I have never seen The Shawshank Redemption. DH hates it so I probably won't bother.

Over at guardian.co.uk's Film Unlimited talk boards The Shawshank Redemption was regarded disdainfully as 'the favourite movie of people who don't know much about movies'. Which is perhaps a little unkind, but not without a certain degree of truth.

It has the sort of broad-ranging appeal that Tom Hanks seems to possess. It was a handy verbal shorthand over at FU - you might describe an actor, or a book, or a foodstuff or whatever as 'The Shawshank Redemption of t insert type of thing .'

23 Great Films Not Available on Region 1 DVD

I have been waiting for YEARS for my favourite flick, A Matter of Life and Death, to come out on region 1 DVD. It's been out in region 2 for a while. Amazon thinks that we might be finally getting a R1 version next month, but I'm not holding my breath, yo.

I do adore Shawshank Redemption, cheese and ponderous voice-overs and all. I wept like a baby at Red's last voice-over ("I hope to see my friend, and shake his hand. I hope the Pacific is as blue as it has been in my dreams. I hope,") when I first watched it in theater -- I won't lie.

The Guardian did an article on the enduring broad-ranged appeal of the movie a while ago... let me see. Here it is. [link]

I love Shawshank, without reservation. And I agree that it's one of King's best stories.

Odd that they didn't mention you can't get Rebecca on DVD right now, which annoys me to no end.

I have never made it through Shawshank Redemption, but admittedly, have the attention span of a Tsetse fly for watching things on DVD.

Also, speaking of movies never released on DVD (or on VHS for that matter.) If anyone has the Sundance Channel, Play it as it Lays is airing on December 30th at 2:45 and 11:45 PM, I've seen clips but have always wanted to see the whole movie. If someone could record this and get it to me, I would be forever grateful. I would promise pie, but it might be difficult to ship. I would, of course, pay for postage if you need to mail it, and send treats.

I have not ever seen Shawshank Redemption-- I really don't even know what it is about, but it never appealed to me.

Enchanted April is another movie that is not out on Region One, and I cannot figure out why, but you will pry my VHS tape from my cold dead hands.

We saw Mummy 3 and Indiana Jones and the Saucer Men (George Lucas' preferred title, according to the extra features, good lord, George) last night, and boy, Indy 4 does not hold up well when viewed next to a Mummy movie. I forgot which franchise I was watching in several points with Indy. The ants devouring the guy, the sort-of ally betrayed by his lust for treasure--oof. They should have listened to Spielburg and let it lie.

Oh, I love Enchanted April ! I had forgotten about that movie.

I should add Raiders of the Lost Ark to that list--that was probably the first of the Great Action Flicks of the 1980s.

If anyone has the Sundance Channel, Play it as it Lays is airing on December 30th at 2:45 and 11:45 PM, I've seen clips but have always wanted to see the whole movie. If someone could record this and get it to me, I would be forever grateful.

Do you still have a VCR? Because I can throw it on a tape.

that was probably the first of the Great Action Flicks of the 1980s.

Road Warrior came out the same year. They're both among the greatest action movies ever based on the stunts. 80's was the heydey of the Hong Kong action film. Jackie Chan's breakthrough role in Drunken Master came out in 1978 and he was cranking them out.

The '80s overall had the best action movies. In addition to Raiders and Road Warrior, as well as the Hong Kong films, there was Die Hard and Aliens, which I have on my best-of list.