Rating: 
Summary: Great movie
Review: Not so scary book made into a great movie. Thank god Kubrick
changed the original stupid ending.
Rating: 
Summary: worth buying for the DVD short:"The Making of 'The Shining'"
Review: I don't have enough space to fully discuss my thoughts on the book versus the movie (in a nutshell: i think the movie has some great moments, some stark performances, and a nice, even chill about it... but the book is a deeper, richer work that addresses family, failure and alcoholism [which is the real demon out to get the Torrance family]).Whatever your feelings about the movie are, there's an extra feature on the DVD that makes the disk a worthwhile purchase: a short film, shot by Kubrick's daughter, called "The Making of 'The Shining.'" It's a fascinating reflection on acting, on moviemaking, on personalities, and it really blew me away. You get insight into Nicholson, his rehearsal process and his performance, the tension involving Shelley Duvall, and a strange interview with Scatman Crothers who is really, really (really) happy to be involved with the production. But mostly, you get to see and hear Stanley Kubrick in action. He is, of course, the man. I'd never heard Kubrick's voice before I saw this documentary and you get to see him really winding some people up -- not just the lead actors but extras as well. Plus, there's a great scene in which Kubrick and Nicholson are explaining revised script pages to Kubrick's mom and I can't say for sure but I think she's bored by it all. It's classic. A creepy teaser trailer is also included on the disk but not the television preview, which -- when I was 10 years old -- completely scared the bejeezus outta me. Maybe one day that'll surface.
Rating:
Summary: Kubrick's Horror Epic
Review: Classifying Stanley Kubrick's films often create confusion within the minds of many viewers; however two elements become clear as one delves into Kubrick's horror epic: domestic tragedy and psychological thriller. These two particular elements function together as a synergistic whole and inseparable from each other, given structure of story and characters. Kubrick and co-writer Diane Johnson spent hours, even weeks I believe, discussing the dynamics of the family structure between themselves in hopes of successfully working within the horror genre while effectively distancing themselves from the typical Hollywood tendency toward slasher flicks. Simultaneously Kubrick created a domestic tragedy (within horror) that would not only display the importance of the role of husband/father to family dynamics but would also illuminate the viewer as to the effects of its breakdown. With Kubrick's usual deeply laden psychological characters he suggests another element; that of spirituality, ever the skeptic he was nevertheless excited at this fascinating possibility. He presents a conflictive narrative that must eventually divide into one theme: is Jack mentally insane or has something more sinister and beyond the mental/physical taken hold? Kubrick melds these conflicting elements into a unifying whole while successfully keeping in question throughout a substantial part of the film which of these scenarios holds true. The characters in the film are played literally with the exception of Nicholson's character. His performance was only quasi-literal with a substantially satiric/symbolic flavor. Some viewers have commented on Nicholson's "unintentionally humorous" characterization of the lead, viewing this as a fatal flaw rather than otherwise; not realizing the purpose of Kubrick's intentions. Kubrick was not only a dramatist but a satirist. In fact within most of his films satire is dominant in at least some sequences or characters (and sometimes both) to create an intended point, or partly exuding the psychological aspects of the character visually. The exaggerated performance of Jack Nicholson was conveying a humorous side to mans dark nature, effectively causing the viewer to giggle at this pathetic creature; amazed that human beings can become so consumed by selfishness they're willing to resort to barbaric principles to satisfy it. Basically Jack Torrance is so pathetic a human being Kubrick partly laughs, intimating Jack as a (partial) object of ridicule. Additionally this displays the actual fiendish delight he possesses in the actions he commits, or attempting to commit; to Jack its enjoyable and no different than a game. However the indifference, coldness of his soul and the utter barbarity with which he carries out his actions create enough terror to balance the satiric nature of his character. Shelley Duvall had the most physically and emotionally demanding role of the players and its frustrating to know she has never received due credit for this demanding role. Throughout the filming (an entire year) this courageous actor must display hysteria, depression, appear baffled, and generally maintain a state of physical and emotional exhaustion to display (forced by Kubrick) her character's state of mind. Wendy Torrance is weak willed yet despite her perceived faults and desperate fears her love for Danny (maternal, nurturing instincts) overrides this. Danny is the object of Jack's guilt and something he wishes to forget or at least ignore. Yet with his presence a daily reminder will always exist. He receives almost no fatherly affection and can obviously detect the resentment that his father holds for him, which grows substantially throughout the film, thus clinging ever closer to his mother. Though only a physically helpless person in this scenario he nevertheless exists as the only person with at least vague knowledge of his father's decent into madness/evil as the film proceeds. This knowledge more expressed through feelings and "psychic imagery" via "Tony" rather than mental process. Though too extensive to relate here entirely duality plays a substantial role and provides us with as many questions as answers. The relationship between husband/wife, father/son, and mother/son are complex in of themselves and realistic in many aspects. However Kubrick melds realism, surrealism, and symbolism into a unique whole through family dynamics, duality, symbolism, satirism and balances them all upon a scale that could have failed were either one of these devices balanced improperly. This balancing act required meticulous planning and substantial research, including, but not limited to, the psychology of the characters, casting, and the delicate art of cinema photography. The technical side of the film is not only faultless it is essential to the conveying of feelings, moods, and even psychological/spiritual conditions that exist within the characters and hotel. The cinematography and art direction were breathtaking yet failed to obtain even a nomination. Kubrick's extensive and brilliant usage of the steadicam, the slow eerie tracking shots, quick cuts etc combined with the creepy and enigmatic score produce a rich atmosphere rarely achieved in cinema history. The score was taken (with the exception of isolated portions of the score) largely from previously created quasi-classical/alternative music by Penderecki, Ligeti, and Bartok, successfully creating a terror almost independent, yet inclusive, of the film. Penderecki's compositions in particular were utilized due to their atonal structure and were intentionally composed for horror themes originally unrelated to The Shining. Kubrick's use of high-key lighting was, like many aspects of this film, a departure from stereotypical Hollywood-style horror films. In fact some of the "scariest" moments are some of the brightest lit sequences in the film. Kubrick always attempted to defy stock-Hollywood techniques and define his own unique vision, usually with stunning success. A misunderstanding of Kubrick's intended use of aspect ratio has been a controversial subject for years. Modern audiences acclimated to wide-screen films fail to realize that Kubrick's films from A Clockwork Orange and beyond were filmed with either a 1:33 (full-frame/academy ratio) or 1:66 ratios in mind. However when shown on the big screen it was soft-matted to 1:85, academy ratio cinema screens now an existing rarity. Though unusual, baffling to many, and satirically humorous, Kubrick created a cinematic masterpiece, culminating in the first epic-horror film owning a uniqueness perhaps only Kubrick could deliver.
Rating:
Summary: NEXT TO THE EXORCIST AS SCARIEST MOVIE EVER MADE!
Review: This is a very very very very very scary movie. It is almost as scary as The Evil Dead and The Exorcist. Jack Nicholson is so scary in this movie. Anyone who didn't get scared in this movie has the personality of Ed Gein. I'd recommend this movie to anyone in need of a great scare. Definately get this one. iT IS A GOOD ONE! ONE OF THE SCARIEST MOVIES OF ALL TIME! Also check out the scariest film ever made The Exorcist!
Rating:
Summary: THE SHINING!!! KING'S BEST FILM!!!
Review: This is of course ONE OF THE SCARIEST FILM EVER!!! This is one I'd recommend to anybody in need of a great scare! This and The Exorcist along with the Evil Dead are probably the scariest movies ever made. Definately check this one out. Jack Nicholson is so good in this movie. It has great acting, great soundtrak, and a great plot. This is definately better than the book in my oppinion. I am not dissappointed with this film, and I'm sure anyone who actually takes this film seriously will find it to be one of the scariest movies ever made! So if you're not chicken, I dare you to watch this one along with The Exorcist alone in the dark. Yeah, you'll definately get scared with that combination. Buy or Rent today and be prepared for a great scare!!!!
Rating:
Summary: THE SHINING!!!
Review: This is definately a true horror classic! This is a must see! This is so scary! Not going to give away anything, you have to watch this to find out what happens. This is one of the scariest movie ever made, and stands out as Jack Nicholson's best film in my opinion. See this, he is just so good and convincing in this movie. Skip the made for t.v. version and stick with this one. I think it's better than the book! Sorry King fans, but it's true. This is a true Horror classic! Buy or Rent today!
Rating: 
Summary: An Inadvertent Comedy
Review: This film is the original `Dumb and Dumber.' What a mixed up film this is. Is it a ghost story or a story of a man going insane from alcoholism? Well, it was supposed to be a little of both. Is it a horror or a suspense film? This film just cannot make up its mind. We all know the film is not like the book. This was due to the technological limitations of special effects of the time, but the maze was a poor substitute for the hedge animals. The hedge animals are action, animal fury. The maze is psychological symbol of madness. It is a very boring substitute. The choice of weapons was a significant part of the story. In the book, Jack uses a roque mallet and bangs it menacingly on the wall to signal his coming. BOOM, BOOM, `I'm coming Danny.' In the film, Jack uses an axe. There is no signaling of his coming other than his bellowing in the maze. An axe is not scary. It is gory. I want terror and suspense, not gore. Murder with the axe is simply too quick. This was supposed to be a psychological thriller, right? That is why there is a maze at the end. Is not that the reason why we sat through all of those close ups of Jack's face showing his descent into madness? This leads to the question; is Jack Nicholson supposed to be scary or funny? I vote for funny, because his constant mugging for the camera was hilarious. Little Danny talking to his finger was also a stupid and unintended funny moment. The film moved at a slug's pace. Every scene was stilted and awkward. Judging it was rumored that each scene was filmed close to 80 times, I can understand why. The actors must have been bored out their minds. This is supposed to be a loving, but dysfunctional family, a family dealing with alcoholism. The characters are unsympathetic and hardly seem to be a family at all. Jack acts as though he picked them up hitchhiking along the way to the hotel. All is not lost. The film is expertly shot and the dialogue is outstanding. The best scene is between Jack and a previous caretaker in the hotel's ballroom and toilet. Stanley Kubrick has done much better. His talents belong firmly in reality as his record shows. Ghosts and demons are simply not his forte. This film is not scary. It is funny and that is sad.
Rating:
Summary: TERRIFYING! A MASTERPIECE OF HORROR AND SUSPENSE!
Review: I had expected to not be really scared by this movie (after all, I didn't think "The Exorcist" was the scariest movie I'd ever seen.....certainly one of the most captivating, but not scariest). Mostly when grown-ups tell me that a movie is very very scary, I don't tend to think so. Not in this case. "The Shining" kept me curled up in my chair with my eyes glued to the screen. The tension never lets you rest, not for the whole 2.5 hours! The music helps a lot; it's absolutely electrifying. So are the performances by Jack Nicholson and Shelley Duvall. Some say they overract a lot; ...They capture a sense of reality like nobody I've ever seen before. They should've won Oscars. It also has some of the greatest photography I've ever beheld infront of a TV set. While the story moves at a somewhat slow pace, it does not a thing to ruin the experience...in fact, it probably helps it out (exactly like "The Exorcist"). Viewers be warned: it is very wierd, especially the ending, but hey, it's Stanley Kubrick for Godsakes! What do you expect?! This is certainly one of the all-time great horror movies ever made, in every aspect. While I've heard that it doesn't stick especially to Stephen King's original book, I haven't read it, so I couldn't care less. Watch it on a dark and stormy night, with the lights low...it'll scare the living daylights outta ya! And be sure to watch it on the excellent Stanley Kubrick Collection DVD; the picture and sound quality is flawless. It's in full-screen, but that's what S. Kubrick had intended, and it proves that he knows when and when not to make it widescreen! ***** A TRIUMPH FOR ALL INVOLVED!
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Summary: The Shinning 1980 and the Shinning made for t.v. 1999 (?)
Review: I would like to express my appreciation for films that are not just scarey, but so well performed by their stars, so believable, and this one I especially Love because I am a big fan of Jack Nicholson. Without actual "Gore" the movie stayed with me as one of my favorites!
Suddenly, it was decided, I assume by Stephen King? To remake a versian of the Shinning as a mini movie for T.V. I had no way to tape this at the time, but it starred of course different people..and I said, this is never going to make it!! To my shock, it was fantastic!! Starring Steven Weber? His preformance was out of this world! It suprized me, amazed me that anyone could do as well or better than the origonal. I cannot locate anywhere...a copy of this t.v. versian. I would love to have it, can anyone please tell me where I might get a copy???? I would give the T.V. Versian a 10! Thanks... Happy Halloween.... Genie
Rating:
Summary: One of the best horror movies i've ever seen.
Review: Stanley Kubrick has created a masterpiece of pure sheer terror and haunting fear, this is the story of a family man named " Jack Torrence" ( Jack Nicholson) who takes care of a hotel in Colorodo with his family " Shelly Duvall" and " Danny Lloyd" but unknown to them that their child has a unique gift that can see the hotel has spooks infested the place and Jack might go nuts. A highly remarkable piece of horror with great acting, great script, scares, Surreal and haunting images and a twisted ending that leads up to a must own horror movie for fans of the genre. Also recommended: Lucio Fulci's The Beyond, The Gate, Roland Emmerich's Making Contact, The Sixth Sense, Scream, From Dusk Till Dawn, Hellraiser, Die Hard, Ghostbusters, The Haunting, Poltergeist, The Fog, Ghost Ship, Resident Evil, Psycho, Scream 2, The Evil Dead, Evil Dead II, and The Exorcist.
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