The Shining (1980)

[JimDiGriz]

Originally Posted by IronWaffle

Poor emaciated Brit can't handle 'Murican Super-Sizes, SUVs and other Bigly things. All small and no big makes Geoff a dull boy. Now, can we all argue about the aspect ratio, like real film nerds? I kid, I kid. Carry on!

Hey! I'm a Brit and I much prefer the longer US cut! I grew up with just seeing the international cut and even now, the US cut still surprises because of the extra bits. I've got both cuts but its always the US cut for me.

[eiknarf]

Make your voice heard!!

Vote here:

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=294008

[Talal86]

I never watched the international cut, and I won't go out of my way to buy it separately. but if the the next release (UHD ) included both versions, I'd give it a watch

[Matt89]

Oooo fun a poll!

~Matt

[Matt89]

Originally Posted by Talal86

I never watched the international cut, and I won't go out of my way to buy it separately. but if the the next release (UHD ) included both versions, I'd give it a watch

I do think both versions should be available. It would be a nice addition to have both cuts, for completists' sake and clearly people have their preferences. It wouldn't have been hard for them to just seamlessly branch the scenes from the US cut onto the international cut. I know Kubrick specifically cut both versions for both territories but it seems strange to me that both aren't available as a choice.

~Matt

[Cook]

Originally Posted by eiknarf

"Hallorann scenes didn't need to be there"

I disagree.
Hallorann is literally the only character who gets murdered. Hallorann is literally the only character to explain what the shining actually is!
We should all agree that more Hallorann is understandable.

His journey to the Overlook in no way adds to his character nor does it add to his explanation of the shining. More Hallorann is only understandable if it benefits the film and those third act scenes of his journey to the Overlook certainly do not benefit the film. They hurt the pace of the climax, and they add nothing of value to the film or its story.

[eiknarf]

Originally Posted by Cook

His journey to the Overlook in no way adds to his character nor does it add to his explanation of the shining. More Hallorann is only understandable if it benefits the film and those third act scenes of his journey to the Overlook certainly do not benefit the film. They hurt the pace of the climax, and they add nothing of value to the film or its story.

That's blasphemous!!! Haaaa

But it reinforces just how isolated, far, and buried in the snow that damned hotel is. Giving the viewer anxiety

[crazybeats]

I was thinking of buying the new UK blu ray which has both the USA and UK versions on it but then I started thinking about UHD/4K. What are the chances of this movie being released again?

There is many reasons to believe the original ending is out there, including a theatre in America just a few years ago claiming to have an original copy before stating at the last minute they didn't have it. The talk at the time on the internet was they did have an original print and they were hushed by the Kubrick family at the last minute. I do believe they still have it.

http://observer.com/2011/09/new-york...ernate-ending/

And I believe Jan Harlan himself said that all Warner Bros have is odds and ends and bits and pieces but never said what they where. I think as long as Kubrick's wife is alive Warner Bros will respect Stanley's wishes but after that, who knows. They still have 19 minutes of 2001 Space Odyssey in pristine condition. They no doubt have plenty of stuff that could be included. Vivian Kubrick supposedly shot 18 hours of behind the scenes footage on The Shining but some of the sound tapes could not be found. That was reported years ago so that could have changed by now. She also recorded 15 hours of Full Metal Jacket footage which do have the sound tapes.

So hopefully in 3 years when the film turns 40 things will be different. So much bonus material could be made for this film.

[Bobbyjoe766]

Originally Posted by crazybeats

I was thinking of buying the new UK blu ray which has both the USA and UK versions on it but then I started thinking about UHD/4K. What are the chances of this movie being released again?

There is many reasons to believe the original ending is out there, including a theatre in America just a few years ago claiming to have an original copy before stating at the last minute they didn't have it. The talk at the time on the internet was they did have an original print and they were hushed by the Kubrick family at the last minute. I do believe they still have it.

http://observer.com/2011/09/new-york...ernate-ending/

And I believe Jan Harlan himself said that all Warner Bros have is odds and ends and bits and pieces but never said what they where. I think as long as Kubrick's wife is alive Warner Bros will respect Stanley's wishes but after that, who knows. They still have 19 minutes of 2001 Space Odyssey in pristine condition. They no doubt have plenty of stuff that could be included. Vivian Kubrick supposedly shot 18 hours of behind the scenes footage on The Shining but some of the sound tapes could not be found. That was reported years ago so that could have changed by now. She also recorded 15 hours of Full Metal Jacket footage which do have the sound tapes.

So hopefully in 3 years when the film turns 40 things will be different. So much bonus material could be made for this film.

I think the unused hospital ending still exists somewhere.

[myway]

Originally Posted by P-Rock

True, and the evil forces in the hotel just give him that little push.

If you compare it to the book it's an awful adaptation, but as a stand alone movie it's a masterpiece. Kubrick could've better opted for an 'inspired by' instead of a 'based on'.

The Shining was a very personal book for King, who was battling with his own alcohol addiction, so I get that he wasn't too pleased when Kubrick removed almost all the alcoholic addiction references. On top of that Kubrick also turned down King's script.

But not even King can deny this movie is a supernatural, psychological horror masterpiece.

But again, the alcoholism is still part of the story in the original version of the film.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by Filmmaker

I used the word "pleasurable". I would consider even a fitness nut (provided they weren't lactose-intolerant, the poor bastards) to concede that a bowl of ice cream is more pleasurable than just a bite, and any exceptions to that, in my book, are nuttier than fans of the U.K. cut of THE SHINING seem to think Jack Nicholson is from the word 'go'.

It's not just fans of the UK cut who say that, it's a semi-regular complaint about the film in general whenever the spectre of King's book is invoked.

Originally Posted by Cook

His journey to the Overlook in no way adds to his character nor does it add to his explanation of the shining. More Hallorann is only understandable if it benefits the film and those third act scenes of his journey to the Overlook certainly do not benefit the film. They hurt the pace of the climax, and they add nothing of value to the film or its story.

Halloran bringing along some more of those awesome nudey Nubian paintings wouldn't have gone amiss, that would've livened up his journey some.

[brian9229]

Originally Posted by Cook

His journey to the Overlook in no way adds to his character nor does it add to his explanation of the shining. More Hallorann is only understandable if it benefits the film and those third act scenes of his journey to the Overlook certainly do not benefit the film. They hurt the pace of the climax, and they add nothing of value to the film or its story.

Showing Halloran journey to the Overlook totally helps the movie by clearly showing there is an urgent need to get there, which naturally adds to the climax, along with flying from florida, driving a snowcat in the middle of a huge storm, all the way up a mountain, these things show the imediacy of the situation, and certainly do add to Hallorans characterization. I mean, the guy just ups and goes there! Let alone in the middle of a severe snow storm, and from fla! I don't know, but, that tells me a bit about the guy.

[Geoff D]

But we as audience members already know that there's an urgent need to get up there, and the extra effort perceived in the longer cut still ends up counting for nought when he promptly gets an axe buried in his chest. The extra stuff with Hallorann is partly what breaks the spell of the movie for me.

[eiknarf]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

But we as audience members already know that there's an urgent need to get up there, and the extra effort perceived in the longer cut still ends up counting for nought when he promptly gets an axe buried in his chest. The extra stuff with Hallorann is partly what breaks the spell of the movie for me.

All the more reason to show Hallorann's crazy long journey.... We're invested in him. And as sooooooon as he gets there: BAAMMMMM!! AXE IN THE CHEST!!

That's awesome!!! And so much more impactful

USA version!! USA version!!

[P-Rock]

Originally Posted by myway

But again, the alcoholism is still part of the story in the original version of the film.

It is, but it doesn't play a major part like in the book. In the film Jack's crazy from the beginning. The hotel/cabin fever makes the craziness come out.

The whole journey Hallorann undertakes to get back to the hotel is nicely shot and all, but its completely unnecessary. It's not like we don't know that he has to hurry. The movie tells the same thing without this (and other) scene(s). That the Overlook is a remote place is something we already know from the beginning of the movie too.

[jjk]

I have never seen the International cut (despite my avatar) but all this 'which is better' discussion just made me pull the trigger on the shorter cut from Amazon UK. Thanks.

[eiknarf]

Originally Posted by jjk

I have never seen the International cut (despite my avatar) but all this 'which is better' discussion just made me pull the trigger on the shorter cut from Amazon UK. Thanks.

Then vote when you're done

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=294008

[Geoff D]

It's more like blessed relief when Hallorann gets offed in the longer cut because I don't have to watch him travelling any more. In the shorter version I still actually like seeing him - like in the IMMENSELY creepy slow zoom-in on his face as he envisions the horror that is to come - so when he gets done in so abruptly it comes as more of a shock, not less.

[P-Rock]

Imo you really aren't missing anything with all the cuts Kubrick made. Keeping this movie under two hours was a good choice. The zooming in on the picture at the end is also more ambigious than when we hear from a police officer that Jack's body couldn't be found, if Kubrick left the hospital scene intact. All the cuts that he made were necessary cuts and in the end we got a leaner and meaner version.

[AlexIlDottore]

I love this film and love both versions. When I want the more claustrophobic and efficient version of The Shining, I watch the international disc. When I want to pig out on The Shining, I watch the US version.