What I've learned in Media

-I have learned about the various camera angles/shots that film directors might use to create different effects or moods.

-I have learned more about other film genres, thanks to my classmates and my own research.

-I have learned how to correctly and effectively prepare a movie preview, and how to pitch an idea to a 'movie executive' successfully.

Movie Review: “The Shawshank Redemption”

“The Shawshank Redemption” is one of the greatest movies of all time. It has great acting, great dialogue and great drama. Although adapted from a novel by Steven King, “The Shawshank Redemption” contains no cheesy horror or crazy plot twists. Instead, this movie is one of great emotion and quality.

The story begins when the main character Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins) is ordered to serve two life sentences for the murders of his wife and her pro golfer lover. Andy is sent to Shawshank Prison, where he meets Ellis Boyd Redding (Morgan Freeman), or “Red” for short. The two men start a friendship that lasts their time in Shawshank. Both men face the harsh realities of living in a prison, but both come out the other side a better man.

There is so much to like about this movie. The actors play their characters with real emotion, and the events that Andy and his fellow prisoners endure really cut to the viewer's core. Most of the movie has a blue/grey tinge to it, creating a moody, depressing atmosphere which really adds to the viewing experience.

“The Shawshank Redemption” is a great movie, but it isn't flawless. Some of the prison guards are portrayed stereotypically, which cheapens the scenes they're in just a little. Another problem is the fact that the main characters don't seem to age very much, even though the movie follows the prisoners over a time period spanning about 30 to 40 years.

Overall, “The Shawshank Redemption” is a timeless classic; a near perfect film filled with drama, laughter and top-notch performances. This film will stay in the minds of the viewers long after they have watched it.