 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
The Shawshank Redemption
- Review Date: June 12, 2005
- R
- Genre: Drama
- 1994
Common Sense Media says
Gritty but comforting story of friendship.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this movie is rated R for a reason: The gritty world of Shawshank Prison is populated with sadistic guards, a corrupt warden, and predatory fellow inmates. Two characters have sex (their clothes are on, and it's not graphic), one loveable character hangs himself, guards shoot an inmate and frame it as an escape attempt, inmates attempt and, we are told, succeed in raping Andy, and guards beat and kill an inmate in the opening scenes. But the film also shows inmates forming a loving community of friendship and support despite oppressive conditions.
What's the story?
In THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION, Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins) is convicted for the murder of his wife and her lover, and sent to prison. It's 1949, and Andy doesn't have the stuff for prison life. Andy befriends "Red" Redding (Morgan Freeman) and uses his past as a banker to get a job in the prison library. But things unravel. In doing the books for the warden, he learns that the prison boss is taking bribes, and Andy is to launder them. A loveable former inmate hangs himself when he gets to the outside after decades behind bars and can't adjust. The inmate whom Andy helps get his GED is shot by the guards to keep him quiet about information that might prove Andy is innocent of the murders and set him free. Andy spends two months in solitary. After he gets out, he seems depressed and Red worries he'll kill himself. The next day, Andy isn't dead, but he isn't there, either. He's escaped. The rest is a perfect Stephen King happy ending, complete with come-uppance for the corrupt warden.
Is it any good?
Call this the Stand By Me of prison stories. Stephen King, who penned Stand by Me, also wrote the short story on which The Shawshank Redemption was based. Here we have all the things that made Stand By Me such a satisfying experience: loveable characters, writerly flourishes , one-dimensional evil antagonists, enduring friendships, poetic justice and a happy ending. This one is far darker and far more violent than Stand By Me, and so ought to be reserved only for older teens. The story is slow to develop, and younger kids and children sensitive to the suffering of others may find this world a difficult one to sit with for the film's duration.
Having said all that, the film is satisfying, but cloying. Andy is the minister of the healing power of hope. He educates the inmates on the healing power of Mozart. He builds a library. He asks Red why he stopped playing the harmonica. When Red replies that it's no use in prison, Andy looks at him soulfully and replies that "here's where you need it the most." Despite the somewhat unbelievable friendship between a white, upper-class, innocent banker and a black man in 1949, it's a valuable lesson that may seem inspired to children who haven't heard this story a couple hundred times.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the ways oppressed people have kept their spirit historically -- for example, through spirituals created by slaves. How do Andy and Red handle prison differently? How would you handle such a bleak future? Why did Brooks feel more comfortable in prison than out of prison? Why did Andy get Red a harmonica? What did that represent? Why did Red and Andy disagree on whether they should have hope for a better life? Did their class and race affect their approach?
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- Teens & kids
AGE
Not apporaite for young teens and under
Good acting but very strong language, voilence, and some sexual content.
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AGE
Great for anyone who has the maturity to understand the story.
It's wonderful. A dark setting contrasts against the bright story and message. Brilliant main characters.
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AGE
The Greatest Movie Ever Made
Parents, don't let the R rating get to you. Yes, there are several uses of the F bomb, and yes, there is implied rape, but all of that is on the back burner. Up front and in full view is perseverance, hope, friendship, integrity, and good role models. This movie is the number 1 movie on iMDB and is my number 1 as well. Because behind harsh prison life is the wonderful and amazing story of Andy Dufrense.
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AGE
Probably one of the greatest dramas ever.
Rather on the violent side though.
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AGE
Amazing movie, one of my three favorites! I could watch it 100 times and it would never get old. Though there is a couple of scenes with violence and sexual dialogue. Language throuought. You see a man commit suicide by hanging himself and many people get beaten very badly. But you notice how bad a jail is and to never do anything that would cause you to have to go to one. Amazing movie about friendship.
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AGE
Great movie
This movie was awsome it's a little to mature for some one under 13 at least but it's definitely one of the best movies out there.
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AGE
Love it, Great movie. over 12 years old, very good, appropriate age. umm a good tip is that, you have to a have a really long attention span, its 2 and half hours long, and every bit of it is excellent but it gets a little confusing. Great movie. If your kid is sensitive, dont watch it with them, very sad parts, some of the parts got to me, im only 13 and i can watch anything, i mean, my favorite movie is Goodfellas...i like serious stuff. but seriously, Watch the movie, it changes your perspective on stuff in life, very touching. im rambling on and on just watch the movie...you will love it. the ending made me cry and im a 13 year old boy that plays football, it makes anyone cry go ahead watch it and enjoy try not to get destracted. also.....dont regret letting your children watch disturbing things, or innapropriate stuff ive been watching family guy, south park and R rated movie since i was 8 and im think skinned and i got a good perspective on life, and innapropriate movies like shawshank will teach your children to think twice about commiting a crime, expose your children to this kind of stuff it grows a thick skin on them de-sensitizes them but not to much
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AGE
A fantastic movie, but not for everyone
I absolutely loved this movie. I would never let anyone under age 15 see this, but it still rocked. Morgan Freemen's performance brought me to tears, and Tim Robbins was awesome. But the emotional intensity of the movie will bother a lot of people. The violence was not quite as bad as you would expect, but still lots of it. Unless you have a very mature kid, do not watch this movie with them. It also might make them want to go to prison, as it as seen as not the worst place in the world.
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AGE
Perfect for tweens who love stories that involve hope
It's a really good movie that doesn't need to much worrying, but there is a bit of profanity and some disturbing images of prison and prison violence. Rape is somewhat depicted but rather briefly, but the emotion in this movie may be too intense for children to bare.
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AGE
Stunning, Amazing, and Absolutely Fantastic.
This was by far the most stunning film I have ever seen. This story mixes in humour, horror, drama, romance all in one film that delivers the best movie experiance possibly ever. There is some violence (gunshots, beating) and a lot of bad language, but what makes this film appropriate for 9+ is its positive messages of friendship between two different people.
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| Studio: | Castle Rock Entertainment |
| Director: | Frank Darabont |
| Cast: | Bob Gunton, Morgan Freeman, Tim Robbins |
| Genre: | Drama |
| Run time: | 142 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | January 1, 1994 |
| DVD release date: | February 3, 2004 |
| MPAA rating: | R |
| MPAA explanation: | violence, mature themes |
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