Movie Club Edition Seven: The Shining - SPOILERS

RanzB

RanzB

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****The discussion starts Monday 20th April 2015****

The Shining is a 1980 British-American psychological horror film produced and directed by Stanley Kubrick, co-written with novelist Diane Johnson, and starring Jack Nicholson, Shelley Duvall, Danny Lloyd, and Scatman Crothers. The film is based on Stephen King's 1977 novel of the same name, although the film and novel differ in significant ways.
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**A review is encouraged, and a star review out of 5 is preferred over a /10 score.

0 - Couldn't finish it was so bad
1- Horrible
2 - Very Bad
2.5 -OK <- just to be in the middle
3 - Good/Very Good
4- Excellent
5 - Perfect

Previous Discussion Threads:
1. Vertigo
2. Chinatown
3. Blue Velvet
4. Angel Heart
5. Porco Rosso
6. Fargo
 
"Heeeerreeee's Fanny!"

Well, at least now I know the reason why Jack is the way it is... and those facial expressions when he loses his cool. Priceless.

My favourite scenes were those in the gold ballroom (?, i think it was called) with the barmen... awesome awesome. Such a contract in personality for Jack in those moment, to the rest of the movie.

Absolutely loved it!!

4.5star-rating.png
 
Is this the best horror movie ever? Not in my opinion. It's too over the top, and has aged rather badly. Does it still work as a layered commentary on several subject matters, including abuse, family history repeating itself and (as I've seen suggested) a metaphor for how the settlers treated the American Indians? I guess so, depending on how deep you want to go, and whether you want to analyse every frame multiples of times and compare them with other frames, again multiple times. And hey, if you don't, someone already has, here.

By all accounts Kubrick was a crazy ****er during the set of this movie, making at least two of the actors break down, and his attention to detail is meticulous, bordering on the insane. I haven't seen many other Kubrick movies, but at the very least, the effort he puts into making his movies makes me want to see more. The Shining, however, gets a 3/5 for me.
 
Seems like load shedding tonight is 8-10 so that's perfect, I'll load it on the iPad and watch it in the dark. Otherwise there's too many other things I need to do.
 
Randhir said:
Is this the best horror movie ever? Not in my opinion. It's too over the top, and has aged rather badly. Does it still work as a layered commentary on several subject matters, including abuse, family history repeating itself and (as I've seen suggested) a metaphor for how the settlers treated the American Indians? I guess so, depending on how deep you want to go, and whether you want to analyse every frame multiples of times and compare them with other frames, again multiple times. And hey, if you don't, someone already has, here.

By all accounts Kubrick was a crazy ****er during the set of this movie, making at least two of the actors break down, and his attention to detail is meticulous, bordering on the insane. I haven't seen many other Kubrick movies, but at the very least, the effort he puts into making his movies makes me want to see more. The Shining, however, gets a 3/5 for me.
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I think the key to these questions lies with Stephen King and his writing in general. I loved this book as well as the recent follow up: "Doctor Sleep".

The first time I watched this movie many moons ago, I was scared shictless by the that woman/thing in the bath. Liewe jirre...!!

JN was the flavour of the year when this movie was made, but that was lucky for us, as he is perfect in this manic portrayal. But the movie has become dated in some aspects.

A good movie, but by no means a classic.

3.5/5
 
MightyQuin said:
I think the key to these questions lies with Stephen King and his writing in general. I loved this book as well as the recent follow up: "Doctor Sleep".

The first time I watched this movie many moons ago, I was scared shictless by the that woman/thing in the bath. Liewe jirre...!!

JN was the flavour of the year when this movie was made, but that was lucky for us, as he is perfect in this manic portrayal. But the movie has become dated in some aspects.

A good movie, but by no means a classic.

3.5/5
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I used to love King's books when I was younger, but his lack of editing gets to me now. Also, Kubrick changed the movie completely. Just the bare bones of the novel remain.
 
Still didn't get to watch this last night. Hopefully tonight we can get to it.

Randhir - definitely check out the rest of Kubrick's movies. I've seen most of them except the very early ones like The Killing.
 
cerebus said:
Still didn't get to watch this last night. Hopefully tonight we can get to it.

Randhir - definitely check out the rest of Kubrick's movies. I've seen most of them except the very early ones like The Killing.
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+1, especially Dr Strangelove.
 
3.5 / 5 (many years ago, it would have gotten 4.5).

The movie works as a drama about a dysfunctional marriage \ family while the creepy horror bits add atmosphere but feel a bit irrelevant now. The performances are great from Nicholson, Halloran and the little boy...the lady got on my nerves a bit after awhile.

I read that Kubrick made the cast do numerous takes till they were on the verge of mental exhaustion and it shows...there's a subtle frenzy to what's going on that smacks of barely-contained hysteria. Within the cavernous spaces and claustrophobic hallways (which don't actually seem to fit the exterior views of the hotel?), there's a sense of enormous pressure being built.

As mentioned, I like the people dynamics and the whole slow disintegration into madness trip but the horror elements don't stand up today in terms of being a coherent part of the story. I can't pretend to like the photograph which tries to load one more layer of improbability into the equation. Ghosts opening freezers and a disintegrating protagonist weren't enough...now he's been reincarnated and come back to the same hotel? Has the hotel ghost paparazzi photo-shopped him in there? Is anything we're watching actually happening or is Jack a ghost being manipulated by other ghosts?

Maybe the movie shouldn't be analysed that way and should be viewed as atmospheric but I like things to make sense a bit more than The Shining did. Also, the book is better.
 
cerebus said:
Still didn't get to watch this last night. Hopefully tonight we can get to it.

Randhir - definitely check out the rest of Kubrick's movies. I've seen most of them except the very early ones like The Killing.
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I've seen Eyes Wide Shut, Full Metal Jacket, A Clockwork Orange and The Shining, so mostly later work. I really want to watch Dr Strangelove and Lolita.
 
Randhir said:
I've seen Eyes Wide Shut, Full Metal Jacket, A Clockwork Orange and The Shining, so mostly later work. I really want to watch Dr Strangelove and Lolita.
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Don't miss 2001: A Space Odyssey, and Barry Lyndon seems to gain in favour over time although I'm not sure I enjoyed it very much 20 years ago.
 
Neoprod said:
3.5 / 5 (many years ago, it would have gotten 4.5).

The movie works as a drama about a dysfunctional marriage \ family while the creepy horror bits add atmosphere but feel a bit irrelevant now. The performances are great from Nicholson, Halloran and the little boy...the lady got on my nerves a bit after awhile.

I read that Kubrick made the cast do numerous takes till they were on the verge of mental exhaustion and it shows...there's a subtle frenzy to what's going on that smacks of barely-contained hysteria. Within the cavernous spaces and claustrophobic hallways (which don't actually seem to fit the exterior views of the hotel?), there's a sense of enormous pressure being built.

As mentioned, I like the people dynamics and the whole slow disintegration into madness trip but the horror elements don't stand up today in terms of being a coherent part of the story. I can't pretend to like the photograph which tries to load one more layer of improbability into the equation. Ghosts opening freezers and a disintegrating protagonist weren't enough...now he's been reincarnated and come back to the same hotel? Has the hotel ghost paparazzi photo-shopped him in there? Is anything we're watching actually happening or is Jack a ghost being manipulated by other ghosts?

Maybe the movie shouldn't be analysed that way and should be viewed as atmospheric but I like things to make sense a bit more than The Shining did. Also, the book is better.
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Which is released when the boiler blows up...
 
No one noticed I used a "has" with "paparazzi" which is plural...and you guys call yourselves critics? Where's Cerebos? :)
 
Randhir said:
I used to love King's books when I was younger, but his lack of editing gets to me now. Also, Kubrick changed the movie completely. Just the bare bones of the novel remain.
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Yeah, I definitely don't remember any American Indian stuff happening in the novel.

So was Poltergeist also about the ill-treatment of American Indians? I guess so.
 
Neoprod said:
No one noticed I used a "has" with "paparazzi" which is plural...and you guys call yourselves critics? Where's Cerebos? :)
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Too busy arguing about R1600 meals. And the answer is yes, Poltergeist also has an Indian subtext.
 
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3.5/5 from me.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Shining. The setting in an hotel in the mountains makes it ageless and apart from the clothes and slightly dated special effects I thought it could have been made recently.

The casting was perfect. Although JN slightly overacted, his descent into madness was incredibly well portrayed and even his stance and body language seemed to change as time went by. Talking in that quiet voice gave the impression of pent up emotion boiling inside waiting to explode. I found myself holding my breath in anticipation of that happening. His wife was excellent as the mousey partner and the child is a very convincing little actor.

I loved the scenes where the little boy rode up and down the hotel passages in his go cart with the sound of floor, carpet, floor, carpet, floor, carpet..... Just one example of how Kubrick masterfully integrates sound / music into this film.

I paid very little attention to the ideas of ghosts, hauntings and the "shining" but watched the film as an entertaining movie that didn't make terribly much sense, but then again Stephen King has never appealed to me. Even at the height of his popularity I couldn't be bothered with his stories.
 
We get it Mr Kubrick. You love to shoot symmetrical corridor shots. Hasnt aged well and often found myself starring at my watch.

A bit self indulgent and overcooked saved by a good performance from the young Danny. Could've been a bit shorter.

3/5
 
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