The Shining (1980)

[eiknarf]

Originally Posted by English Patient

I think the hedge maze that Kubrick used was much better than the hedge animals - the maze is just such a great, sinister symbol, with echoes of the Greek labyrinth and minotaur myths.

I think maybe people's preference for the movie or the book depends on which one you were exposed to first. I read the novel before I really saw the movie all the way through.

Plus, the way the camera pans through the maze during Wendy's and Danny's tour in the beginning ("Selfie POV") is identical to the way the camera pans through the kitchen during Wendy's and Danny's tour via Hallorann. It's genius.

It's absolutely done on purpose.

As a matter of fact, I believe the tour through the maze and the tour through the kitchen have them make the same "left and right" turns.

[English Patient]

Originally Posted by eiknarf

Plus, the way the camera pans through the maze during Wendy's and Danny's tour in the beginning ("Selfie POV") is identical to the way the camera pans through the kitchen during Wendy's and Danny's tour via Hallorann. It's genius.

It's absolutely done on purpose.

As a matter of fact, I believe the tour through the maze and the tour through the kitchen have them make the same "left and right" turns.

Wendy even tells Halloran during the initial tour that the place feels "like such an enormous maze, I feel I'll have to leave a trail of breadcrumbs every time I come in here." I think Kubrick was very good at subtly and not-so-subtly reinforcing themes and images in the movie. Mazes, mirrors, fairy tale/folklore references... there are probably lots more that I'm forgetting.

[Dr. Pavel]

does anybody know storyline/kayfabe reasons why the maze wasn't visible from air? i guess it's just speculation like everything else within the film. i know what the real life reasons were, but why did stanley put it that way in the edit?

[TheHutt]

Originally Posted by Dr. Pavel

does anybody know storyline/kayfabe reasons why the maze wasn't visible from air?

You mean this maze?

[bobbyh64]

Looks like a computer circuit.

[MassiveMovieBuff]

The maze was a genius decision.

I also love the gorgeous cinematography during the climax with the lights having a bluish white color rather than their natural yellow color to go wonderfully with the snow.

[BladeRunner2007]

About to pick up the mini series. Haven't seen it since it aired on TV. I think it's gonna suck, but I really liked It & The Stand, so I'll give it a try...

[Todd Tomorrow]

Originally Posted by English Patient

I think the hedge maze that Kubrick used was much better than the hedge animals - the maze is just such a great, sinister symbol, with echoes of the Greek labyrinth and minotaur myths.

I think maybe people's preference for the movie or the book depends on which one you were exposed to first. I read the novel before I really saw the movie all the way through.

In the novel the topiary animals are very spooky but that works far better in descriptive writing than it would do visually. The thing which is so creepy is that they only move when they aren’t being looked at.

[English Patient]

Originally Posted by Todd Tomorrow

In the novel the topiary animals are very spooky but that works far better in descriptive writing than it would do visually. The thing which is so creepy is that they only move when they aren’t being looked at.

Exactly. It's very eerie and subtle in the book, and you're right, the thing that makes it work is the fact that they only move when they're not being observed. Unfortunately, in the mini-series, the filmmakers got carried away and decided to animate them, which looked terrible. Pretty much everything in the mini-series was heavy-handed and unsubtle, even if the script was more faithful to the book.

[Member-167298]

Originally Posted by Todd Tomorrow

The thing which is so creepy is that they only move when they aren’t being looked at.

Like the Weeping Angels on Doctor Who! I wonder if Steven Moffat was inspired by The Shining?

[Blu Ray McHone]

This will no doubt be a "revelation" on 4K. I really hope when it is released, they don't mess it up.

[Todd Tomorrow]

Originally Posted by PrestonXI

Like the Weeping Angels on Doctor Who! I wonder if Steven Moffat was inspired by The Shining?

The only Doctor Who episode I really enjoyed.

[surfdude12]

Originally Posted by PrestonXI

Like the Weeping Angels on Doctor Who! I wonder if Steven Moffat was inspired by The Shining?

Also like kids in Orphanage

[RedHarvest]

Originally Posted by BladeRunner2007

About to pick up the mini series. Haven't seen it since it aired on TV. I think it's gonna suck, but I really liked It & The Stand, so I'll give it a try...

I don't think it's terrible by any means. I haven't watched it in a while, but I have revisited it several times over the years. When watching this version, you just can't compare it to the Kubrick film. If you do, you're only setting yourself up for disappointment. But viewed as an adaptation of the Stephen King novel, it does work in several places, and it conjures an appropriately creepy and haunted atmosphere for most of its runtime. This is not as good as Mick Garris's the Stand, but the cast is good (except for the kid playing Danny, who's horrible), it's in the original hotel, the runtime is appropriate for the story, and it's a faithful adaptation of the book. Wouldn't mind getting it on Blu-ray, either. I've asked Mick Garris about HD transfers of his work, and he claimed the Stand is the only one that could not easily happen, due to the way it was filmed.

[FilmNerdJamie]

This seems inevitable for Criterion, right?

[Chaz05]

Walmart had an exclusive red slipcover for this when I was there yesterday.

[Axl Rose]

Originally Posted by FilmNerdJamie

This seems inevitable for Criterion, right?

I'd say a 4k release from Warner is more likely.

[Bobbyjoe766]

One definite improvement from translating the book to film was the use of an axe instead of a roque mallet.

[OneWayFilms]

Originally Posted by Chaz05

Walmart had an exclusive red slipcover for this when I was there yesterday.

I never bought this movie, thought about it a million times, then saw this beaituful new slipcover and it was only $7.50. I finally got it.

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[Zillamon51]

Originally Posted by FilmNerdJamie

This seems inevitable for Criterion, right?

Originally Posted by Axl Rose

I'd say a 4k release from Warner is more likely.

Pfft. I'm waiting for the version with ugly modern CGI video game characters running through it.