The Shining 4K UHD (1980)

[edmoney]

Originally Posted by Matt89

I only saw the Euro cut for the first time a few years ago, whereas I've seen the North American cut maybe 20 times over the years. It's still the version I prefer, but after watching it the other night after not having seen the 144-min cut in maybe 5-6 years, I can see why some stuff was cut out and if this was the first time I was seeing the film, I likely would've been much more critical of its pacing. However, I also don't totally agree with everything that was cut out of the Euro version.

What I think was wisely cut out of the film:
- many of the scenes with Wendy, Jack and Ullman touring the hotel slow down the pace of the film
- Shots of Wendy wheeling the breakfast to Jack
- Shortened shots of Jack throwing the tennis ball
- Pretty much all of Hallorann's trip from Florida to Colorado and all that Sno-cat stuff
- the shot of Wendy in the kitchen with the TV anchor talking about the search for the "missing Aspen woman" feels unnecessary

What I feel should've stayed:
- the entire scene with the doctor, Danny and the ensuing conversation with Wendy where she explains Jack's drinking problem - I felt this was important development for both Danny's character and Jack's, showing that he was always kind of troubled. Even though he does seem kind of "off" with his personality anyway, there's not much mention at all of Jack's past regarding his alcoholism, the incident with Danny, etc in the Euro version.
- Jack's interview shouldn't have been shortened/removed, as it gave background on the history of the hotel - I feel that with this scene included, you can omit pretty much the entire sequence where Jack, Wendy and Ullman tour the hotel.
- the part at the end of the breakfast scene where Jack says he feels as though he'd been there before
- Wendy contemplating how her and Danny are gonna leave and the scene following where she tries to wake Danny up but is told by Tony that Danny isn't there anymore.

I'm kinda 50/50 on that shot of Wendy seeing the skeletons in The Gold Room. On one hand I feel like it's such a short scene that cutting it out feels unnecessary, but it also feels kind of hokey and doesn't exactly add much when Wendy already witnessed several apparitions.

I'd love for the Euro cut to be included alongside the North American version because they both represent Kubrick's vision and really should be included in the set. While it's easy for me to look past any kind of faults with the film due to my undying love for it, there definitely are some scenes that were smartly cut out of the Euro version even though I feel like it also cuts a bit too much. The Euro cut plays more like a straight horror film and gets right to the point whereas I feel that the North American cut is more of a slow burn and follows Jack's gradual descent into madness.

Oh and I can't remember who asked, but yes this new restoration features the white end credits. When was the last time they were blue? Laserdisc?

~Matt

I haven't viewed the Euro cut yet but am curious to see it and would love to have both versions offered on UHD. I think the US cut could benefit from some trims to tighten up the pacing a bit, and the ones you identified as wise cuts sound sensible to me. But if forced to choose to only have the existing US cut or the Euro cut, it would have to be the US cut. Losing the doctor scene is a non-starter for me. It would be great if there was some sort of hybrid "Final Cut" a la Blade Runner.

[Matt89]

Originally Posted by edmoney

I haven't viewed the Euro cut yet but am curious to see it and would love to have both versions offered on UHD. I think the US cut could benefit from some trims to tighten up the pacing a bit, and the ones you identified as wise cuts sound sensible to me. But if forced to choose to only have the existing US cut or the Euro cut, it would have to be the US cut. Losing the doctor scene is a non-starter for me. It would be great if there was some sort of hybrid "Final Cut" a la Blade Runner.

Yeah I feel like the scene with the doctor was the most unnecessary cut, and as a result makes Anne Jackson's name in the opening credits really strange as that was the only scene that featured her.

~Matt

[Raphdude]

Brian, just to confirm, was the cut you saw in 4K identical In content to the current USA blu, with no scenes cut or added? Thanks also thanks for answering the end credits question. The blue credits endi were on the Warner Home Video rental only vhs fromm1981. It was the first time I saw the film.

[Matt89]

Originally Posted by Raphdude

Brian, just to confirm, was the cut you saw in 4K identical In content to the current USA blu, with no scenes cut or added? Thanks also thanks for answering the end credits question. The blue credits endi were on the Warner Home Video rental only vhs fromm1981. It was the first time I saw the film.

If by "Brian" you mean me lol then yes, the 4K cut was the 144-min version that's always been available in North America. No further cuts or edits, it's the same as the US Blu-ray.

~Matt

[ROSS.T.G.]

Originally Posted by Matt89

If by "Brian" you mean me lol then yes, the 4K cut was the 144-min version that's always been available in North America. No further cuts or edits, it's the same as the US Blu-ray.

~Matt

Thanks Brian.

[Raphdude]

Originally Posted by Matt89

If by "Brian" you mean me lol then yes, the 4K cut was the 144-min version that's always been available in North America. No further cuts or edits, it's the same as the US Blu-ray.

~Matt

Thanks, Matt

[rocknblues81]

I don’t agree that that every movie has to have only scenes that are overly important. How can I buy characters as human beings if we don’t get screens with them functioning as human beings?

Plus the scenes where they tour the Hotel just makes it seem larger than life and it re-enforces that the Hotel is a big deal. Yeah, they might not be scenes that are must haves, but I’m still glad they’re there.

[brainofj72]

The worth of scenes should never be judged merely by whether they contribute to the plot/narrative/story. Cinema isn’t simply prose - it’s poetry too.

[Bronson13]

Yeah there’s this silly notion if something doesn’t contribute to the plot then you need to cut it out if the film. This is why the US cut is not only the superior cut of the Shining but it should be the only cut. Burn that god awful Euro cut. The Shining is supposed to be a slow burn horror film. Cutting it to speed up the runtime is criminal and I firmly believe Kubrick hated every minute of it. If the film got critical acclaim from the start I’m 99.9% positive that a Euro cut wouldn’t even exist.

It’s essentially just a damage control cut.

[JackForrester]

Originally Posted by matt89

the scene following where she tries to wake danny up but is told by tony that danny isn't there anymore.

That shot of wendy seeing the skeletons in the gold room.

🤮

[JackForrester]

Originally Posted by Bronson13

Burn that god awful Euro cut.

Burn yourself instead

[JackForrester]

Originally Posted by Matt89

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_c...&v=Z1J84DBeO8w

If this is correct, the 1985 Laserdisc actually was the last time it was issued on home video with the blue credits. I kinda like them more tbh, they match the credits for the opening of the film.

~Matt

I'm not 100% sure but I believe Poltergeist III had the same kind of change on home video. Blue letters on ending credits matching blue letters on opening credits, then the blue on ending credits was changed to white and it has been like that ever since.

[Amano]

Originally Posted by Bronson13

Yeah there’s this silly notion if something doesn’t contribute to the plot then you need to cut it out if the film. This is why the US cut is not only the superior cut of the Shining but it should be the only cut. Burn that god awful Euro cut. The Shining is supposed to be a slow burn horror film. Cutting it to speed up the runtime is criminal and I firmly believe Kubrick hated every minute of it. If the film got critical acclaim from the start I’m 99.9% positive that a Euro cut wouldn’t even exist.

It’s essentially just a damage control cut.

In your opinion.

Which is certainly not mine and probably not Kubrick's.

[Kyle15]

Are we back to "we have to state we're giving opinions on a forum and let everyone know their opinions are just opinions otherwise it means we're trying to project facts" phase of the thread again?

[Bronson13]

Originally Posted by JackForrester

Burn yourself instead

You got some problems don’t you?

[Takeshi666]

I think the euro cut is the better of the two, and not because it's the one I saw first. I agree there are a few scenes that should've stayed, but overall it's a far better paced film and, without all the excursions to Halloran's trip to the hotel and Danny watching cartoons on a TV set, a more claustrophobic one.

[Alister_M]

Eh, Halloran's near-instant demise is nowhere near as darkly humorous without all that buildup to his arrival.

[Bronson13]

Originally Posted by Alister_M

Eh, Halloran's near-instant demise is nowhere near as darkly humorous without all that buildup to his arrival.

100% agree. You think that Kubrick is building up to this big finale where Halloran saves the day only to get axed seconds after he gets there.

[KevinStriker]

Originally Posted by Bronson13

100% agree. You think that Kubrick is building up to this big finale where Halloran saves the day only to get axed seconds after he gets there.

It's one of my favourite subversions Kubrick makes of the novel where he does just that.

[KubrickKurasawa]

Originally Posted by Kyle15

Are we back to "we have to state we're giving opinions on a forum and let everyone know their opinions are just opinions otherwise it means we're trying to project facts" phase of the thread again?

Can you STOP posting? You add literally NOTHING.

[Show spoiler]FACT

It would be nice if people just posted what they like about the movie or tech details...carry that on in PM.