The Shining (1980)

[#Darren]

Originally Posted by shrieker

The European and Australian Blu-rays are the shortened international version. Only the U.S release is the full length version.

SH*T, glad I imported the US version then, as I'm in Australia.

[demoni]

Originally Posted by Vincent Pereira

I don't think that's what Lyle is talking about. I think he's referring to the fact that for the first limited week of theatrical release in the U.S., THE SHINING had an additional scene during the climax that Kubrick then had cut from the film. *SPOILERS* In between Jack collapsing and freezing in the maze and before the long tracking shot that closes in on the photo on the wall that ends the film, there was originally a scene with Danny and Wendy in the hospital recovering from their ordeal and being visited by Mr. Ullman, the man who originally hired Jack for the job. Kubrick decided during that opening week of release that this scene broke up the momentum of the climax of the film and decided to remove it, and he had it physically spliced out of the prints in circulation, and it's never been seen sense.

Vincent

Thanks for this info! I'm a huge fan of The Shining (I'm ranking this as one of the best horror films of all time), and I didn't know about this.

[rattyfinky]

This is one of my all time fav movies 10/10 on BD it will never look as good as this trust me!! go buy it!!

[demoni]

And this is the first time it's available in 16:9 as well...? Right?

[dmb70]

Great PQ, best this movie has ever looked on home video.
The commentary by Garrett Brown is great to, as is the making of doc by Vivian Kubrick. Highly recommend this blu!

[Lacit170]

Originally Posted by Packerfan75

Awesome restoration. The picture is spectacular. The sound is still mostly mono but is clean and clear. If you like the movie, it's a no-brainer buy. When you get it, check out the mountains on the driive to the hotel at the beginning and Jack's jacket during his interview.

why.. what am i looking for?

[Lacit170]

Originally Posted by reece

o i had no idea...is it legit?

Stephen King made the mini series.... its does not compare to kubricks imo.... Its a lil more Sci-Fi

[Gremal]

Originally Posted by Lacit170

why.. what am i looking for?

Lifelike resolution and depth.

[AKORIS]

People!!! Why is this even being discussed??? It's $13.99 on Amazon--
it's a classic horror film! The picture is the best it's EVER looked!

shut up and buy it!!

[demoni]

Originally Posted by AKORIS

People!!! Why is this even being discussed??? It's $13.99 on Amazon--
it's a classic horror film! The picture is the best it's EVER looked!

shut up and buy it!!

hehe, hail to the king!!!!!!!!!

[Travis]

The version of The Shinig I have on DVD is 4:3, it states on the back, THIS FEATURE IS PRESENTED IN THE FULL ASPECT RATIO OF THE ORIGINAL CAMERA NEGATIVE, AS STANLEY KUBRICK ATTENDED.

So, my question... Is the blu-ray cropped at the top and bottom to make it widescreen, or was the original theatrical release wide?

Review states 1.78:1, specs here and amazon say 1.85:1, what is it?

I hate movies being cropped and portions of the film be taken away.

Also my DVD is region 3, from Hong Kong, and 120 minutes. What is the definitive running time 120, 144, 96? I'm assuming 144 is the one to have.

[scweb13]

According to the "technical specs" at IMDB

Aspect ratio
1.37 : 1 (negative ratio)
1.66 : 1 (theatrical ratio, Europe)
1.85 : 1 (theatrical ratio, USA)

[Seretur]

Kubrick intended to have the full camera negative for the home video presentation back in the days of 4:3 screens, similar to the more recent open matte presentations.

The film itself was usually matted in its theatrical presentations, and was shot in such a way that the picture was composed for 1:1.85 screens -- there is visual evidence for that. And this is what the Blu-ray presentation gives you.

Also, Amazon is a bit careless in their info, but this is why we have this site.

BTW, the longer version on Blu-ray is the US version of the film; Kubrick cut some 20-odd minutes for international prints.

[Josh]

Kubrick was a big fan of home video, and thus wanted his films to fill up the entire screen, which at the time was 4:3. Today, the average screen is 16:9, and Kubrick would have wanted the entire screen filled for home video. The Blu-ray provides that.

[Dotpattern]

If I understand it correctly, Kubrick shot The Shining to serve 2 intentions: he shot in 4:3 with the intention of it being cropped for widescreen in theaters (he shot with more space above and below to accommodate the cropping) and so that no information would be lost on the sides for TV broadcast.

So on Blu-ray, you're seeing the theatrical presentation just as Kubrick intended.

I saw on a documentary once that Kubrick was upset that his movies shot in widescreen were being cropped left and right for TV broadcast, and therefore started shooting in 4:3, so that no information would be lost on TV, and no relevant information would be lost in the theaters.

[phansson]

You can do some research on the web, this is a highly debated topic.

From what I have read, "the shining" was originally shot in 4:3 aspect ratio with the intention of "zooming" the theatrical print to 1:1.85. Kubrick was apparantly not happy with the way "2001" was pan and scanned for TV (4:3)viewing. Thus he had control over how "the shining" would look on TV (open matte).

Here is a link to a picture over at AVS that talks about it.

AVS post by Dave Mack

[Grubert]

From the book The Stanley Kubrick Archives, page 452:


Note the faded red marker frame labeled "1-1.85", and the indication top right by Stanley Kubrick himself for the second unit:

THE FRAME IS EXACTLY 1-1.85
Obviously you compose for that
but protect the full 1-1.33 area.

End of discussion.

[The Big Blue]

I've seen the film many times & own the Blu. It was on tv the other night so I watched a few minutes and it struck me how many shots appear to be composed for 4:3.

This debate will live forever. Have fun.

[Grubert]

Originally Posted by The Big Blue

I've seen the film many times & own the Blu. It was on tv the other night so I watched a few minutes and it struck me how many shots appear to be composed for 4:3.

They are not.

http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film/dvdcom...g/5.04-new.jpg

http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film2/DVDRe...20PDVD_005.jpg

Look at all the dead space in the 4:3 frame. The composition is screwed up. And BTW, it's not even the full camera negative - it's cropped on the sides.

http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film/dvdcom.../18.21-new.jpg

http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film2/DVDRe...20PDVD_008.jpg

Same thing. No contest.

Additionally, read again the storyboard I posted above. "The frame is exactly 1.85:1." The debate is over.

[The Big Blue]

red xs

The story board you posted is great. It's the first time I've seen anything like that. Thanks. But it's not going to end the Great Kubrick AR Debate.

Grubert, are you saying that I can't find shots in the Shining that appear to be framed for 4:3.? That's all I'm saying.