Rating: 
Summary: One of the greatest films I have ever seen
Review: God, what has happened to the horror genre? Nowadays crap like SCREAM or I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER is what passes for quality horror filmmaking. Unbelievable. At least we can find solace in the fact that truly imaginative films like THE SHINING will forever be available to us on video. I first saw this film on cable (while staying in a hotel, appropriately enough) when I was 8 years old. I cannot tell you what an impact it had on me. I had never seen anything that affected me so profoundly. Not a day has gone by since that I have not thought about this film. This probably sounds a bit odd considering that most people find it nothing more than a simple "scare film". However, it goes much deeper than that. For me, the story has always been a metaphor for the complete and utter isolation and absurdity of human existence. It's a "horror story" in the same sense that Sartre's novel NAUSEA can be considered one -- an existentialist horror story. The Overlook Hotel is a model of Jack Torrance's tortured psyche, blocked off from the rest of the world, unable to connect with anyone, not even his wife and son who are trapped with him but incapable of understanding his private anguish. Anyhow, I won't run on. I doubt I could really explain why this film is so incredibly important too me, anyhow. It's like trying to explain why your favorite color is what it is -- the reasons are too wrapped up in who you are and how you view the world to be summarized in a few quick sentences. Suffice to say that it is, one way or the other, an important and quite serious film. One of the greatest films I have ever seen.
Rating: 
Summary: Read the book!
Review: I have seen the moive too many times to count. I don't know why since it gets worse each time I watch it. Jack Nicholson is unbeliveable as Jack. In the book you sorta feel bad for him but the moive makes him unllikeable. The plot should have followed the movie more.
Rating:
Summary: Jack Nicholson RULES!
Review: They could not have picked a better person to play Jack Torrance.Nicholson is very convincing.If I watched that movie and paid no attention to the fact that it was just a film,I would have thought that Jack Nicholson really did want to kill Shelly Duvall.Jack had other good movie performances such as A Few Good Men,(Col.Nathan Jessop)and As Good As It Gets (Melvin Udall.)Jack RULES!
Rating: 
Summary: Quite good..
Review: Yes, this was a wonderful flick. I love it. Nicholson and Duvall were superb in this one, the atmosphere was AMAZING, and it was delightfully creepy. I must say, however, I like the made-for-TV version that aired in 1997 better. That one I give 5 stars to. It follows the book precisely, and I believe that's vital to this story-line. King had more of a handle on that one, and, if you can believe this possible, the remake is even creepier. Nevertheless, the original Shining is well worth watching. You won't regret it.
Rating: 
Summary: Didn't Really Follow the Book
Review: I saw this movie directly after reading the book, and the book is FAR superior. I was disappointed with the room 217 portrayal. I can't believe the movie and the book are about the same thing. The book is too long and complex to be summerized in a short 2 hour movie. Jack Nicholson's character was difficult to understand, and the book explained a lot more. In addition, the 4 hour TV version is 100 times better. The TV movie followed the book perfectly, and left me with a satisfied feeling. The TV movie was exactly what I pictured when I read the book. I can't believe that the TV movie isn't for sale.
Rating:
Summary: The Original Film
Review: When I first saw this film in 1980 at the theatre, I saw it opening night. When I saw it again very soon thereafter, something had changed. There was a 2 minute scene between the scene where Jack Torrance freezes at the end, and the shot of the picture of the guests from the hotel in the early 1900's. This scene was of Mr. Ullman visiting Wendy and Danny in the hospital, telling them how sorry he was about what happened. I believe this was the only scene cut from the original film distributed by Kubrick (re-cut within the first week of release). Just thought you all might be interested; hopefully its on the new DVD. :-)
Rating:
Summary: The Original Film
Review: When I first saw this film in 1980 at the theatre, I saw it opening night, when I saw it again very soon thereafter, something had changed. There was a 2 minute scene between the scene where Jack Torrance freezes at the end, and the shot of the picture of the guests from the hotel in the early 1900's. This scene was of Mr. Ullman visiting Wendy and Danny in the hospital, telling them how sorry he was about what happened. I believe this was the only scene cut from the original film distributed by Kubrick (re-cut within the first week of release). Just thought you all might be interested; hopefully its on the new DVD. :-)
Rating:
Summary: Creepy as can be, but it is too long
Review: No, this movie is not faithful to the Stephen King book. So what? Stephen King is a rotten writer who happens to be able to come up with some good premises. It takes a director like Kubrick or DePalma (Carrie) to take one of those premises and turn it into something scary, and that's what Kubrick does here. For me, the key to this movie is the antiseptic coldness with which it is filmed and the brilliant naturalness of the actors. You really imagine that you're watching something really unfold before you. Check out Wendy's rolling eyes as Jack axes his way towards her! That's FEAR! Nicholson is a scary psycho and the little kid does a terrific job and never comes across as cutesy - just smart. This movie is a case study of less is more. In his book, King had ghosts all over the place, the hotel explodes, evil hedge animals go on a rampage, and yet still fails to raise a shiver. Kubrick limits himself to a few elements, and his economy creates a pervasive atmosphere of spookiness. It is a bit overlong and that tends to become dull at times, but I have found that even after repeated viewings over the years the movie has retained its edge. I still think it's a great horror movie.
Rating:
Summary: JACK NICHOLSON ROCKS IN THIS MOVIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Review: I REALLY LIKE THIS MOVIE A LOT. ESPECIALLY WHEN JACK NICHOLSON GOES CRAZY FULL GEAR. IT WAS AWESOME AND VERY SCARY. PLUS, DANNY LlOYD WAS VERY GOOD AS DANNY. I REALLY WANT TO SEE THE TRAILER FOR THIS MOVIE A LOT.
Rating:
Summary: A dash of reality?
Review: Alright. Kubrick's passed on, his newest flick is coming out, a new box-set is being released, and everyone's happy. But here's the deal: The Shining, while not a bad movie, was The Great Man's worst film. The biggest reason is that the "Perfectionist," as film experts like to label him, was anything but with The Shining. First, take the opening credit sequence. A wonderful aerial shot of craggy mountains and snow capped peaks, with Jack Torrance secure in his VW, winding up the road to the Overlook. But wait! Is that the shadow of the helicopter glancing in and out of a few frames of film? The same helicopter the camera is attached to? It is. How about the fuzzy black smudge along the top of the aerial shot of the Overlook? That would be the propellors, from the aforementioned helicopter. Alright. Maybe it's too nitpicky. Kubrick crafted some great films, some fascinating innovations and used his creative license as he saw fit. Full Metal Jacket, 2001 and Dr. Strangelove kept me awake and entertained. But please. The Shining? Too long, too boring and yes, one of Kubrick's biggest failures. (Relax, I'm just one of those film geeks convinced film-makers owe me something.)
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