The Shining (1980)

[Riddhi2011]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

Um, TOWTP was saying that the Swedish database corroborates - i.e. supports - your assertion that it was 1.66.

Read carefully, always!

Thanks for pointing this out! I misread it as "does not corroborate." I apologize to the original poster and have added a corrigendum at the bottom of my original post.

But the Swedish website does confirm an official 1.66:1 version. So I don't see why Warner won't release one. Criterion could definitely do it!

[Geoff D]

Corrigendum: my new favourite word.

[Riddhi2011]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

Corrigendum: my new favourite word.

Yeah, I worked as a Sub-Editor for an English daily. They use it often.

[Eye Candy]

Guess Who ???

[Show spoiler]It's Lisa and Louise Burns, http://40.media.tumblr.com/d0091d42e...8p5o1_1280.jpg the actresses who portrayed the Grady Twins in The Shining, pose with actor Joe Turkel, who played Lloyd the Bartender. They reunited at the Mile High Horror Film Festival in Denver Colorado.

[Azyiu]

And you know what?

My wife and I just re-watched this classic last night! Out of the blue she asked if I could play this again.

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by Azyiu

And you know what?

My wife and I just re-watched this classic last night! Out of the blue she asked if I could play this again.

Dude I watched it last night too!!!!!!!

...not even kidding.

That's kind of weird.

[applemac]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

Dude I watched it last night too!!!!!!!

...not even kidding.

That's kind of weird.

I did as well...I always watch it in October for Halloween. Maybe we all have the shining...

[I KEEL YOU]

After reading up on all kinds of information about Kubrick and aspect ratios on The Shining, it's become pretty clear that he composed for both formats. The same is true for Full Metal Jacket and Eyes Wide Shut. Therefore, I wanted to own both formats and decided to get the old 4:3 DVD again off eBay. So I re-visited The Shining in this format the other day.. I honestly think that this film makes more of an impact in this format, if the screen is big enough:





The hallway shots in particular are more impactful IMO:





It's more of a vertical film than horizontal. The camera moves more forward and back than it does side to side, which is what steadicam is especially suitable for, unlike smooth horizontal movement which could be achieved with a dolly for decades before The Shining was made. It's a shame that the movie is probably forever stuck on DVD in this format, but nonetheless I found the DVD to be serviceable on my Oppo, as long as it's the remastered DVD and not the original DVD that looks poor.

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by applemac

I did as well...I always watch it in October for Halloween. Maybe we all have the shining...

Dude you're kind of freaking me out.

[SuperFlyHighGuy]

I also only watch this on DVD in 4:3. Had the bluray and watched it twice and decided to sell it. The Shining looks much better in academy ratio to me, same with Eyes Wide Shut. Though the DVD of that looks dreadful compared to the HD version, unfortunately.

[Eye Candy]

Originally Posted by SuperFlyHighGuy

I also only watch this on DVD in 4:3. Had the bluray and watched it twice and decided to sell it. The Shining looks much better in academy ratio to me, same with Eyes Wide Shut. Though the DVD of that looks dreadful compared to the HD version, unfortunately.

After watching some of The Shining on Blu, I donated it to the Public Library. I also prefer it in 4:3. And like others mentioned, I felt compelled to watch The Shining a few nights ago . . . cue Main Title:

The Shining Soundtrack OST - Main title (HQ) - YouTube

[billyearle]

Originally Posted by I KEEL YOU

The hallway shots in particular are more impactful IMO:





It's more of a vertical film than horizontal. The camera moves more forward and back than it does side to side, which is what steadicam is especially suitable for, unlike smooth horizontal movement which could be achieved with a dolly for decades before The Shining was made. It's a shame that the movie is probably forever stuck on DVD in this format, but nonetheless I found the DVD to be serviceable on my Oppo, as long as it's the remastered DVD and not the original DVD that looks poor.

Thanks for posting that. That hallway shot is striking.
I see listing for a 2010 DVD and a 2001 both with the same cover saying remastered. I saw there's a 2007 2 DVD set as well. I know it would be safer to just get the 2010, but is there a way to tell? (In Japan a 2002 one with the same cover is a hell of a lot cheaper, but I don't want to risk it.)

[Geoff D]

I've still got the DVD boxset with the remastered 4:3 features in, snapper cases and all.

I watched Barry Lyndon (which is at about 1.60:1) just the other night and for a non-anamorphic DVD it looked rather nice. I sold the BDs I had a while ago, not because I'm a fiend for the 4:3 (I like both versions) but them tired old HD DVD encodes REALLY need laying to rest.

[Eny-]

I watched The Shining upside down and decided that I prefer it that way. I think that Kubrick also composed for that.

I wish Warner would issue an upside down, 1.33 and 1.85 seemless branching special edition.

[Bob Kramer]

Originally Posted by Eny-

I watched The Shining upside down and decided that I prefer it that way. I think that Kubrick also composed for that.

I wish Warner would issue an upside down, 1.33 and 1.85 seemless branching special edition.

https://vimeo.com/53766925

[I KEEL YOU]

Originally Posted by billyearle

Thanks for posting that. That hallway shot is striking.
I see listing for a 2010 DVD and a 2001 both with the same cover saying remastered. I saw there's a 2007 2 DVD set as well. I know it would be safer to just get the 2010, but is there a way to tell? (In Japan a 2002 one with the same cover is a hell of a lot cheaper, but I don't want to risk it.)

There's a really easy way of seeing which one is remastered. If it says "DIGITALLY RESTORED AND REMASTERED" under the "STANLEY KUBRICK COLLECTION" blue line, then it's the remastered one. But don't get the 2 disc special edition DVD, which is essentially the same as the blu ray. Here are some covers to avoid confusion:

First 1.33:1 DVD:



Remastered 1.33:1 DVD:



Special Edition 1.85:1 DVD (same as blu ray, but in standard definition):



DVDbeaver has a great comparison, in which you can also see how poor the very first DVD release looks:

http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film/DVDCompare/shining.htm

It's also worth to check out Full Metal Jacket framing differences:

http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film/DVDRev...tal-jacket.htm

I still very much like my blu ray of The Shining (both cuts, which I'll also get of the 1.33 remastered DVD), and the blu ray is definitely not going anywhere because we know that Kubrick composed for BOTH aspect ratios when he filmed it. Especially because the 1.33 DVD only has the making of documentary as a bonus feature.

We can fight over which one was his prefered one, but we can't fight over that he had both aspect ratios in mind. And personally, the 1.33 one makes a greater impact on me. If someone else likes the 1.85 better, that's fine with me.

[sjconstable]

Originally Posted by I KEEL YOU

We can fight over which one was his prefered one, but we can't fight over that he had both aspect ratios in mind. And personally, the 1.33 one makes a greater impact on me. If someone else likes the 1.85 better, that's fine with me.

The cinematographer says in the audio commentary that he composed the film for 1.66:1.

[I KEEL YOU]

Originally Posted by sjconstable

The cinematographer says in the audio commentary that he composed the film for 1.66:1.

Yes, and there is this very re-posted instruction note from Kubrick himself that mentions 1.33 and 1.85:



I would love to experience it in 1.66 as well. It might be the true sweet spot between the two. But of the two available on home video currently, I personally prefer the 1.33 one.

[sjconstable]

Originally Posted by I KEEL YOU

Yes, and there is this very re-posted instruction note from Kubrick himself that mentions 1.33 and 1.85:



I would love to experience it in 1.66 as well. It might be the true sweet spot between the two. But of the two available on home video currently, I personally prefer the 1.33 one.

That picture is referring to the fact that it would be projected at 1.85:1 in America. 1.66:1 is the European projected ratio which it was specifically composed for, artistically - with 1.33:1 and 1.85:1 being secondary for their respective purposes.

[eiknarf]

Originally Posted by Eny-

I watched The Shining upside down and decided that I prefer it that way. I think that Kubrick also composed for that.

I wish Warner would issue an upside down, 1.33 and 1.85 seemless branching special edition.

Haaaaaaaaa