The Shining
 

Alright, so I just saw this for the first time (I know I know) and I've got to say, that's a pretty awesome movie :) I saw the version with Jack Nicholson(sp?) and he did a great job. What gets me though is how ABSOLUTELY ANNOYING his wife is in the movie. Or, I should say, how absolutely annoying the person who plays her is. As for the character herself, there were a few moments in the movie where she just pissed me off be being outrageously stupid, so I can't fault the actress for that, but most of the time her acting was just horrendous. Yet, I still thoroughly enjoyed the movie and that's a testament to how good it is.

Anyways, I guess I don't really have too much of a substantial point to this other than to ask, 1) what were your thoughts on The Shining? and 2) Which version do you like better? I'm trying to figure out if you should see the newer version now.

Both had their good points.

I liked the second just because it was truer to the book.

But you can't beat the first one, just because Jack plays a GREAT psycho!

"Heeeeerrrreessss Johnny!"

Personally, I hate the Kubrick film. The book is soooo much better it hurts. Nicholson is the only person who can act at all in that movie, with the wife, the kid, and the groundskeeper all giving Top 5 worst performances ever.

Amen to that.

The TV movie supervised by King was superior and really held to the story and ideas King wrote in his novel.

Kubrick's movie is in a whole different league from the TV movie. There's no comparison.
The fact that it diverges from the source material is a positive, not a negative. Kubrick was able to create something new, something of his own. He was able to create a horror film that outgrows its "horror" label ad becomes something special, something quite rare coming out of Hollywood. The TV movie gave me nothing new and just bored me like most other horror movies.

I've only seen the Kubrick version and, at the moment, i amhalf way through the book. Although Kubrick's version is not actually to be too true to the book? the claustrophobia and overall creepy atmosphere that eventually turns nicholson insane is extremely well done.

some of the freakiest moments are the bath scene and also when danny is riding about the hotel on his bike and you suddenly see the two girls. Young girls in horror movies always seem to be really creepy! :eek: I thought is was really well done, true to the book or not; how does that matter?

I read the book when it FIRST came out in paperback. I was...I don't know, about 13 or 14? I was sick in bed for a week and did nothing but read(This was before the internet....eegad : )

People talk about being freaked out all the time but this book literally freaked me out to the point where I had a hard time sleeping...of course it could've been the fever.

reading this tale of demonic cabin fever set the bar for me really...
so when the movie came out...I was let down a little simply because of Kubricks heavy straying from the source material...I just had too many expectations I wanted to see the minutae that was written into the book. especially the possessed topiary.

Kubrick does a great job at setting the mood of dread and horror
in the film though...the eerie otherworldliness of the main character(The Overlook Hotel), Jacks spiraling alchoholism that leads to his damnation and the little boy, Dannys' confusion and terror of being stuck in the middle of two worlds with his terrible
secret.
Shelly Duvalls portrayal of the Mom....well
All Hysteria and No Substance Made Wendy a Dull Character.

When viewed by itself, without knowledge of the book, this movie is at best creepy but at no time does it get inside you and do what the book does, that is...get inside you

I actually really liked the TV movie for it's faithfulness to King.

on a related note:
does anyone think the time is right for a theatrical version of The Stand?

It could be done well in 2 2and1/2 hour parts

the only freaky part was the bath scene, but outside of that the movie was meh. i find King movies to be blah overall.. i'm sure his books are a lot better.

However, like most ppl said Nicholson's performance was outstanding.

Re: The Shining
 

I disagree that Shelly Duval did a bad acting job. I think she played the part perfectly of the nervous, possibly battered wife, that has a hint of her husbands really bad side but doesn't want to admit it to herself.

Both movies have their good and bad points, but if you're really just looking to get the bejeezus scared out of you, I'd have to recommend just reading the book. I don't think I have *EVER* been that on edge from a book before. The whole room 217 chapter (I believe that's what it was in the book ?? I know they changed it in the movie) was probably the scariest thing I have experienced.

Man, that movie is scary as fuck. But you guys are right, Nicholson's wife is annoying as fuck. God, everytime I saw her, I wanted to punch her in the face.

anyone remember the scene where the Furry was giving the business man a blow job

I really like the Kubrick version. Granted, I havent seen the other one--but this one is just fine by my book. I love strange movies, and Kubrick is one of my favorite directors. Its all about the small things--how many of yall noticed the bloody handprint on the dress of the woman that caused the waiter to spill the drinks, setting off the madness? Or that the sound playing in the car as they drive up to the hotel talking about the Donner party is the sound of the kid rolling across the carpet on his tricycle? Its a very surreal movie, which I like a lot. I realize it isnt very true to the book, but thats OK.

I agree with the arguments that the TV one was better, since King supervised it. But the Kubrick one did have it's strong points. Nicholson was one of them.

I love the opening shot of the Kubrick one... an amazing shot for its time. Now that same kind of single shot is common in most openings.

Amen.
The TV movie was flat, poorly directed, unintentionally hilarious.

Apples and Oranges... You also have to remember that the film version was shot in the 70s (and released in 1980)... it has a totally different aesthetic than what gets passed off as film today.

I would rather see the Dark Tower/Gunslinger series done Cowboy Bebop adult anime style.

I saw both...MUCH preferred Kubrick's version...although neither of them were anywhere near as awesome as the book. I always thought shelley did a good job playing Wendy....to me it was a great transfer from the book.... she was SUPPOSED to be annoying...at least I always thought so anyway, and Jack Nicholson....words do not describe how great an actor I think he is

I thought Shelley Duval was cute in the movie... and Jack put in a very convincing performance, I dont think anyone else could have played the role quite like that. I've read the book and seen Kubrick's film, never seen the TV version... to be honest I find Stephen King books a little irritating, his obvious self esteem issues and God complex seem to infest everything he writes, plus he does go on so...

Whoa, what movie are you talking about?

Its in the background of one of the later scenes, where wendy is running around inside the hotel. You see behind her that one of the hotel room's door is open.

EDIT: Oh yeah, that's the Kubrick version.

yep! that was a fucking odd scene... after seeing the simpsons shinning hollowween special, i knew everyhting that was gonna happen but i still loved the movie! worth the money. (never read the book or saw the tv movie)

It seems Kubrick had a talent for annoying authors. Steven King made his version of the film, only because he was so upset with Kubrick's version.

Anthony Burgess also hated Kubrick's Clockwork Orange.

After all this may dig out my copy and watch it again. I loved it when it first came out on vhs, must of watched around 10 times.
It is one of only few King adaptations that is good.

I was gonna ask the same question.. what is the point of this scene? I read and loved the book and I dont remember this, and I dont know what it does for the movie?

I think Kubrick did a much better movie. The other one may have been more faithful to the book, but it just wasn't scary. I'm sure the book itself is creepy, but just comparing the movies I think Kubrick did a far better job.

Anthony Burgess was upset about Kubrick's version of Clockwork Orange because Kubrick made it from the American version of the book. The British version has an extra chapter at the end that totally changes the book. An american publisher thought it was too much of a sappy feel good ending and took it out of the version Kubrick must have read.

I haven't read the book, but solely from wtaching the movie, I interpreted it as the "evil Hotel" beginning to crack Wendy as well (as it had already done to Jack).