Rating: 
Summary: It wasn't bad
Review: The one plus I have to give this movie is that it was extremely scary. It kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. However, many negatives make even a 3-star rating generous. First of all, after reading the novel, I was very disappointed in the movie. The whole focus was totally different in the novel than in the movie. In the novel, the focus is on Danny Torrance's ability to "shine" (see the future and bad things that are gonna happen and communicate with others without talking) and how the Overlook Hotel is extremely evil. But in the movie, the focus is totally on Jack Torrance going insane. However, this happens so quickly, that you don't even understand what the heck Danny is doing when he keeps talking to "Tony" (Danny is 'shining'). Over all, the movie is scary, but that's it. Read the novel by Stephen King instead.
Rating: 
Summary: A Work of Intriguing Simbolism
Review: "I didn't like The Shining the first time I saw it. But it's one of my favorite films, I maybe saw it about twenty times. But i didn't like The Shining the first time I saw it." This is what Spielberg says about The Shining when interviewed by Paul Joyce, in the documentary found at the EWS dvd. Well, that's not a bit different from myself experience with this movie. This film has layers of meaning, each time you see it is like you're pulling one of this layers up. And with sure some fans of Stephen King will not like it, but that's because they want see a simple transfer for the movies of King's book. I myself always liked King books, I read maybe all the classic King books. But Kubrick is not a entertainment director, this guy is craftsman, he delayed about 5 years inbetween his works to make this movies look like deep masterpieces, since Barry Lyndon this goal is bright clear in Kubrick work. So, Kubrick would never do a simple transfer of King's book, he saw in adapting this book a way of grafting in it his own authoral work. Therefore if you like art films you'll enjoy it, without of course judging it for being, at least at surface, a horror movie.
Rating: 
Summary: A freakish, bizaar, insaley great horror film
Review: The director is Stanley Kubrick, the actor is Jack Nicolson. Right there you know is a great movie. The Shining a great, bizaar thriller about insanity, and what is real. Jack Nicolson plays Jack, a retired teacher-turned writer whom is to take over the Overlook Hotel during the off-season. He becomes isolated and has a severe case of cabin feaver. Eventually, he becomes utterly insane and his wife and son must defend themselves in the middle of nowhere. But what Jack doesn't know, is his son's supernatural power, the shining. The movie, though, starts off slow but grows stronger and more exciting to build the climax. I strongly recommend this to any horror/Nicolson/Kubrick fan. By far, one of Kubrick's best.
Rating:
Summary: Outstanding in every aspect
Review: This movie once again shows Stanley Kubrick's skill for completely re-thinking a film genre, and still making a great movie. The Shining is a very eerie film with plenty of psycological twists that will leave you asking questions for days. Kubrick took many specific steps in the production of this movie to make it different from other horrors. For example, the entire movie is filmed in full light, instead of nearly complete darkness (which seems to be the trend lately). Yet, this does not subtract from the value of the film, in fact I think it adds to it's uniqueness. If you keep an open mind throughout this movie, then you will absolutely LOVE it.
Rating: 
Summary: What were they thinking?
Review: Stanley Kubrick, did this guy even bother to read The Shining? I used to like this movie quite a bit more until one day I picked up Stephen King's novel and thought "where was all of this stuff?". No boiler room, no hornets nest, no animal hedges that would chase the characters. What gives? Do yourself a favor and see the television miniseries version of this story and see what the Shining was supposed to be. Jack Nicholson and Shelly Duval, who cast this thing anyway?
Rating:
Summary: truly demented!
Review: So, ok, this is not a strict adaptation of the Steven King novel with the same title; however as a movie, The Shining VHS ~ Jack Nicholson is awesome. I must say that I am not a big fan of Kubrick (apart from Spartacus) and I therefore give more credit to that of the perceptive actors whom play in the roles. Jack N is superb as the writer whom looses his wits and ends up writing "all work and no play makes jack a dull boy". The woman (whose name I can not remember and who frankly looks a bit misshapen and tad odd) also plays an admirable part as the wife. The kid is ok, but most child actors are only asked to do so much and they have yet to grasp their potential. Nicholson is definitely the star of the movie and his acting and his acting job alone is what has made this movie the classic that it is considered today and will be for all time forsee able.
Rating:
Summary: Kubrick's masterpiece of horror
Review: The Shining is as still frightening today as it was when it was made. Not as much, but it still is. Jack Nicholson plays one of his best performances as Jack Torrance, winter caretaker of the Overlook Hotel along with his wife (Shelley Duvall) and their son Danny (Danny Lloyd), who has a special gift (The Shining) that can allow him to see things others can't and talk to people without moving his lips. In addition, a cook also has the Shining. The film proudly shows the style of the late Stanley Kubrick everywhere in the film: Scenes that take place in a bathroom (Three as a matter of fact), very clean rooms with white floors, three-way conflicts, long shots, up-close shots, and a story of dehumanization. It also shows Kubrick's sense of humor, which includes sarcasm (When Jack talks about Danny's knowledge of cannibalism "...You see. It's okay. He saw it on the T.V!") and black humor (A butler with a head injury holds up a glass and says "Wonderful Party, isn't it?" There is also a seen before HERE'S JOHNNY! when Jack says "Honey, I'm Home!") The Shining is one of Kubrick's best films and one of the great horror films of all time. If you haven't seen it, you're missing a wonderful party!
Rating:
Summary: Incredible movie - but DVD edition isn't worth it
Review: If you already own this on VHS, and are considering purchasing this on DVD, save your cash. The DVD edition does have some extra features, but the overall quality of the print is terrible. Was this print taken from a copy that some TV station had lying around? It looks no better than the VHS edition, and there are no sound improvements either. I was hoping for a cleaner, better sounding film. Nada. The Shining is a fantastic movie--one of my favorties. But do yourself a favor and don't make the same mistake I did by purchasing this on DVD.
Rating:
Summary: Scares the snot out of me every time
Review: Don't listen to any card-carrying Stephen King groupie, this movie is better than the book. I know what you're thinking, but the challenge of bringing a sick weirdo's (King) book as thick as your arm to life on the screen and within two hours is one thing. To recreate, and in some areas, out "freak" the original is a superhuman achievement. Kubrick is a master. This is the only horror movie worth watching. A classic. Buy this movie and don't see it alone.
Rating:
Summary: Giving it another chance
Review: After seeing Jack Nicholson in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and As Good As It Gets I found out what a great actor he is so I decided to give The Shining another chance. I decided I really like this movie mostly because of him. My favorite part is when Jack as Jack Torrence mimics and makes fun of his wife after she reads the manuscript with the same sentence repeated and she is scared of him. Shelly Duvall irritates me especially during her crying scenes because she snorts like a pig. What I like about The Shining video version I bought is that before the actual film starts there is a documentary about the making of The Shining filmed by Stanley Kubrick's daughter Vivian. With this documentary you find out a little more about the real Jack Nicholson, but Shelly Duvall still irritates me even when she's just herself. There is a touching moment when Scatman Crothers is interviewed. Since I had seen The Shining before I saw Cuckoo's Nest in the past I didn't realize this was the second time for he and Jack to work together I thought it so neat to see him working with Jack again. My favorite song from the movie was "Midnight With the Stars and You" which was playing in the background in one scene of the movie, at the end, and continuing into the closing credits. If you are a Jack Nicholson fan and even if you're not I recommend this movie.
|
