The Shawshank Redemption is my favorite movie. In fact, I watched it again today just hours before I viewed The Majestic. I didn't plan it to be that way, but it ended up that I could compare the two Darabont films in a way. I also noticed several people in The Majestic who were from The Shawshank Redemption.
Anyway, I wanted to see the Majestic because I like the director. Here's what I thought. The movie was a good, entertaining story with a happy ending. I surrender that it was a little cheesy at times, but I think that was put there. The movie was set in the 50's, and I think Darabont wanted to make it seem appropriate for the time, and 50's entertainment is cheesy.
I also thought that the name of the movie is a poor choice. The movie wasn't really about the theater. Jim Carrey showed that he can act. Call me crazy, but I don't really like Carrey as a comedian. I like him as an actor who shows talent in films like this.
I wish that more people could like a movie without thinking that they need to be entertained every moment of the film. Character development can be boring. So can profound concepts. This movie is aimed at a more sophisticated audience. Everyone has his or her own opinion, and that's fine. My opinion is that if you didn't like this movie, perhaps (not automatically) it is because you just didn't get it. Ponder it a little more.
Some thought provoking concepts I pondered during and after the film are as follows: Living in someone else's shadow, living up to expectations, conformity, standing up for what is noble, what a hero is, whether or not society as a whole has progressed since the Salem witch trials if we are still hunting for them in the 1950's, whether or not we have progressed since then. Freedom of speech, life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness. This may sound corny, but to me it is not.
This movie had a purpose, and it wasn't to keep one entertained for a mere 2 1/2 hours. It was to leave an impression. At least that's what I took from it. Think about it.
The courtroom scene was my favorite, it literally gave me chills.
Anyway, I wanted to see the Majestic because I like the director. Here's what I thought. The movie was a good, entertaining story with a happy ending. I surrender that it was a little cheesy at times, but I think that was put there. The movie was set in the 50's, and I think Darabont wanted to make it seem appropriate for the time, and 50's entertainment is cheesy.
I also thought that the name of the movie is a poor choice. The movie wasn't really about the theater. Jim Carrey showed that he can act. Call me crazy, but I don't really like Carrey as a comedian. I like him as an actor who shows talent in films like this.
I wish that more people could like a movie without thinking that they need to be entertained every moment of the film. Character development can be boring. So can profound concepts. This movie is aimed at a more sophisticated audience. Everyone has his or her own opinion, and that's fine. My opinion is that if you didn't like this movie, perhaps (not automatically) it is because you just didn't get it. Ponder it a little more.
Some thought provoking concepts I pondered during and after the film are as follows: Living in someone else's shadow, living up to expectations, conformity, standing up for what is noble, what a hero is, whether or not society as a whole has progressed since the Salem witch trials if we are still hunting for them in the 1950's, whether or not we have progressed since then. Freedom of speech, life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness. This may sound corny, but to me it is not.
This movie had a purpose, and it wasn't to keep one entertained for a mere 2 1/2 hours. It was to leave an impression. At least that's what I took from it. Think about it.
The courtroom scene was my favorite, it literally gave me chills.
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