Product Details

• Actors: Tom Hanks, Michael Clarke Duncan, David Morse, Bonnie Hunt, James Cromwell
• Directors: Frank Darabont
• Writers: Frank Darabont, Stephen King
• Producers: Frank Darabont, David Valdes
• Format: Color, Dolby, NTSC
• Language: English, French
• Rating: R (Restricted)
• Number of tapes: 2
• Studio: Warner Home Video
• VHS Release Date: June 13, 2000
• Run Time: 189 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (630 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 0780628799
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #27,825 in Video (See Bestsellers in Video)

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

"The book was better" has been the complaint of many a reader since the invention of movies. Frank Darabont's second adaptation of a Stephen King prison drama (The Shawshank Redemption was the first) 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 movie 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

From The New Yorker

Is there such a thing as commercial pedantry? If there is, this movie embodies it. Frank Darabont's adaptation of Stephen King's 1996 serial novel is a three-hour-and-eight-minute religious allegory about a black convict (Michael Clarke Duncan), a white prison guard (Tom Hanks), and a mouse. The convict is meant to be Jesus Christ, and the mouse, which gets crushed and then reborn, is meant to represent survival-or perhaps Life Itself. Darabont lays out his meagre death-row story with lethal thoroughness, and the miracles arrive on schedule. The movie blinds itself with the grandiosity of its illusions. On the one hand, it preaches love; on the other, it tries to excite the audience with the convulsed body and flaming head of a man strapped into an electric chair. By the end, the sanctimonious hypocrisy is all but unbearable. -David Denby
Copyright © 2006 The New Yorker

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

56 of 63 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A testament to humanity and a fine story, October 12, 2000

By	Linda Linguvic (New York City) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Green Mile (Collector's Edition) [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Starring Tom Hanks as a death-row prison guard in 1935, and written by Stephen King, this is an example of story-telling at its finest. My most frequent criticism of films is that they tend to be overlong, but The Green Mile, at a three full hours, needed every precious second in order to pace the story, develop its characters, and lead the viewer into the satisfying conclusion.

Despite some gruesome scenes depicting the details of electric chair execution, the film is a testament to the humanity of people. The audience gets to experience the stress of the responsibility of prison guards seeking to bring a bit of dignity to the last days of the convicted men, and we share their moral dilemma when they are faced with hard choices.

Michael Clarke Duncan, cast as the simple and honest black man sentenced to die for supposedly killing two little girls, is absolutely superb and was nominated for an academy award for his outstanding performance. He's 43 years old, 6'5" tall and a former ditch digger and bodyguard. He has the rare quality to be able to show emotion in a way that makes the audience understand the complexities of his character.

Tom Hanks, of course, is excellent, giving us the kind of fine performance we have come to expect of him. And the rest of the cast, including Michael Jeter as the villain, and David Morse as a fellow prison guard are perfect. There is also a small cameo role for Gary Sinese as the Louisiana prosecutor who believes in the guilt of the supposed killer.

Directed by Frank Darabont who also shared the scripting of this film with Stephen King, every scene is constructed with just the right amount of tension to keep the viewer glued to the screen. There was not one wasted moment.

But by no means is this a simple "wrongly-accused killer" film. There's a slight suspension of reality well integrated into the story line. And constant thought-provoking questions that stay with you long after the video is over.

Unless you are the kind of person who absolutely can't bear some heart-wrenching brutal scenes, don't miss this video. I give it my highest rating.

24 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another Fine Stephen King Adaptation by Frank Darabont, February 15, 2000

By	Ryan Costantino (Nowhere, Special) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Many are the weary Stephen King fans when it comes to movies made from his work. Until Frank Darabont came along and brought us The Shawshank Redemption making us believe in the possibility of a good movie stemming from a good book. The Green Mile is no exception. This is the fascinating serial novel brought to living, breathing, vivid life. Spectacular performances by every member of the cast. (Please take note of Michael Clarke Duncan's performance as John Coffey) A note to those who have read my reviews here on Amazon, in my review of The Green Mile: The Complete Serial Novel I mistakenly call the character John Coffey; Paul Coffey(who happens to be an excellent hockey player). The mistake was noted after the review was posted and please understand I was embarassed by that. But life goes on. Back to the movie. The Green Mile is quite lengthy(which will deter some potential viewers) but its length is necessary to tell the story. And what a story it is. A large black man, a little slow upstairs but kind to the soul, is accused and convicted of murdering two little girls. The setting is Florida during the Depression, a time and place brimming with injustices. The story and the movie deal with this with heartwarming sincerity, coming close to being a tearjerker. Being a Stephen King movie the supernatural can't be far behind and John Coffey, who wouldn't hurt a fly, is just full of surprises. A real treat for Stephen King fans and moviegoers in general and one of the best movies to come along in recent years.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Green Mile, April 25, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Green Mile (DVD)

I went to see this movie in the cinema a few months ago, not sure on what type of movie this was going to be but for the first 40 minutes it was a standard prison drama. Around now it takes an interesting twist and S Kings influence is obvious and from now on it takes you on a high low emotional ride which even for me left me and all of the rest of the people in the cinema silent at the end. Great movie, the best of Kings films yet!