here

[@reece8864]

Fantastic movie. It's one of those when you're flipping through the channels, and see it's playing, you just have to watch it again..

[@whelpthereitis2577]

Will never forget the first time seeing this. Rented it on VHS while in high school in '95 and quickly realized I might never see a greater film. So glad you've gotten to see it.

[@RyanRichardsToby]

I feel so old. I graduated high school in 1991, but this movie seems so recent. VHS? I'd forgotten about VHS.

[@wackyvorlon]

On the IMDb Top 250 list, this movie holds the #1 spot and has for many years. I believe it to be the greatest ever made.

[@just_gut]

For me it's Godfather, Casablanca, 2001 A Space Odyssey, Seven Samurai, and Shawshank, in some order, as my top 5 all time. Just the greatest movies I've ever seen. I really like other movies, and if I'd been born in a different era I might think differently about Citizen Kane or Snow White or something, but those five movies just tower over anything else that has ever been made from a film making perspective. There are movies I enjoy more than some of those, like Spirited Away or Dr Strangelove, or that I think have greater re-watchability, like John Wick or Clue, but I think those five films are just the height of excellence.

[@drewaitchison3521]

You NEED TO SEE Chinatown then!

[@RyanRichardsToby]

@@drewaitchison3521 I was in Iraq in 2005-2006. Even their street vendors were selling DVD bootlegs. I saw the same thing happening in downtown Los Angeles. I never saw VHS for sale.

[@JRcomments]

Raquel Welch was the pin-up girl of the 60's. She just passed away a couple of months ago. RIP.

[@UltimateGamerCC]

damn, another name from media, only remaining immortalized in film.

[@user-zk3cl9mx2d]

The poster is from the movie Barbarella which is a completely ... different ... type of movie. 😂

[@muffinamy83]

@@user-zk3cl9mx2d It's not Barberella, though, it's Raquel Welch in "One Million Years B.C." (1966) Still another... type of movie.

[@ck_sidekick8306]

I thought I would expire from old age before you viewed this gem! One of the single greatest pieces of film history. This is story telling at it's finest

[@dinkin_flicka14]

Expire from old age bruh😂😂

[@premierrulz]

I thought I would expire before he got through the opening credits

[@dneill8493]

This movie has many emotional dark moments. But from the instant Andy escapes everyone i know watches the rest of the movie with a huge grin on their face.

[@thirteenthandy]

Here's my Maine accent impression: "Sometiahms dead is bettuah."

[@christopherplummer1299]

Not a bad idear. Prubly think out it more on mondee.

[@SteveLeicht1]

Basically, this movie shows Andy torn down to a hellish existence, then gradually climbing to a crescendo of victorious joy. All along, Red's friendship (probably not a strong enough word) is incredibly important. But Andy's speech about hope is meant for Red, who is in some ways the character with the most arc and development. The ending is well earned by the characters and exceptionally gratifying.

[@joerenzi2373]

"Get busy livin, or get busy dyin" is one of the most powerful lines in cinema of all time

[@Onikame]

Years passed between several scenes, and the 'main' group of characters were lifers. Not everyone in that person were lifers, so it makes sense that the people in the background change, while the main group stays the same. I think what you pointed out wasn't a mistake, you, maybe accidently, pointed out an amazing nuanced feature of the film.

[@michael5045]

This dude hyper analyzes everything and tries to point out flaws or inconsistencies to appear smart. And he's usually proved wrong later by the film itself. He's extremely annoying.

[@sunnyj210]

​@@michael5045... just to let you know, there are actually HUNDREDS of other reaction channels with all kinds of different styles of reacting to choose from. I figured you didn't know this since i cant think of any other reason why you'd watch multiple videos from him, much less feel the need to make that comment when you seem to really dislike his content. But now you know! You're welcome!!

[@Monteath777]

As a film student and someone who has worked on some indies - your attention to detail is freaking amazing. After years of watching this I never caught the scene with the book where Andy was in a different cell. As for the maggot scene feeding the bird - your guess was 100% correct. They had to have animal cruelty people on hand to make sure they had a live maggot for one shot which was then replaced with a dead one so no live animals were hurt on set. Your guess nailed it.

[@annehammontree9092]

I think the walkway continues along the blank wall to the other side. You can see it when he doesn't show for roll call at the end. 🤷‍♀️

[@YeOldeLord]

@@annehammontree9092 It does, there are walkways at the end of the rows and at least one in the middle of them kzbin.info/www/bejne/pHKWoKt8oblqjNE Brooks came from the right from Reds cell location and continued walking to the other side via the walkway

[@mrlboydschannelmanager]

@move_i_got_this5659 I just asked him and he said he recalled Morgan Freeman's son from the movie 'The Retrieval'. MrLBoyd says it's a great movie, he recommends it!

[@chlupl]

@Move_I_Got_This He also recognized his son earlier in the prison yard. Possible he reads up on stuff... Also possible he just has amazing bordering on anal retentive tendencies.

[@robertpresley1503]

Really? They coudn't even feed a bird a live maggot? Wtf do they think birds eat normally?

[@Kno_Buddy]

The man in Morgan Freeman’s picture in his file is his son. This movie was filmed in Mansfield Prison in Ohio and one of my uncles was an extra in the movie. They were in the process of shutting the prison down and moving them during the filming of the movie and they allowed good behavior prisoners to stay behind as extras.

[@RyanRichardsToby]

My AA sponsor spent 45 years of a life sentence in prison for murder. He says that this movie is the most accurate depiction of prison he's ever seen. Except that these days, the hole is fairly nice. You can even have TV (ABC, CBS, and NBC only...National Geographic channel if you're lucky), radio, and books.

[@laurabuer4714]

I maintain that this is the greatest movie ever made. If you ever get to experience a friendship like this, consider yourself lucky.

[@2tone753]

Especially between two people who would never have come into contact because of where they live, what they do, their social status, their level of education, etc. The key point is that Andy knows exactly that he was wrongly convicted and Red knows that he is rightly in prison as a murderer. Here, however, two people have decided that this distinction will not exist. Human contact is simply too important to them to risk it. How many very, very good friends of this kind do you have in your life, despite the multitude that you meet? I am 62 years old and have two

[@laurabuer4714]

@2tone753 I am 42, and I have three friends like this. I am most fortunate.

[@archangelgabriel5316]

He wasn't giving them culture he was giving hope

[@randallshuck2976]

Notice the scene where Brooks leaves the prison is shot looking past him into the prison. When Red leaves the shot is past Red out into the free world. Brooks killed his family which is why he was all alone in life. Prison educational rehab began in the USA, as an official program, in the 1930s and became more popular in the 1950s, however it was still up to the warden to decide how the individual programs were run. Using the prisoners for outside work was mostly done in the south (chain gang) but I guess it might have happened in the Northeast. If you haven't already I would enjoy your reaction to "Once upon a time in the West", for the photography and the story telling.

[@shawnj1966]

It's odd that the best film adaptations of a horror writer's work, have been short stories that were not horror stories. The Green Mile, Stand By Me, and of course, this film. There have been great adaptations of his horror novels, but the dramas really stand out! That is a great testament to just how wonderful a writer, King is.

[@MiddleAgedBob]

Those three movies are in my top 10 favorite movies of all time. It’s weird, I love Stephen King. I have read dozens of his novels and quite a few short stories. He is my favorite “story teller”. But I never read the short stories on which three of my favorite movies of all time are based. Now I am worried too.

[@steviekc9057]

He also enjoyed Misery. Justice for Annie!

[@mrlboydschannelmanager]

@@steviekc9057 yes!!!!!!

[@Onikame]

The story goes, some book critic wanted to hate on King, but couldn't really find anything wrong with his latest horror novel, so the critic just threw in something like, "King is the master of horror, but he couldn't do anything else.' So, as a response to that, he wrote Rita Heyworth and the Shawshank Redemption. That dumb critic deserves our thanks for backhandedly inspiring King to write this story.

[@mrlboydschannelmanager]

@@Onikame thank you book critic!!! Love the information, I didn’t know. Thanks for sharing!

[@JustinHamsley]

If Marilyn Monroe fascinates you I suggest looking up actress Hedy Lamarr. She was promoted as the most beautiful women in the world in the late 30s, acting alongside Spencer Tracy, Clark Gable, James Stewart, etc. She was also an inventor credited with work that is used even today in Bluetooth, GPS, and WiFi.

[@budmcnew7763]

That's Hedley!

[@ArcaneMelodies82]

When Brooks went to prison, the automobile was still a novelty, when he was released, the automobile was common place.

[@charlieh3998]

One of the movies a watch when I am going thru channels no matter where it is in the movie. One of the best.

[@GrumpyOldGuyPlaysGames]

In the novella, Andy occasionally had cell mates. Each and every one of them complained that the cell had a terrible draft coming from somewhere and that it made the cell colder than they expected.

[@jamesweible5357]

Such a great line to put in, because prisons were often like that, had strange drafts, there are multiple accounts of odd drafts I've read about. So it would be just dismissed, then tie back so beautifully.

[@preciousodyssey]

At that time, Reno was the easiest, quickest place to get a divorce because of its six-week residency requirement and reputation for the "quickie divorce."

[@CopiousDoinksLLC]

Exactly. Also, Las Vegas was notorious for the drunken weddings, even back then. Rather than punishing people for a lifetime over a single mistake (and also because they didn't want to discourage the wedding industry in Vegas), it was decided that divorce should be an easy process.

[@sherigrow6480]

They had hotels and boarding houses that catered to women getting divorces. Economical and safe, and get an essentially no-fault/no contest divorce in six weeks.

[@arlenel.p.2785]

Stephen King is known for his horror, but he also does drama so well. His ability to hit you in the feels is really something. The actors in this production amplify his storytelling immensely.

[@Ottawajames]

In the novella, Red *was* Irish 😅. This is probably the best King film adaptation out there. It's so faithful to the source material it's practically verbatim. I think the biggest change was Red. In the novella he's Irish and has a fuller backstory. But otherwise the film is almost exactly as King wrote the Novella.

[@Fred-vy1hm]

It's nowhere near as true to the book as his other adaptations, for one, besides the change in Reds ethnicity you've already mentioned there are also three or four different wardens so the whole subplot of Warden Norton isn't even in the novella, other King movies like The Green Mile, The Stand, The Dead Zone, It, Cujo and Carrie are all more true to the novels they were adapted from.

[@MegaForrestgump]

@@Fred-vy1hm Also, Andy isn't tall and he doesn't steal the wardens money. It was his to begin with, managed by a friend of his on the outside.

[@alanela6761]

The one I've always thought of as nearly perfect in relation to the book was Christine

[@TheBuckMuscles]

I didn't realize blackswapping Irish characters had been going on that long ago.

[@lunardruidcyprianrose333]

We do not fix 99% of issues, econmoically, mentally, societally, politically, medically, etc. You are exactly correct sir, "If you fix a problem, you can no longer monetize it?"

[@DarkenmyLife]

I’ve seen this probably over 100 times by now, it never gets old, I probably watched in around 30 times before I ever left home because my father would watch it every time it came on cable. I now own this movie, and I watch it anytime it’s available on a streaming platform I have. It captivates me every time it’s on. I get chills and goosebumps when that orchestral theme plays. This is probably my most watched movie.

[@beesly01]

54:35 apparently the script called for only the warden to be looking into the hole, but Morgan and Clancy knew it might be such an iconic shot they wanted in on it.

[@mildredpierce4506]

“Screw” is prison slang for guard. I “learnt” that from watching an Australian soap opera from the 70s called Prisoner: Cell Block H.

[@syx3s]

yes sir. i was born in 84 and was introduced to this movie not long after it was released and it very likely had a strong impact on my view of the world. this is a masterpiece.

[@maloneaqua]

A lot of people don't want to have sympathy for the main characters and are itching to know what they did. I like that the film doesn't answer this question for everyone... You were spot on when you mentioned education. It’s no coincidence that illiteracy is common in prison. It’s also no coincidence that the average age of first arrest is 17 years old… No matter how much we want to call people dangerous the truth is that people generally “age out” of the hormones, impulses, ego and lack of self awareness that lead to criminal behavior. These are mature, elderly men - 55, 60 years old... they are truly not the same people they were before. Of course, they may never get a chance to prove that.

[@UKStevieB]

Enjoyed you reaction, thanks for the video. To mention a couple of points of continuity errors, Andy's cell is at the end of his landing but the landing wraps around so that you can go around the whole block without having to change levels, this is normal for a prison layout so that the jailors can get to any section quickly. Brooks would just make a right turn at the end and cross to the cells opposite. Red would could possibly of ended up in the same job as Brooks and even the same room as the state would probably use the same halfway houses for ex-cons from that prison and only certain places would offer jobs for people in that situation. Though there might be a few different jobs available someone with limited education and at that certain age where physical work becomes much harder would probably end up with very similar jobs. Keep up the great content x

[@budmcnew7763]

Exactly

[@js0988]

This must be the strangest reaction to objectively the greatest movie ever made. Did someone piss in your cereals that morning??? 🤣

[@shakawhenthewallsfell8570]

No matter how many times I hear Brooks' letter being narrated and what happens while it is, all the way to the "Brooks was here" scene... it still isn't getting any easier to watch.

[@soth1sol]

for what it is, it is a perfect movie. i used to rent "shawshank redemption" once every year from blockbuster type brick & mortars. then i used to watch it whenever surfing cable channels. now i watch it whenever recommended "shawshank redemption" reaction youtubes. i wonder what the next fifteen years will bring re: "shawshank redemption" casual viewing tech. passage of time, man.... pressure... entropy... heat... novelty... the great churning engine.

[@adamsgrad93]

This is one of the most beautiful movies ever made. Frank Darabont directed 3 Stephen King stories into movies. This one, The Green Mile, and The Mist. They're all excellent adaptations. Highly recommend the other two if you haven't watched them already.

[@Notsosweetstevia]

Saw this in the theater when I was 12. To this day it is still my #1 favorite movie of all time. So glad you enjoyed it❤

[@west-Co_exploration]

Back in the early 1900s, divorce laws were very strict and "no fault" divorce was not available most places... Thus Reno or Vegas

[@UltimateGamerCC]

and it was in Reno/Vegas that the most unwanted marriages took place, fueled by drugs and alcohol.

[@ingsve]

The reason this is set in Maine is because everything by Stephen King is set in Maine. Since the location doesn't really matter in the grand scheme of things it would likely just be a distraction if they were all using new england accents.

[@cuba8188]

I felt for brooksy.. I did 8 years and dreamed of getting parole every single day and when I finally got parole I was so damn nervous and afraid those few weeks waiting to be released. I had no job nowhere to go and had changed a lot in prison. I was much more afraid of getting released than staying in prison where I knew how to survive and was comfortable. I only did 8 years I couldn't imagine doing decades... Smh that part was very emotional for me.

[@Finians_Mancave]

Originally the film ended showing the bus carrying Red away with his voice-over narration talking about hope. Test screenings revealed that audiences didn't find that ending satisfying at all, so with the studio's permission, the writer/director added the last scene (with the men reuniting on the beach), and months later they shot that last scene and that is the ending we see now.

[@Kenny-ep2nf]

A real tear jerking masterpiece, I could tell you had a lot of fun while reacting to it. I also enjoyed seeing you analyze and talk about each scene as you made some interesting points not many people pick up on.

[@williamcarbajal383]

Great reaction!!! I strongly recommend you watch The Count of Monte Cristo... They are innocent in that prison also 😅

[@Puzzlesocks]

About the prisoners not having an accent. It's sometimes a practice to jail people far away from where they are from to keep them away from former connections. I think part of the justification is removing people from the environment that set them up for the crime they committed, but there are other reasons this could be the case. In the case of Shawshank, it was a max security prison so it's possible it was the closest prison with room for these people. More likely it's just suspension of reality though. I mean Red was originally a white Irish prisoner but Morgan Freeman got the part and kept in the "maybe it's because I'm Irish" line as homage.

[@mrgmusicclass]

You nailed à lot of things, including Tim Robbins' height. He's 6'5" and they did mask his height. They wanted Andy to be an averaged sized guy, but Tim Robbins is a big, 6'5" man.

[@DaisyAzuras]

In the book Red was a red headed Irishman. Morgan Freeman plays the character so well that you just don’t care he’s not a red headed Irishman.

[@TY_Logic]

19:00 the black and white movie with Rita Hayworth and Glenn Ford is called "Gilda". a movie from 1946. not sure where you can find movies from that era.

[@michaelf8702]

If you look at Andy it's very beginning and at the end when he was talking to Red and you mentioned the aging, you will notice that they did age him. Hair turned gray, some more wrinkles, etc.

[@bryce253]

Your rant on the American Industrial Prison System was spot on. If you haven't watched the Mayor of Kingstown series staring Jeremy Renner, you really should for your channel. It is focused on exactly what you are saying. The premise is about a small city where the economy revolves around the prisons that are home there. One ex-con (Mike..played by Jeremy Renner) is sort of the guy that spends all his time trying to maintain the balance in this system. He works with the cops, cons, prison guards and gang members. There are just degrees of corruption. The show is really good with smart, sharp writing and acting. Jeremy Renner is NOTHING like how you see him when he plays Hawkeye in the MCU. Dude is a beast on that show.

[@MarshaLove0723]

The last poster was of Raquel Welch. She recently died earlier this year. RIP The poster was from the movie One Million Years B.C. (1966)

[@ilesalmo7724]

She was a fan of the movie and was glad to have been included in a small way.

[@williamlynn6084]

One of the top 100 films of all time. This film had it all. Great script, great acting by all. The ending superb. Glad u saw it.

[@budmcnew7763]

Definitely in the top 100, but more likely in the top 10.

[@shadowprince4482]

Even though they called him tall in the movie I believe he was so tall that they did actually try to make Andy shorter with filming angles. They wanted him to be like 6' not 6'5".

[@m.ericwatson968]

One of the best endings of any film ever, and I'd crawl through 500 yards of sewage to get to freedom

[@bertpayne3004]

Mr LBoyd - Yours is one of my favorite channels on KZbin. I really appreciate the amount of work you put in to give us cool videos to watch. I really look forward to watching this reaction, but I wanted to alert you that it goes wildly out of sync at apparently 17:20. At least it does on my end.

[@willahelmpowers4835]

I had seen your comment, as well as others, so had opened a 2nd tab ready to sync the audio with the video between the two, but I just watched the whole thing and everything played fine for me. I'm sure something apparently was going on before, but it seems to have sorted itself, unless it's a device or browser specific issue or something.

[@BobTheSkull]

such a good fucking movie. one of my all time favorites. edit: and yeah brooks is such a fucking sad part of this movie. the rest of it is sad too but damn the man was thrust into a world he'd never even seen and couldnt take it.

[@UltimateGamerCC]

the world that he was born into no longer existed, what was in it's place was a cold and lonely world, filled him with hopelessness.

[@MMiel-mv2pt]

An exceptional film! I appreciate your commentary on the American prison system. There should not be a profit motive behind prisons, and rehabilitation and education should be the primary goals. Also a shame that we lock up so many people in this country... And for the record, about 4 in 100 people on death row are exonerated and found innocent.

[@---l---]

Yeah, the system is broken. Private prisons are a national shame.

[@bdog7723]

One of my favorite lines from this movie is from Brooks when he’s talking about having seen one or two automobiles before he went to prison and when he got out they were everywhere. His conclusion: “The world went and got itself in a big damn hurry.” I look around now and that line about brings me to tears.

[@jr49022]

#1 Movie on my list ever since I saw it. And #1 on imdb. Even though it's a hard subject for some people, I've made sure everybody I know has seen it too! Great reaction, thank you!

[@matthewokane613]

G’day mate, Matt from Australia here. Love your channel, just subscribed. Ps, dig the t shirt, Great Aussie band 👍😎

[@colinbrannon2051]

When you said, “what about fingerprints on the door or in the room?” You blew my mind bro lmao

[@budmcnew7763]

Were investigations as thorough back then as they are now? I wasn't around back then so I wouldn't know. Maybe the little bit of evidence they collected was enough for a conviction. Idn

[@Danledz]

This is one of those films you wish to expreciemce seeing it for the first time again. I usually catch on things in films and tv shows where i'm already anticipating on whats going to happen, but this one never made me really think Andy will escape. Sure, you might think about will he escape or could he even try, but you'e so concered for Andy's mental state or just the situation he is in that all you can think about is whether he actually "deletes" himself or not. Even the confusion of him not being in his cell was insane filmmaking.

[@weather991]

You never heard of a Raquel Welch, She just recently passed away, R.I.P. Raquel.

[@randygaleano1534]

Thank you for reviewing this film. Despite there are some small issues, the overall storytelling is at it's best. In my opinion one of the best films ever made. and of the best endings ever!

[@anorthosite]

1) You are correct that a dead 'maggot' (in oatmeal, it would more likely be be a beetle grub) was swapped in for the live one, per code. 2) in the novel, the prisoners eventually find that the bird Jake had returned to the prison, and starved to death. 3) Being a hydrogeologist, my one nit-pick was the sewer pipe: If it was under pressure, there would have to be a blockage down the line. And after he breached the top of the pipe, it would not just drain; the contents would still be pooled inside. Others point out that there would probably not be a breathable oxygen level inside. And what if he encountered a grate (or elbow), farther down the line (horrific way to be trapped and die). The sewer gas odor from the broken pipe would quickly fill the wall gap around the sewer line, so (even with the poster, and some of the gas being denser than room air) , it would be evident, well before daybreak, inside Andy's cell - and the prison gallery. 4) Who would give a lift to a man, standing in the rain, just outside a prison, at night ? Pretty convenient that he made it to Portland (in a suit, tie and polished shoes) before daybreak. But I love this movie, and your review. Thanks !

[@natea2247]

I highly recommend Good Will Hunting. Would love your insight on that movie. I greatly enjoy your logical takes on movies.

[@ValkryieRising]

I Applaud your attention to details. I Love your reactions to whatever subject you're covering - Especially because of ALL your commentary and the knowledge you drop. Please Continue to NOT - Dumb Down your content. The Complainer Plague is in full swing and the Antidote is Non-compliance.

[@cmloz4054]

I've seen many reactions to this movie, and never have I been so frustrated. It's a powerful, emotional movie and we watch to see people's first-time emotional reactions to it. Instead, we get an infuriating stream of inconsequential nitpicking comments on continuity issues (aren't you clever!) and a digression into fatuous penology theories that would shame a 12-year-old.

[@phw6526]

Dude, you have some impressive analytical skills, I appreciate how you review the content!

[@howrued1500]

Consistently lands at the top of Best Films lists… including mine lol It’s one of those films if I’m channel surfing & it’s on- that’s a wave I’m riding out. Can never see it too many times. One of my favs- When Andy is talking about where he would go, what he would do if he ever got out… and Red says I really don’t think you should be doing this to yourself; Mexico is down there & you’re up here. Those are just sh!++y pipe dreams. …and then Andy crawls through a sh!++y pipe to his dreams. Classic. Appreciate you! Stay safe & love much💖

[@42Meglet]

This is my favorite Steven King movie EVER! I am so glad you love it as much as I do!

[@sarandeepkaur4626]

I had hoped since the Green Mile that you would so this movie!So happy!!!

[@jonathanmcfarland1407]

Every time I watch one of your many reactions, I'm blown away by your intelligence. I've watched plenty of random movie, music, and comedy reactions. And countless reactions of yours. I can honestly say your reaction to this movie has to be one of my all-time favorites. And it seems each and every time I watch one of your reactions, I tend to learn something. And that is one thing I can say doesn't happen on many other reaction channels. So, thank you for your reaction and your time. Say hello to your cousin for me! Britt Reacts! Good day, sir! Wish you and your family nothing but the best!

[@Sgt-Gravy]

Brooks would have likely been in his teens when he was convicted going off the age of the actor portraying him. It's very unlikely that he would have any family left who survived the great depression & beyond. Perhaps younger siblings, but hard to see that they would visit a prisoner at a young age to get to know him. Like brooks said "the world got itself in a big damn hurry." As a veteran who spent only 8 months in the states between 2 tours in Iraq, so much can change in 2 years & we even had internet to keep up with pop culture & news back home, but the nuances & having to be there to get it moments slip our grasp because more important things are on our minds 80% of the time, which is hard to convey over email & phone calls. Unrecognizable styles, sayings, & new laws to learn. I can't even imagine 50 years hidden away from the world & missing out on the things every American is experiencing. Being scared in a foreign land, that you've only been separated from by a chain link fence. New guys coming in acting like aliens; unfamiliar styles, manners, lingos, habits, & more.

[@alanela6761]

Shawshank, The Green Mile, The Princess Bride... 3 movies that i can not turn off. Catch them in progress at any point in the movie, I'm sitting down until it's over.

[@darrenjones5885]

A Sense of Freedom, 1981, is about Jimmy Boyle, a Scotsman who at one point was kept naked in a cage inside a cell. It’s worth watching, but even more so the accompanying documentary that was on the DVD. He eventually became an artist.

[@jayaye9926]

I really appreciate your attention to detail. 1 thing I think you misunderstood in the beginning, his wife said she WANTED a divorce. He had just caught her cheating.

[@73jefft]

This may have been the best Shawshank reaction I've ever seen..."potentially"

[@akyeera]

I think "Good Will Hunting" would be a nice movie for you to review 😁

[@lisazaccardimeunier8378]

I live in Maine, and you’re right, no accents, which is fine with me because actors very rarely get it right when doing New England accents. The author, Stephen King, is also from Maine. I saw him once at Pizzeria Uno in Bangor.

[@nicoledavies5171]

You did have a close to crying emotion, I even told my daughter. Really appreciate your reaction.

[@traci4187]

You really do have the ability to understand what's coming in a movie - every time you'd stop and make some kind of observation, it was dead-on what would happen later in the movie. Great insights, and amazing knowledge of what will happen in a story!

[@kikerr6765]

35:30 Mr beast is a bad example, because he got his start by helping people in ways what nobody else has helped them, his first video is giving a homeless guy 10k.

[@adamcottrell7885]

One of the all time greatest movies ever

[@enomiellanidrac9137]

12:33 Not sure toothbrush were made of plastic back then, if it is made of wood you cannot sharpen it as well.

[@ciaranconlon84]

A few thoughts: I knew I could count on you to notice the rock hammer was hidden at Exodus! I often wonder how many people who watched this movie later tried to use Red's "I don't give a shit" speech in a parole hearing. On your comment about Hadley breaking down crying, I'm pretty sure you would be scared shitless going to jail as a former notoriously brutal CO, it will definitely be hard time. Lastly, I wish there was an outtake/blooper where after Red asks Andy what's buried under the rock he just turns around and says "I don't fucking know, Red, I haven't put it there yet God damnit!" It would be a great little skit for a comedy troupe like SNL to do. I would set it up as Ashton Kutcher and Kurtwood Smith playing their characters from That 70s Show both because Smith's character is called Red and because the punchline has pure Kutcher energy.

[@qballextraction]

There is a great video essay on this by Pop Culture Detective and why it failed when it was first released. At the time people did not want to humanize prisoners and looking at the beautiful nuanced characters was too much. Love this movie, it's one of those you can start at any spot and just get sucked in.

[@benofavalon7121]

Great reaction - love your insights 😊 I have seen this film quite a few times over the years, but I think I learned a few new things by watching your reaction and reflections😊 Somehow I never caught that the bird 'Jake' could itself be viewed as a 'prisoner', or institutionalized, at least. And you are probably correct that Jake, being hand-fed was he was, will probably not live long outside the prison walls, just like Brooks himself 😥

[@KazyReed]

My husband works at the facility in Maine Shawshank was based on. You'll be glad to know that Maine is doing a lot to change the way the dept of corrections is operated. Their aim is to treat residents as human beings and provide them with actual skills they can use when they're released. They're working on more education and work experience programs. It will take a while, but they're doing it.

[@kevinslayzak1214]

Masterpiece movie...I'm 50.. watched it 100 times... always get choked up at the last words of the movie.."..I can't wait to see my friend..n shake his hand"....at 50..those words have a deep deep meaning..