This week, the battle of the Mr Nice Guy, life affirming, warm fuzzy feeling at the end, they don't make 'em like that anymore movies

SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION
The story of the inmates of Shawshank prison and their struggles over the years, and, in particular, those of the fish out of water Andy "I'm innocent I tell ya" Dufresne. Features sadistic prison warders and anal rape. Criminally ignored at the Oscars. You may blub at the end of the flick.

IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE
The story of all round good guy George Bailey and his life of self-sacrifice do-goodiness, who, when he reaches rock bottom and attempts suicide is shown by an angel what the world would have been like without him. Features a sadistic businessmen but no anal rape that I can recall. Criminally ignored at the Oscars. You may blub at the end of the flick.

I'm predicting a close one

As much as I loved Shawshank, I picked Wonderful Life (not the Cliff one).

'Here's to my brother George, the richest man in town'

Gets me every.single.time.

Shawshank got my vote. Never really liked It's a Wonderful Life, might well be because of the xmas connection.

Now I'm gonna open my fly, and you're gonna swallow what I give you to swallow.

*sniff*gets me everytime.....

Aaaah...Clarence and George's first meeting. So beautiful

Whatever you put it my mouth you ain't getting back.

nevermind blubbin at the end of shawshank, what about Brooks, boy 'o boy does that give me a lump in my throat.



errr i mean it makes me sad

I wasn't saying it to you...

'It's a Wonderful Life' is a better film, I'd rather watch James Stewart than Tim Robbins doing a James Stewart (if you know what I mean).

'The Shawshank Redemption' is a funny one, I think it's a great film and really enjoyed it the first time I saw it, but I also think it's massively overrated.

It's a bizarre phenomenon that it often tops greatest film polls and I can only assume it’s because people love a happy ending. Just how happy the ending is never really stood up to scrutiny to me, everything worked out too perfectly and left too many questions unanswered. OK unfair criticism perhaps, like Capra’s classic it’s a fairy tale and perhaps pulling the reality of it to shreds is unfair. Like ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ the pay off is jubilant and heart-warming, but by the nineties we were perhaps a little too cynical for it.

Maybe that’s why so many people love it, a modern film that’s a truly uncynical tale of the good guy triumphing over adversity. Sure the hurdles are higher and the traumas are darker, but at its heart the film is very similar to Capra (a really excellent comparative pairing Sostie – bravo). In a direct comparison it misses out, it’s not as good as a genre-defining masterpiece. ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ has impeccable performances, a compelling story complete with real tragedy and darkness, and one of the greatest screen endings of all time.

I believe Shawshank’s place atop the film polls to be a blip, I don’t see it standing up to scrutiny for future generations and I doubt they’ll be comparing it to ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ (which will still be showing every Christmas).

'it's a wonderful life' is a straight up classic.

[minority opinion]'the shawshank redemption' is a piece of crap that's slightly better than average fare, plus it's quite long so you feel like your getting your money's worth on a rental. hence all the recommendations...[/minority opinion]

Is this "minority opinion" yours? Whatever you think of it in comparison with IAWL (as I like to call it), Shawshank is not a piece of crap by any stretch of the imagination.

yup, it's mine. like i said, it's slightly better than average, but that's hardly a glowing reference. i realise that most people disagree with me and i've got no problem with that.

Although I have watched IAWL more I will have go with Shawshank.

I'm going for Shawshank as well as I think it's a great film, despite a few flaws. I'd say it deserves to be in the Top Five or Ten but second is a little too high certainly. It's certainly better than Star Wars (which I think is eighth).

I disagree totally, there's no way Shawshank (objectively) deserves to be in the top ten best films of all time or the top 250 for that matter. Like I said though, it's a blip so it doesn't bother me. The IMDB list is probably the best measure of public opinion, but that doesn't stop it being funny as hell and a wholly inaccurate reflection of quality and influence!

Haven't seen either.

Mocking commence.

Same, but I think I have a video of Shawshank somewhere, and IAWL is on at Christmas so I think I'm safe.

I love Shawshank Redemption, but I'm sure if I had seen it first time under different circumstances I may have a slightly different opinion (but not too different). I caught the film almost by accident. Was in Leicester Square, the first Saturday of its release. The film we wanted to see had already started so we saw Shawshank. For some reason any publicity had passed me buy...and the rest of the Bristish public - the biggest Odean in the square was barely a quarter full on a Saturday evening! Anyway I was well and truly impressed - a great story driven by a great cast, acting and script. A real surprise.

Without a doubt the best thing about the film is the Brooks sequence. It was odd that a film would move away from its main story and focus on a minor character in a different location, and tell the story so well. It also brilliantly helped you understand Red's apprehension about leaving the prison.

At nearly 2 and half hours I felt like I'd been through the whole Shawshank experience with the prisoners...my arse was a bit sore from the seats

It was a "they don't make 'em like that anymore" film. But thinking about it not many did...except maybe Frank Capra (Frank Darabont is a big fan)

It's A Wonderful Life has almost everything you want from a classic. It makes you laugh, it makes you cry and it makes you think. The casting is perfect - who else could play the most loveable, decent man but James Stewart (maybe an older Jack Lemmon). Its a shame people seem to think its a film suited only for Christmas - its bookended by Christmas scenes, but can (and should) be enjoyed all year round. It's also the darkest happy film ever.

I saw a dcumentary about Shawshank and they said that therapists perscribe the film to help the depressed...it shows them that there is always hope. It should be IAWL - its shows that everyone is important, regardless of what you think about yourself, and you shouldn't regret everything that's happened in your life. That, and its always good to have a good "happy blub".


See what I did there...I tried (emphasis on tried) to sound all big and clever bit still managed to insert a bumming gag.

Oh, It's A Wonderful Life gets my vote

"It's A Wonderful Life" is one of those great films that I only ever get round to watching once a year when they are on at Christmas... I should probably watch it more objectively one evening and then it might get my vote.

'wonderful life' is a sweet slice of classic filmaking. jimmy stewart really overplays his everyman role, and in any other hands the 'aw gee shucks' nice guy act would get tiresome or schmaltzy but somehow he gets away with it. and the idea behind it is amazing - yes, thats right! an idea, its actually about something. what a crazy notion! but from the twinkling stars of the opening scene to the ringing of the bell at the end, it follows the idea that we are all a vital part of someone else's life, and no matter how tough things may seem we are all important to somebody. it makes a bold statement about life, and the importance of leading a good life. it has a moral edge that to our modern eyes might seem corny but is as important now as it ever was. it is designed to tug at our emotions but we love it for that very reason, we don't feel manipulated into shedding a tear for clarence at the end, but are actually feeling pure joy that another angel has gained his wings.

shawshanks is a supremely ordinary film, and if i had seen it in the cinema i would have been tempted to tunnel through one and a half football pitches of filth rather than stay till the end. actually, thats a bit harsh, its an ok film and well made, but nowhere near the classic that some people think it is because everyone else thinks it is. i doubt very much we will be talking about it in fifty years time.

Shawshank is a good film with solid performances, although the ending should have been the same as in King's story.

It's A Wonderful Life is a stone cold classic though, and very anti big business for a conservative such as Stewart.

EDIT: Just voted - I cannot believe that Shawshank is winning 2 to 1.

Bloody fools.


Winkie

Of the two - It's A Wonderful Life.

But Field of Dreams is better than either of them

I've not seen Shawshank but It's a Wonderful Life is one of my favourite films so it's got my vote.

Merry Christmas Building and Loan!

Fools yes, predictable yes...I have no point it seems, but I agree.

IAWL every time. Shawshank is a good film, but like lots of people have said, it`s just a blip on the radar, like the Green Mile after it, it`s not classic.

IAWL, however, is a classic. Because it`s a dark film with a happy message, lets be honest about it. Suicide forms the whole basis for the film, the fact that Bailey wants to kill himself to give his family his life insurance money. That`s pretty desperate stuff.

As for it being schmaltzy? Well, it was made in 1946, just after the Second World War, when people needed films of that nature. Look at the Bells of St, Mary`s, for instance. People have had teeth rot after watching that film, it was that sugary.