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1994: Forrest Gump vs Pulp Fiction vs The Shawshank Redemption

Favourite film?

  • Total voters
    66
CaptainCanada

CaptainCanada

Admiral
Admiral
As I posted earlier today in the movie review thread, the 1994 Best Picture slate is arguably the strongest in the modern era (certainly since at least 1976's). Two nominees (Quiz Show and Four Weddings and a Funeral) are good films and generally well-regarded; but the big hitters are the three modern classics: Forrest Gump (the winner), Pulp Fiction (its main rival at the time) and The Shawshank Redemption (which has since arguably eclipsed them both). All three are still held in very high esteem today. If you go by the IMDB at the moment, Shawshank is the #1 film of all time (and also has the most votes of any film), Pulp Fiction is #5, and Forrest Gump is #33.

Gump, as the winner, has attracted the biggest backlash, but I still love it. It's not as transcendent as Shawshank or as hip as Pulp Fiction (though it has much, much more emotion than the latter), but I think it's tremendously effective, and it makes me wish Robert Zemeckis wasn't spending all his time doing unconvincing motion-capture CGI these days. My vote for the best goes to Shawshank.
 
I think Forrest Gump is the better film. Shawshank is a great movie though. I've never really "understood" Pulp Fiction.
 
I never liked Gump, but both Shawshank and Pulp Fiction are great. Pulp is the most fun, so got my vote.
 
I don't mind the fact that Forrest Gump won best picture that year, as it is a great movie and Hanks did a fantastic job in the role. However, over the years, I've found Shawshank Redemption to be the better film and other than the Samuel L. Jackson moments in Pulp Fiction, I find that movie kind of overrated.

I still think in my lifetime, 1994 was the best year in terms of movies. I mean you had these three movies, and I also remember The Lion King came out that year, which was one of the last best Disney Animated Films they've done (Princess and the Fog was ok, but nowhere near The Lion King).
 
The only thing that I think holds back Tarantino as a filmmaker is that his movies are not really about anything, other than, I guess, how much Tarantino loves movies (reminds me of this The Onion piece). This isn't prohibitive, by any means (Inglourious Basterds was my choice for Best Picture last year), but when stacked up against other tremendously-made films that do have more in the way of theme, he's at a disadvantage.
 
Pulp Fiction for now, but given my mood I might have picked one of the others. Gump, though, is often just too sugary feel good for my tastes. But I do think that Hanks has done the best job of bringing a character to life. Shawshank does have a a great story, but the ending does ruin it a tad for me. I wish it had stopped with the bus driving off and Red's comment on hope. Showing him meeting Andy just made it too Disney for me. Pulp I like for its madness of story and the out of order structure in presentation.
 
As much as I love Forrest Gump movie wise, I have to admit that Shawshank beat it out by a little bit for me atmosphere wise and such.
 
Forrest Gump is too much of a white-washing of history for my tastes. Once you get past the gimmick of incorporating Tom Hanks into footage of historical events, I don't find that it has much appeal.

I've grown to like The Shawshank Redemption, even though some of it falls apart when you start to think about it, but I still think Pulp Fiction is my favorite choice of the bunch. It's not my favorite Tarantino film (I like Jackie Brown and Inglourious Basterds more) but I think it's the best of the three.
 
Shawshank and Pulp are two of my top five movies, in that order, so I can't argue that 1994 was an amazing year.

Gump I never cared for.
 
I love all three films for separate reasons. Arguments can be made over which film deserved the Oscar for best film (why couldn't the Academy just call it a three way tie?).

Forrest Gump is a great film thanks to Hanks' performance, the storyline that covers decades of American history and it has heart. Some scenes are really beautiful and convey the idea of enjoying and appreciating the simple moments in life and trying to see the good in life.

Pulp Fiction is the coolest of the three and it truly revolutionized the way movies, esp. crime flicks,are made to this day. It revitalized the careers of some actors like Travolta and Willis while making true stars like Jackson and Thurman. I remember the fun I had in watching this on screen and the outrageousness of it.

Shawshank Redemption I found to be a really spiritual experience. In many ways its my personal favorite of the three. I saw this film at a very trying moment in my life and I found its uplifting message about hope and triumph in the face of true despair to be powerful and inspirational. I even recreated a moment in the film in my life years later. (the scene where the main character drives a convertible alongside the Pacific). All three films to me have stood the test of time and I'm glad to have seen them all.
 
Forrest Gump is a good movie...but not one I feel the need to watch alot.
Pulp Fiction don't care for.
Shawshank Redemption gets my vote...always enjoyed watching the movie. :bolian:
 
Forest Gump was a pretty good movie, but I felt it was too self-consciously trying to pander to a certain age group with all the historical interaction and special effects.

Still haven't seen Shawshank, but I really have been meaning to forever. I think I am always afraid it is going to be another douchey, liberal Hollywood tear-jerker though.

Pulp Fiction is one of my favorites.
 
All 3 were great and I loved them all but Pulp Fiction was my favorite of the 3, I think. I'm not sure whether I've seen Pulp Fiction or Forrest Gump more times...
 
Forrest Gump is the only one I saw when it first came out, and I hated it then. I finally watched it again last year and appreciated it a lot more, but it's still my least favourite of the three. I'd say Shawshank is the best, and deserved the Oscar, but Pulp Fiction is my favourite (which is what the poll asked and what got my vote above).
 
CaptainCanada said:
As I posted earlier today in the movie review thread, the 1994 Best Picture slate is arguably the strongest in the modern era (certainly since at least 1976's).
Click to expand...

Sorry if I'm ignorant towards older movies, but what am I looking for at the '76 oscars?

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, I've least heard about (should I watch it?), Jaws too. But I haven't even heard about the rest. What am I missing?
 
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