Film Title: The Shining
Year: 1980
MPAA Rating: R
Length: 2 hours and 22 minutes
Film Genre: Horror / Thriller
Director: Stanley Kubrick
Producer: Robert Fryer
Writers: Stephen King
Players:
Jack Nicholson as Jack Torrence
Shelley Duvall as Wendy Torrence
Danny Lloyd as Danny Torrence
Scatman Crothers as Dick Hallorann
Plot: Jack Torrence is a ex school teacher working on a book deal. He agrees to take on the responsibility of winter caretaker of the Overlook Hotel high in the Colorado mountains. Isolated with his wife Wendy and their son Danny, the winter begins to draw long and the isolation begins to take its toll. Not to mention the mysterious history and activity that is going on in the hotel.
Acting: Jack Nicholson will freak you out! Nicholson is one crazy actor and in this movie his crazyness really shines. Danny Lloyd plays well against Nicholson as his slightly unhinged son. This movie consists of 5 major characters, Jack, Wendy, Danny, Dick and the Overlook Hotel/the Shining. The acting in this movie is top shelf considering there are only 5 major players, they all give performances that will stun you.
Cinematography Visual: Kubrick is brilliant with the camera, it is unfortunate most of his movies are for the most part completely strange. The camera angles and use of what i'll call the chase view are amazing. In this film the camera follows the actors several paces behind them, giving us the feeling that we are walking right behind them. The angles he uses to shoot close ups and the action really allows for the raw-ness of what is going on to come through. Also the use of colors adds alot to connect characters and set the tone of certain scenes.
Audio: When I watched it last: 2 days ago
What to watch for: Acting is great. The set is amazing (Overlook Hotel and surrounding grounds). The story is crazy and twisted which holds your attention. Watch out for little hints in the dialogue and other little details that make this movie stand out.
What to watch out for: Language, Nudity (really gross nudity, it is in the chapter called Room 237 for those wanting to avoid it altogether) slight gore and violence.
IMDB Rating: 8.4 out of 10
Roger Ebert Rating: Great movie (probably 4 stars)
The Cinema Standard Overall Score: I am in no way a fan of the modern Horror genre for its love of senseless violence and gore. However, with that said this movie is the measuring stick by which all Horror/Thriller movies should be measured. It will mess with your mind, your emotions and your view of reality and it does it all with limited gore and limited violence. 9.0 out of 10. Watch this movie!
--Reviewed by Jason
Cinema Standard - The Shining reviewed by Brady
1 comment:
I always wondered about the scene in the movie where Wendy sees two men in a room (one in costume) engaged in a sexual act. It's very random despite the fact that there is an entire backstory for the relationship in the book.
There seems to be a subtle theme or motif involving Native Americans (patterns, food labels) with mention of the hotel being built on an Indian burial ground. The end also seems to imply reincarnation (photo).
Kubrick's film is, in my opinion, somewhat darker than the book, especially involving Jack's character. Although the ending seems more satisfying than the book's, the book seems to add a bit of closure.
Not long ago, I watched the made-for-TV version of The Shining...
STEPHEN KING'S THE SHINING (1997)Notables: Steven Weber and Rebecca De Mornay
I won't elaborate too much on this, only to say that if you read the book, then you'll like this version of the movie. There is a lot of stuff that Kubrick left out when he made his movie in 1980. This one didn't have the atmosphere and chills of the original, but I liked getting to see the hedge animals come to life and FINALLY getting some closure as to where that guy in the dog mask, who Kubrick randomly threw in one scene, came from and who he was. Weber was on par with Jack Nicholson as Jack Torrance (although the character arc seemed to be missing), but the rest of the cast sucked (there was no chemistry between the family). Also stars Melvin Van Peebles and Elliott Gould (for like 5 minutes).
Post a Comment