The Shining (1980)

[kashif]

Originally Posted by GOMEZFAN69

I can't imagine wanting to watch a shorter version of The Shining as I think it's perfect.

Cant agree more. I have seen both versions and the US version is definitely superior than the UK cut version. The cut versions have some very nice scenes missing. I imported the US disc just because its not cut so if u want to buy this movie go for the US version since its region free as well. Every time I see this movie I just cant stop myself from saying "Wow". A masterpiece by Kubrick.

[#Darren]

Each version has it's strengths. I haven't watched the Euro version for a while, but to my memory it doesn't "spell it out" for the viewer as much as the US version - e.g the early hints of Jack's state of mind. It leaves you guessing a lot more. And it is faster paced.

I liked seeing all the other scenes in the US cut though (my BD viewing was my first viewing of the US cut).

[I KEEL YOU]

The international version feels more claustrophobic (which I think is the mood the movie is trying to build) and focuses the story on the three main characters completely isolated in the hotel:

All the actors aside from the main three have a significant percentage of their lines and and screen time cut. Two characters - the doctor and Hallorann's friend are completely cut out. Even though the three main actors have some of their lines cut, it isn't as noticeable as these smaller parts because the three main characters still have plenty of screen time. Another thing which really changed the atmosphere of the movie when seeing the U.S. cut for the first time is the fact that they watched TV so many times throughout the U.S. cut. No indication is given that they in fact can watch TV in the international cut, therefore giving an even greater sense of isolation. In fact, for a long time I thought the "no TV" joke in The Simpsons "The Shinning" was a reference to this.

[JimDiGriz]

Originally Posted by kashif

Cant agree more. I have seen both versions and the US version is definitely superior than the UK cut version. The cut versions have some very nice scenes missing. I imported the US disc just because its not cut so if u want to buy this movie go for the US version since its region free as well. Every time I see this movie I just cant stop myself from saying "Wow". A masterpiece by Kubrick.

Totally agree. When I got my first blu-ray player a few years back one of my priorities was The Shining. Soon as I found out the USA version was region-free I went for that one (probably the 5th time Ive bought The Shining on different formats). Id rather have more of this great film than less!

[mikesncc1701]

Originally Posted by #Darren

Each version has it's strengths. I haven't watched the Euro version for a while, but to my memory it doesn't "spell it out" for the viewer as much as the US version - e.g the early hints of Jack's state of mind. It leaves you guessing a lot more. And it is faster paced.

I liked seeing all the other scenes in the US cut though (my BD viewing was my first viewing of the US cut).

It's things like that, that actually make me weary of seeing the international cut. The Shining is a slow, methodical burn that builds until it explodes. Any more of a faster pacing than the US cut and I'd probably be turned off by it.

[Riddler The Slag]

Originally Posted by I KEEL YOU

If you knew about the history of the movie, you'd know that there was a very significant scene in a hospital after the movie's ending where Wendy is told that Jack's body could not be found and the movie ending with Ullman rolling a ball to Danny like the scene previously in the movie. But this scene was cut.

Tried hunting for it but this is all I could turn up.

[I KEEL YOU]

The international cut of The Shining does definitely NOT feel like it's faster paced to me. Shorter and faster paced is far from the same thing. Casino is a movie that is 3 hours long but it's very fast paced.

The 24 minutes that the international cut loses aren't because they made a bunch of 10 second shots 5 seconds shorter here and there, it's mostly because they've cut out entire scenes that take place away from the hotel or that include characters other than Jack, Wendy and Danny. All the long shots, close-ups meant to build the suspense and such are completely intact. If anything, the international cut of The Shining feels slower paced to me because there are much fewer changes of scenery away from the hotel and less focus on the non-Jack, Wendy and Danny characters.

[I KEEL YOU]

Originally Posted by Riddler The Slag

Tried hunting for it but this is all I could turn up.

It sure would've been awesome if they could've included this scene as an extra on the blu ray. It can't possibly be lost. Kubrick was a living legend long before 1980, I am sure they wouldn't lose something as new as this and have kept it somewhere.

[Rizor]

Originally Posted by I KEEL YOU

It sure would've been awesome if they could've included this scene as an extra on the blu ray. It can't possibly be lost. Kubrick was a living legend long before 1980, I am sure they wouldn't lose something as new as this and have kept it somewhere.

I seem to recall there was a report of a screening of this cut of the movie within the past year.

[KubrickFan]

Originally Posted by Filmmaker

I only mean to say that he second guessed himself, which some directors do to the detriment of their work (as with, arguably, Spielberg with THE TERMINAL, Lucas with the Special Editions of the STAR WARS trilogy, Coppola with APOCALYPSE NOW, Richard Kelly with DONNIE DARKO, etc.). The UK version plays like a too-rapid, Cliff's Notes version of its better U.S. edit and, when you place the two edits up against the flow of the rest of Kubrick's canon, the U.S. edit "fits" better.

So you don't watch the shortened (i.e. the only available one) 2001: A Space Odyssey either?
To me it seems that he managed to cut away most of the awkward (or just plain bad) acted scenes, while not butchering the movie itself, or its pace.

[shogun123]

Originally Posted by Rizor

I seem to recall there was a report of a screening of this cut of the movie within the past year.

I seem to recall seeing this version on ITV once years ago, there is a tracking shot of Barry Nelson walking down the corridor and turning into another corridor much like the tracking shots of Danny on his bike and Jack before he walks into the ballroom, Nelson then comes across Danny and throws him the yellow ball suggesting that Nelson's character is demonic.

[mzupeman]

I have the US Blu and I think the US version is pretty much flawless.

[I KEEL YOU]

Oh yeah, I think I mentioned this the scene where Wendy runs up to the room with skeletons is HORRIBLE! The international cut deserves mention as the superior cut alone on account of this awful scene being cut out of it.

Stanley must've been saying to himself "WTF was I thinking?", and that's why he cut it. It amazes me that something that something so corny which would only have been found scary in the silent era ended up in a Stanley Kubrick psychological horror film.

[Riddler The Slag]

Originally Posted by shogun123

I seem to recall seeing this version on ITV once years ago, there is a tracking shot of Barry Nelson walking down the corridor and turning into another corridor much like the tracking shots of Danny on his bike and Jack before he walks into the ballroom, Nelson then comes across Danny and throws him the yellow ball suggesting that Nelson's character is demonic.

Man I think I prefer this ending better. I would need to see it though. In words on a page, its great.

[Jompa]

I have only seen the international version. I saw what was cut on a other site. The cut scenes didn't look interesting to me, so i have the international version, which i am used to see. Also, just because it's longer, doesn't automatically make it better. IMBD says this:

"The 144 minute 'US version' is often erroneously called the Director's Cut when in fact director Kubrick regarded the 113 minute version as the superior cut of the film. When the film was released on home video in the US, Kubrick endorsed the shorter version of the film as the 'official' version."

[Filmmaker]

Originally Posted by KubrickFan

So you don't watch the shortened (i.e. the only available one) 2001: A Space Odyssey either?

How about we both agree to pretend you never asked something so lame?

[KubrickFan]

Originally Posted by Filmmaker

How about we both agree to pretend you never asked something so lame?

Sure. If you take back the lame things you said as well.

[I KEEL YOU]

Originally Posted by Jompa

Also, just because it's longer, doesn't automatically make it better. IMBD says this:

"The 144 minute 'US version' is often erroneously called the Director's Cut when in fact director Kubrick regarded the 113 minute version as the superior cut of the film. When the film was released on home video in the US, Kubrick endorsed the shorter version of the film as the 'official' version."

My experience is that this won't convince people one bit. People on this forum only use the "director preferred" argument when it suits their tastes. THEN they're the moral guardians of all that is ethical in film making. Otherwise they just ignore it, or even confront it: See the first release of The French Connection - the director approved transfer being blatantly attacked.

[Taco Tuesday]

GUYS

The worst part of all this is that the tennis ball and Danny's toys are PINK instead of YELLOW in the scene that leads up to him entering Room 237.

This bugs me SO much and it will never be fixed

[FruityOatyBar]

Originally Posted by I KEEL YOU

It sure would've been awesome if they could've included this scene as an extra on the blu ray. It can't possibly be lost. Kubrick was a living legend long before 1980, I am sure they wouldn't lose something as new as this and have kept it somewhere.

I wouldn't be surprised at all if the footage you mention was destroyed. After all, the footage Kubrick had cut from 2001 was destroyed per his direction. That said, I'd like to see it if it ever surfaces. DOn't think I'd like it cut into the film though since that's not how Kubrick wanted it.