Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #399 in DVD
• Released on: 2000-10-30
• Rating: Suitable for 18 years and over
• Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: Dubbed, PAL, Widescreen
• Original language: English, German
• Subtitled in: English, German, Italian, Swedish, Danish, Icelandic, Dutch, Arabic, Finnish, Romanian, Bulgarian
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 188 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
"The book was better" has been the complaint of many a reader since the invention of films. The Green Mile is Frank Darabont's second adaptation of a Stephen King prison drama The Shawshank Redemption was the first) and is a very faithful adaptation of King's serial novel. In the middle of the Depression, Paul Edgecomb (Tom Hanks) runs death row at Cold Mountain Penitentiary. Into this dreary world walks a mammoth prisoner, John Coffey (Michael Duncan) who, very slowly, reveals a special gift that will change the men working and dying (in the electric chair, masterfully and grippingly staged) on the mile.

As with King's book, Darabont takes plenty of time to show us Edgecomb's world before delving into John Coffey's mystery. With Darabont's superior storytelling abilities, his touch for perfect casting, and a leisurely 188-minute running time, his film brings to life nearly every character and scene from the novel. Darabont even improves the novel's two endings, creating a more emotionally satisfying experience. The running time may try patience, but those who want a story, as opposed to quick-fix entertainment, will be rewarded by this finely tailored tale. --Doug Thomas

Synopsis
Director Frank Darabont's second adaptation of a Stephen King prison tale (the first being 1994's nearly flawless THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION) is a hopeful charmer with a hint of the supernatural. The story focuses on Paul Edgecomb (Tom Hanks), a Louisiana security guard who works on death row during the Great Depression. When John Coffey (Michael Clarke Duncan), a gigantic black man convicted of raping and murdering two white girls, joins the other prisoners on the row, Paul's life is forever altered. Coffey doesn't fit the mold of a psychopathic killer; he's kind, gentle, and afraid of the dark. As the story progresses, Edgecomb learns that there is something more than simple goodness to Coffey. Building to a hopeful climax, Darabont once again proves that he is King's most loyal cinematic translator. The film features uniformly excellent performances in leading and supporting roles, notably Duncan as Coffey; David Morse and Barry Pepper as Hanks's fellow prison guards; and Michael Jeter as condemned killer Edward Delacroix.

Customer Reviews

Not enough stars to rate this film
It would take all the stars in the sky to measure how enjoyable, emotive, shocking, heartstopping, funny and mind occupying this film is. I thoroughly enjoyed, as well as wept my heart out, to this film. The emotions extracted from you throughout this film are provided by the magnificent talents of the director Frank Darabont and numerous mesmerising actors. Frank Darabont preformed a miracle as Screen Writer when interpreting Stephen King's novel. I forget how a few simple words can give you goosebumps when written, and said, in just the right way.

Each character has their personality and traits highlighted, some good, some bad and some very very bad. All the actors constantly unveil their talent by making the audience understand completely how their characters are feeling and what their intent is.

This story incorporates the present day and memories from the 1930s as Paul Edgecomb's (Hanks) intense tale unfolds. The scenes of the outside prison, the cells and of course 'old sparky' where the prisoner's are executed are so cleverly filmed from an amazing set. Look out for a range of brilliant camera angles, which even to my untrained eye looked clever.

Of course this film contains those emotion packed narrative speeches by the principle chararter, but don't assume they will be tacky and unheartfelt as this would be the biggest misjudgement you could make. Each word is relevent and is expressed so genuinely.

Lastly I defy anyone not to recognise the acting talent displayed in this fine film, especially from Sam Rockwell (William 'Wild Bill' Wharton) who's cheeky behaviour is both funny as well as cringingly awful, and Doug Hutchison (Percy Wetmore) who displays such intense feeling and attitude ranging from his arrogance, naivity, obsessiveness, fear and embarassment during the story.

Please do yourself a favour and when you think you're ready to be blown away from every angle and have all your emotions tried and tested, then please please make an effort to watch this film. You will not be disappointed... unless you have no heart.

Only after you've watched it will you too realise that there are just not enough stars in the sky for this unforgettable film.

Surprisingly brilliant
When I got this DVD I was dreading sitting through the best part of 3 hours of dreary, dull America in the depression, how wrong could I have been. I was gripped from the very beginning, all of the actors, not just Tom Hanks, made their characters totally believable. The storyline is simply magic, in more ways than one! And is dealt with superbly. Paul, Hanks' Character has, at one stage a severe bladder infection and you can almost feel his pain and discomfort.
You can also feel the fear and dread of the prisoners when they have to face the 'Chair'. the compassion shown by the warders only highlights the awfull reality of the execution, though one of them is, shall we say, a little over cooked!
As the secret of John Coffey is slowly revealed you become more and more gripped by the film, I didn't want this film to end, three hours may seem a long time for a film but I could have sat through six hours of this if I could.
I feel that the music used deserves a mention too, the soundtrack is wonderfully understated and counterpoints the acting beautifully.
For me this is a film I will watch again and again, buy this film and enjoy, you won't be sorry.

TOUCHING MOVIE..
Director Frank Darabont, who made an acclaimed feature film debut with The Shawshank Redemption (1994), based on a Stephen King novel set in a prison, returns for a second feature, based on King's 1996 serialized novel set in a prison. In 1935, inmates at the Cold Mountain Correctional Facility call Death Row "The Green Mile" because of the dark green linoleum that tiles the floor. Paul Edgecomb (Tom Hanks) is the head guard on the Green Mile when a new inmate is brought into his custody: John Coffey (Michael Clarke Duncan), convicted of the sadistic murder of two young girls. Despite his size and the fearsome crimes for which he's serving time, Coffey seems to be a kind and well-mannered person who behaves more like an innocent child than a hardened criminal. Soon Edgecomb and two of his fellow guards, Howell (David Morse) and Stanton Barry Pepper), notice something odd about Coffey: he's able to perform what seem to be miracles of healing among his fellow inmates, leading them to wonder just what sort of person he could be, and if he could have committed the crimes with which he was charged. The Green Mile also stars James Cromwell as the warden; Michael Jeter, Sam Rockwell, and Graham Greene as inmates awaiting dates with the electric chair; and Harry Dean Stanton as a clever trustee.

Although The Green Mile was over 3 hours in length, it doesn't feel like it. I thought it was a very good adaption of a Steven King novel. I have seen so many poor adaptions of King's novels that this was a welcome surprise. Anytime a movie can keep you interested for 3 hours has to be (in my book) A truly fantastic film with a great cast and all actors shine in this movie..