The Shawshank Redemption : Reasons Why It's Better Than The Godfather

Reasons Why It's Better Than The Godfather

1.- Doesn't 'meander'. I hate the wedding scene at the begging of the Godfather, just drags on. Shawshank starts brilliantly with what looks like a guilty manbeing sent down, then bang we start the story proper in prison.

2.- It's a positive story about peace and hope, most people can see similarities of Andy being in a prison with traps in their life. Godfather is seen by some as a story of a family and the American dream, it's not though is it, ? It's a gangster story with pretensions. Godfather is interesting seeing how Michael changed,etc, but not many folk in life have to become gangsters to save their family.

3.- Audio Shawshank's music is very underrated I think, it pulses through the movie and that ending music is perfect, and of course has that amazing voiceover. It even makes you in awe of what music can do, set your soul free, etc.
Godfather's music was pretty groundbreaking for its time, and is good, but Shawshank just is so good.

4. Visual. I have never found the Godfather movies particularly amazing visually, except the beauty of the scenes in Sicily, and also the excellent cinematography in the Details Niro scenes in part two.

5.Story Telling, Godfather's mafia story has been told before in the past, and since many times (personally I think Once Upon A Time in America, good fellas and the first two seasons of The Sopranos are on a par).
Other movies have tried to do a Shawshank, but have not come close.
I am sure there's loads others, but just thinking off the top of my head.

I recently saw Godfather's 1 and 2 in the cinema, and I still can't quite see why it is rated so highly, maybe it was great for its time, but Shawshank just is so far ahead of the competition for greatest movie.

Re: Reasons Why It's Better Than The Godfather

This shouldn't be mentioned in the same breath as Godfather or Godfather 2.

Re: Reasons Why It's Better Than The Godfather

I'd like to talk about why I think pizza is better than cheeseburgers.

It might be off topic but your subject isn't far behind. What has one movie to do with the other? If these movies came out the same year and vied for the same Academy Award, then yes. In any case, both movies will have staunch advocates just as there are those who prefer a cheeseburger over a pizza.

If you wanted to compare Pearl Harbor to Tora! Tora! Tora! or any of the various versions of Christmas Carol to each other, that would make sense as they are directly comparable.

The Godfather and Shawshank have nothing at all to do with each other.





Is very bad to steal Jobu's rum. Is very bad.

Re: Reasons Why It's Better Than The Godfather

As they are rated #1 & #2 on here I think that it's quite reasonable to compare the two.
I completely disagree with the OP though, The Godfather is totally in a league of its own and this movie is good but very overrated IMO!
I don't even think this is the best SK adaption from this director, I thought The Mist was better.

Re: Reasons Why It's Better Than The Godfather

It's moronic to compare the two movies. They're both good.

Re: Reasons Why It's Better Than The Godfather


It's moronic to compare the two movies. They're both good.


It's moronic not to compare them! Shawshank is much better. Godfather may have been the best in the seventies, but man did movies come a long way.

Re: Reasons Why It's Better Than The Godfather

1. The wedding isn’t “meandering,” it’s there to establish the characters and the Corleone’s reach. Kay, Michael, Sonny, Vito are shown as ordinary people that are gradually revealed to be part of a criminal empire. If you want a real “meandering” wedding scene then try The Deer Hunter

2 The Godfather is about the thin line between good and evil in man. It’s also a more challenging film because the main character goes from an ordinary, good-hearted guy to a Sadistic villain. Unlike Andy Dufresne who is a Gary Stu and doesn’t really change that much over the course of the film

3. Unfortunately Thomas Newman’s score and style is now cliched and done to death since tv shows like House that copied it over and over again.

4. The Godfather had groundbreaking cinematography that changed the game for studio pictures. The cinematographer Gordon Willis refused to make it a brightly lit film like others at the time, the dark lighting and heavy shadows influenced countless films like Shawshank.

5. The Godfather was the first blockbuster and pop cultural phenomenon. It was also the first “realistic” gangster film. All the examples mentioned (OUATIAmerica, Goodfellas, Sopranos) wouldn’t exist without it. Prison stories are what had been done countless times before Shawshank, and many were done better.

Re: Reasons Why It's Better Than The Godfather

Prison stories are what had been done countless times before Shawshank, and many were done better.

Such as?

"Please vote to preserve the unique character of Warren…" - Robert Duvall

Re: Reasons Why It's Better Than The Godfather

Papillon, Birdman of Alcatraz, Stalag 17, The Grand Illusion, Cool Hand Luke, Midnight Express… To name a few

Re: Reasons Why It's Better Than The Godfather

Good list and I have seen most of those.

A recent one would be Escape from Pretoria.
Based on a true story and starring Daniel Radcliffe.
Very good and I highly recommend it.

I also like Count of Cristo.
(Book is mentioned in Shaw.)
The most recent version with Jim Caviezel.

No Escape
More like futuristic fantasy but still good.

"Please vote to preserve the unique character of Warren…" - Robert Duvall

Re: Reasons Why It's Better Than The Godfather

Shawshank is a great film, fast paced and takes you for a ride of emotions, drama, humor, it's got it all. Characters you love, even the crow and its caretaker.

I have 0 interest in watching ANY godfather movies. Aren't they super violent and graphic with a REAL horse's head cut off shown in close-up? No, thanks!

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