Retro Review: The Shining (1443 hits)
Category: Movies & TVRating: 0.95 on 21 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by Sully (View user info) at 2004-08-16 15:45:04 EDT
Release: 1980
Jack Nicholson- Jack Torrance
Shelley Duvall- Wendy Torrance
Danny Lloyd- Danny Torrance
Scatman Crothers- Dick Hallorann
Barry Nelson- Mr. Ullman
Philip Stone- Mr. Grady
Joe Turkel- Lloyd the Bartender
Danny Lloyd's index finger- Tony
Story: 9/10
Jack Torrance is a writer who wants to be the caretaker of a gigantic hotel for the winter because he wants the peace and solitude to give him inspiration for a story. The hotel is emptied because of the road-blocking snowstorms during the winter, so Jack will move in with his wife and son and take care of it for five months. Mr. Ullman, the owner of the hotel informs Jack that the last caretaker went insane because of the isolation and killed his family. The tale doesn't faze Jack at all and he moves in. Jack's son, Danny, has clairvoyance which his parents don't know about and he senses that there is something treacherous about the hotel. He meets the hotel cook before he leaves, Mr. Hallorann and finds out that he too has the ability to see the future, or "shine." Every new day, Jack Torrance loses another marble and it's apparent. Soon he hallucinates rooms full of people including Delbert Grady, the last caretaker. Jack loses his sanity a little more each scene, and soon his wife and son are not safe at all. Danny's "shinings" are the last hope for survival.
Actors: 7/10
Jack Nicholson was the perfect part for the lead. He has that crazy, on the edge look to him already and his way of talking and moving is perfect for the part. I also enjoyed Scatman Crothers (aka the voice of Hong Kong Phooey) as the gifted Mr. Hallorann. My only complaints are about Shelley Duvall and Danny Lloyd. Duvall is probably one of the top ten ugliest actresses of all time. I swear that if the whole movie was just a still picture of her smiling, it would be the scariest movie ever. Her teeth are so huge and distracting and coupled with her greasy black hair and freakishly large eyes she's definitely a head turner....in the other direction. Danny Lloyd always mumbles to everyone and has a blank stare when he's having his "shinings." Lame. This is why kids shouldn't be actors.
Screenplay: 7.5/10
Stanley Kubrick did the best he could with the Stephen King novel of the same name. A lot of people argue that the lines of the movie and book are very different but I liked the dialogue very much.
Music: 9/10
A musical score is meant to cause certain feelings and add personality to a movie. The music for The Shining couldn't have been composed better. If it wasn't for the suspenseful theme running throughout the whole thing it'd be a very different experience.
Quality of Acting: 9/10
Jack Nicholson does an awesome job like always, in fact this might be his greatest role ever. Some would say that the point of seeing this movie is just to see him being Jack Torrance. Throughout the entire flick, titles are given for each scene, kind of like Pulp Fiction. On one day it shows "MONDAY" for example and then it showed Jack just staring out the window with a sinister yet blank expression. It went on to the next day directly, implying that that's what he did for all of that day. It's scenes like that, where an actor can just make an expression (or not make one) and still have a strong presence. Like I said before, Scatman Crothers does an awesome job as Halorann. Duvall and Lloyd, while people I wouldn't have chosen for the roles, do give decent performances. I'd say Lloyd was a complete piece of shit but his schizophrenic/telepathic scenes involving "the boy who lives in his mouth," aka Tony, absolutely own.
Camera Work/Cinematography: 9/10
Some of the best angles and use of scenery I've ever seen in a movie. There is a scene where Danny is riding his trike through the seemingly infinite halls of the empty hotel while the camera stays locked behind him. You just know that when he turns the next corner, anything could be there. I also liked the hedge maze camera work.
Director: 10/10
Stanley Kubrick is the man. This isn't his best movie but it's still a Kubrick film and Kubrick=awesome.
Keeps attention: 9.5/10
There was never a point where my attention was unfocused. You can't even look away or you might miss something important. The music remains suspenseful so you always think something's about to happen.
Running Time: 9/10
It's about 2 hours and 30 minutes. It seems long for a horror movie but surprisingly it fits perfectly. The time passes quickly.
Good use of nudity, violence, vulgarity: 7/10
While they do say 'fuck' a couple times and there's a naked chick in a bathtub, there was not enough violence. It had a reasonable amount but there could've been more. Also the nudity scene was completely ruined. If you've seen this movie you know what I'm talking about.
Overall: 8.6 out of 10
I'll close by saying that there was one particular scene that will haunt me for the rest of my days. I'm not sure the reasoning for the scene and what it has to do with the plot, but Shelley Duvall's character walks by a room with an open door and sees what appears to be someone in a dog costume giving head to some guy in a tuxedo. When the dog face looks out the door, there is an immediate close-up that will stay in my mind forever.
This is a great movie for fans of suspenseful horror, Kubrick, Nicholson, etc. It's one of my personal favorites and I recommend it if you've never seen it. Is it one of the scariest movies ever? Absolutely not. It might even be more suspense than horror. If you get pissed off when you see an ending that finishes without everything being answered, then you'll probably be displeased when The Shining's credits start rolling.
User Reviews
Submitted by kitchens_closed (user info) at 2004-08-23 00:26:52 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
To make up for Poo. (If you could do the same for me that'd be nice)
Submitted by Pooz (user info) at 2004-08-22 19:55:34 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
Submitted by SullyThePirate (user info) at 2004-08-22 19:43:37 (#)
Ranking: -2
What the hell? Are you banned yet?
Submitted by SullyThePirate (user info) at 2004-08-17 14:58:57 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Wow.
I kind of liked your style, the way you put quotes than talked about them. I think I'll try it.
"Here's the difference between you and me: I'm right. You're not."
You're already messing up. The two topics being discussed are 1) is Kubrick the man and 2) is A Clockwork Orange a good movie. So you saying you're right and I'm not is saying the general public is wrong and you're right. That's bold. You're calling decades of Kubrick fans and movie critics false. I highly doubt you're any kind of a movie fan if you think that The Shining is Kubrick's one and only good work. The real difference between you and me: I'm right. You're dead wrong.
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"The only people who "know" Kubrick is the man are short-sighted cuntrags who have no ability to judge a film based on its universal merit, and its ability to actually set a standard of quality to which future films aspire. It's interesting that his work is most popular among the deluded, pathetic post-GenX generations, the kind of people who have either an emotional breakdown or a rabid overprotectiveness once you ask them to justify their own existence."
Wow you sound almost intelligent. But no. You say the only people who know Kubrick, minus the pointless insult, are people who can't judge a film on actually how good a movie it is? So what are you saying? What else do they judge it on other than how much they liked it? Wow. You also say the only people who think Kubrick is the man are people who can't judge a film based on if it sets a standard for other films to aspire. That makes no sense whatsoever. Kubrick's films, especially "A Clockwork Orange" set the standard for decades to come. Every film involved in a violent and malicious nature almost always gets their inspirations from Kubrick films. He defined what it is to make an edgy movie that is good. He set the bar for all moviemakers to try and shock and entertain the audience as much as possible. You saying that Kubrick fans can't judge a movie based on how much it sets standards is completely contradicting. Furthermore, you ignorantly go on to say that the people who like his work the most are "deluded pathetic post-genX generations, the kind of people who have an emothional breakdown or a rabid overprotectiveness once you ask them to justify their own existence." What the hell? Did you just pull this out of your ass or something? There's absolutely zero proof of this you idiot. Making up long winded, supposed "facts" doesn't make you look intelligent, it makes you look like a failure. Your opinion, as I said before, doesn't matter. You're just one uninformed guy against millions of Kubrick fans. Saying that most of his followers are post-genX is already fucking up since most of his fans are earlier generations.
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"Tools like you are the abomination of the USA, and I can't wait until the next ultra-hip post-modernistic "i'm-cool-because-i'm-unique" emulation of idiocy takes your place."
Strong words. Don't forget the only two topics being argued are if Kubrick is the man or not, and is "A Clockwork Orange" a good movie or not. So you're saying "tools like me" are an abomination to the USA just because of liking a certain movie and director. You're ignorance never ceases to amaze. I guess you hadn't noticed that people have been Kubrick fans for nearly half a century. You foolishly assume people are just now starting to realize his brilliance and it's just a passing craze? What are you ten years old? Again, nothing to back up your observations. Nice job.
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"You do know blasphemy relates only to the defamation of god, do you not? I sure hope Kubrick doesn't rain hellfire and brimstone upon me!! If Clockwork is really one of the best movies you've ever seen, and you're not making an attempt at sarcastic humor, either a) you've not seen very many movies, or b) you're a tool."
I sure do know that, fucker. Try to notice hyperbolic expressions. Have you even seen Clockwork? If you doubt that it's not one of the greatest films of all time you're either a) easily offended and repulsed by over the top violence and sexuality, b) You haven't even seen it and just want people to think you have, c) mentally impaired ie. Autistic, or d) have no idea what makes a good movie. Choose one.
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Finally, your exact words were "Sully, you're a goddamn tool if you really think Kubrick was a genius. He seems to have understood this himself, since for his one shining moment he decided to make a film based on a book of the same name." Again calling me a tool. Most of the time anyone who calls someone a tool, is a tool. Quoting you, "ITS PPL LEIK U HOO R A ABOINIMATION TO THE US of A!!!1" You said Kubrick's one shining moment is because he decided to make an adaptation of a book. Some of his movies are adaptations and "The Shining" certainly is not his one shining moment. Again nothing to back up observation.
There is one word to describe you, Istaros: Ignorant.
Submitted by Istaros (user info) at 2004-08-16 19:13:20 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
"Your opinions don't matter. Kubrick is the man and everyone knows it."
Here's the difference between you and me: I'm right. You're not. It's not that big of a deal, really, just learn to live with it. The only people who "know" Kubrick is the man are short-sighted cuntrags who have no ability to judge a film based on its universal merit, and its ability to actually set a standard of quality to which future films aspire. It's interesting that his work is most popular among the deluded, pathetic post-GenX generations, the kind of people who have either an emotional breakdown or a rabid overprotectiveness once you ask them to justify their own existence. Tools like you are the abomination of the USA, and I can't wait until the next ultra-hip post-modernistic "i'm-cool-because-i'm-unique" emulation of idiocy takes your place.
"A Clockwork Orange is one of the best movies I've ever seen and probably Kubrick's best work. You calling it pure shit is blasphemous."
You do know blasphemy relates only to the defamation of god, do you not? I sure hope Kubrick doesn't rain hellfire and brimstone upon me!! If Clockwork is really one of the best movies you've ever seen, and you're not making an attempt at sarcastic humor, either a) you've not seen very many movies, or b) you're a tool.
"Besides The Shining isn't his first book based film because I know that A Clockwork Orange was based on a book moron."
I would be more inclined to think that the moron here is the person incapable of reading. I did not realize I claimed The Shining was Kubrick's first book adaptation -in fact, it would have been nice if somebody had told me in advance! There's NOTHING more infuriating than discovering I said something I never actually said!! Try again when your reading comprehension moves past the kindergarten level, kiddo.
Submitted by SullyThePirate (user info) at 2004-08-16 18:53:37 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by Istaros (user info) at 2004-08-16 18:37:21 (#)
Ranking: 1
Sully, you're a goddamn tool if you really think Kubrick was a genius. He seems to have understood this himself, since for his one shining moment he decided to make a film based on a book of the same name.
A Clockwork Orange: pure shit
2001: A Space Odyssey: not as bad as the rest, but still pretty shitty
Lolita: mediocre
Dr. Strangelove: except for Peter Sellers' presence, pure shit
Spartacus: mediocre
Eyes Wide Shut: this is the worst fucking piece of trash ever splooged onto a reel of film. I'd rather watch Japanese ass-caulking scat pornography than have to be subjected to this load of donkey-cum again.
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Your opinions don't matter. Kubrick is the man and everyone knows it. Maybe you don't like his style. A Clockwork Orange is one of the best movies I've ever seen and probably Kubrick's best work. You calling it pure shit is blasphemous. Besides The Shining isn't his first book based film because I know that A Clockwork Orange was based on a book moron.
Submitted by SullyThePirate (user info) at 2004-08-16 18:39:41 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
I don't care about spoiling endings anymore since everyone's basically seen it anyway.
Does anyone know what that whole Jack being in the 1921 picture was about? Was it because he was already dead or something?
Submitted by tomato-soup (user info) at 2004-08-16 18:38:22 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
much ado about nothing
Submitted by Istaros (user info) at 2004-08-16 18:37:21 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
Sully, you're a goddamn tool if you really think Kubrick was a genius. He seems to have understood this himself, since for his one shining moment he decided to make a film based on a book of the same name.
A Clockwork Orange: pure shit
2001: A Space Odyssey: not as bad as the rest, but still pretty shitty
Lolita: mediocre
Dr. Strangelove: except for Peter Sellers' presence, pure shit
Spartacus: mediocre
Eyes Wide Shut: this is the worst fucking piece of trash ever splooged onto a reel of film. I'd rather watch Japanese ass-caulking scat pornography than have to be subjected to this load of donkey-cum again.
Submitted by Wish_I_Were (user info) at 2004-08-16 18:29:39 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
This +2 is because the Shining...kicks ass.
The reason this isn't a "scary" movie is because Kubrick used it as a field for social commentary. Like, the scene where Nicholson has the axe on the other side of the door - in a horror movie, you wouldn't know when he was going to smash through; in The Shining, Kubrick shows you that because he's trying to say, "Isn't it fucking awful enough that a husband would chop up his wife...you sick fuck, this should scare you more." It's about the nuclear family. Stanley Kubrick is a fucking god, and he turned what was a mediocre Stephen King novel into a brilliant, symbolistic film.
Submitted by punchdrunk (user info) at 2004-08-16 18:13:26 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Full Metal Jacket also.
Submitted by SullyThePirate (user info) at 2004-08-16 17:02:49 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by Istaros (user info) at 2004-08-16 16:48:49 (#)
Ranking: 1
Kubrick was a premier at making masterpieces of shit. The Shining was beautiful, though.
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Idiot. Kubrick is a genius.
A Clockwork Orange
2001: A Space Odyssey
Lolita
Dr. Strangelove
Spartacus
even Eyes Wide Shut was pretty good. Viva la orgies.
Submitted by Degreeless_Capibara (user info) at 2004-08-16 16:55:29 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I'd say this was good, but not as good as Resevoir Dogs, which was just on Spike a couple nights ago.
Submitted by Istaros (user info) at 2004-08-16 16:48:49 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
Kubrick was a premier at making masterpieces of shit. The Shining was beautiful, though.
Submitted by bargled (user info) at 2004-08-16 16:39:06 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
+2 because Kubrick does own.
Submitted by domenad (user info) at 2004-08-16 16:21:46 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
"By the way if he was such a good 'shiner' why couldn't he sense that he was about to be gutted with an axe."
That reply just earned you a +2.
Submitted by SullyThePirate (user info) at 2004-08-16 16:16:17 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
He was born in 188 A.D. and back then the name "Scatman" was extremely popular.
By the way if he was such a good 'shiner' why couldn't he sense that he was about to be gutted with an axe.
Submitted by domenad (user info) at 2004-08-16 16:05:58 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
Scatman Crothers is the fucking MAN. He has been the man for centuries. I think he's somewhere around four hundred thousand years old.
"Wendy....let me explain something to you. Whenever you come in here and interrupt me you're breaking my concentration. You're DISTRACTING ME. And it will THEN TAKE ME TIME TO GET BACK TO WHERE I WAS. Understand?"
"Yeah."
"Good. Now we're going to make a new rule. Whenever I'm in here and you hear me typing...<click, click, click> or whether you DON"T hear me typing, whatever the fuck you hear me doing in here, when I'm in here it means that I am working. That means don't come in. Understand?"
"Yeah."
"Good. Now why don't you start right now and get the fuck out of here?"
Submitted by SullyThePirate (user info) at 2004-08-16 16:03:53 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Yeah I thought about not doing this because of your series but I figured you'd never review this anyway.
Submitted by maiorano84 (user info) at 2004-08-16 15:58:11 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
And don't take what I said seriously.
Submitted by maiorano84 (user info) at 2004-08-16 15:57:34 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
It was ok.
Way to steal my Back-From-The-Grave Review series.
Submitted by SullyThePirate (user info) at 2004-08-16 15:48:00 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Homer: No TV and No Beer Make Homer ... something something.
Marge: Go crazy?
Homer: Don't mind if I do!
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