The Shining (1980)

[mzupeman]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

It's not about more or less, it's about the rhythm of the movie. For me the longer version just can't sustain the tension and IMO Kubrick knew it.

I've never seen the shorter cut from the UK. I never really had a desire to, but what you're saying intrigues me.

Having never been subjected to the shorter cut, I have always felt that The Shining we have over here in the US is flawless. When I sit down to watch it, what I experience is this sense of unease from the start which is rather harmless, at least at first, but I feel things unraveling slowly throughout the entirety of the feature until the tension is unbearable (in the best possible way).

I have to question the whole 'and Kubrick knew it' angle, though. I haven't researched anything more in-depth in the past than what's on Wikipedia, but apparently things were chopped because the film wasn't well received enough and the studio had even criticized the film for.... well, basically being too Kubrick. So it seems the film was edited down to be leaner so it could appeal to a wider audience, but that seems awful, to me. I'd rather have the version he initially released (minus that ending with Wendy at the hospital that was cut). But, of course, I'm saying all this without seeing the leaner cut.

Some of the scenes that were removed I think were essential to the film. For example, knowing Jack had basically been an alcoholic and hurt his son. Hallorann getting to the hospital was key to the mounting tension. Rescue was on its way, and yet, it was useless... slipping us more and more into the nightmare that played out on screen. I'm not sure I'd want a version of The Shining without this stuff.

[Bobbyjoe766]

In Australia, we didn't get the longer U.S. cut until THE SHINING was released on Blu-ray - I had never seen the longer edit before, having grown up on the shorter version. I have both versions now and alternate with each viewing. I prefer the longer edit for the extra detail but recognise the shorter edit is the more effective choice for telling the story. The stuff with the cook travelling by plane, car and bobcat to the Overlook is padding, imo.

What's the big deal with the skeletons around the table? Some people seem to dislike it. I liked that shot, it reminded me of THE NIGHT STRANGLER TV movie.

[shinobipopcorn]

I don't remember ever seeing the skeletons until my most recent netflix viewing. I think this might have been the VHS we had:



That would have been uncut US, right? I'm pretty sure it was 4:3, but I don't have it anymore to check runtime or anything.

[Bobbyjoe766]

Originally Posted by shinobipopcorn

I don't remember ever seeing the skeletons until my most recent netflix viewing. I think this might have been the VHS we had:



That would have been uncut US, right? I'm pretty sure it was 4:3, but I don't have it anymore to check runtime or anything.

The skeletons are exclusive to the longer version.

[shinobipopcorn]

So US home video only got the shorter Euro version until DVD came out and could hold more than 2 hours? I'm confused.

[DMRI2006]

Originally Posted by shinobipopcorn

So US home video only got the shorter Euro version until DVD came out and could hold more than 2 hours?

No

[shinobipopcorn]

I found an image of the back of that VHS case and it says 144 mins +35 for extras. So I probably just didn't remember the scene. It was a single tape so they probably recorded it in LP instead of SP (as opposed to using 2 tapes like Godfather or Titanic).

[Eye Candy]

Originally Posted by JohnCarpenterFan

What? Jack Torrance in the Kubrick film is clearly a lunatic from the very beginning. In the book and miniseries, it's a descent into madness, but not the Kubrick film. The biggest criticism about the Kubrick film I see is that Jack Torrance is obviously crazy from the beginning.

I wish the damn film would have taken longer to show the descent into madness. What, it's like Day 1, Day2, and then a month into the stay. I wanted to see what happened during that month. Another 10 or 15 minutes to do that, I'd guess...

[Eye Candy]

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.

The awful TV adaptation covered the alcohol angle well enough, so Stephen should be able to sleep well at night... Or should he ? ? ?

[The Fallen Deity]

A perfect version of the film imo would be the EU cut with the stuff regarding Jack's alcoholism left in.

I wish Kubrick hadn't cut that stuff out as it's extremely important to Jack's character development.

[Eye Candy]

Originally Posted by Todd Tomorrow

There are still plenty of great steadicam shots left in the European cut and Jack's change/possession isn't any more sudden. Length isn't everything. The European cut is already a deliberate paced film, the US cut stretches the film out to an epic length which it can't quite support. And then there is the tacky shot of the cobwebbed skeletons which was wisely cut for the European version.

Yeah, I got nuthin' from the cobwebbed skeletons.

[The Fallen Deity]

The cobweb skeletons look like something out of a haunted house ride. Kubrick made the right choice in cutting them out of the EU release.

[dissention]

Originally Posted by shinobipopcorn

I found an image of the back of that VHS case and it says 144 mins +35 for extras. So I probably just didn't remember the scene. It was a single tape so they probably recorded it in LP instead of SP (as opposed to using 2 tapes like Godfather or Titanic).

That's the VHS that included Vivian Kubrick's documentary and the trailer, hence the "extra" 35 minutes.

[I KEEL YOU]

Originally Posted by The Fallen Deity

The cobweb skeletons look like something out of a haunted house ride. Kubrick made the right choice in cutting them out of the EU release.

That scene is even trashed in the audio commentary.

[Joshitaka]

if I pick up the UK limited edition steelbook (region free), will it play at a disturbed rate (sped up or slowed down) because of the difference in PAL/NTSC?

[P-Rock]

Originally Posted by Eye Candy

The awful TV adaptation covered the alcohol angle well enough, so Stephen should be able to sleep well at night... Or should he ? ? ?

No, because Kubrick's version still exists and is considered a classic. It will always be a thorn in his side.

The tv adaptation... the less said the better. I did like Rebecca De Mornay's portrayal of Wendy though, but King should stick to writing books and not screenplays. He really does suck at it. He also wrote the screenplay for Cell and that was a horrible movie and nothing like the book.

Originally Posted by Joshitaka

if I pick up the UK limited edition steelbook (region free), will it play at a disturbed rate (sped up or slowed down) because of the difference in PAL/NTSC?

No, blu-rays don't have that problem.

[eiknarf]

Originally Posted by P-Rock

No, because Kubrick's version still exists and is considered a classic. It will always be a thorn in his side.

The tv adaptation... the less said the better. I did like Rebecca De Mornay's portrayal of Wendy though, but King should stick to writing books and not screenplays.

Are most of Stephen King's stories about something being cursed?
Christine; a cursed car.
Thinner; a cursed person.
Pet Cemetery; a cursed graveyard.
The Shining; a cursed hotel.
It; a cursed clown.
Etc

Just wondering

[shinobipopcorn]

It's a theme. Except Cujo, he was wasted out of his mind when he wrote that one and doesn't remember it.

[Zillamon51]

The Shining is a movie I appreciate more every time I watch it. I don't think it would be better if it was more like the book, or if was cut for pacing. It has rightfully earned its place as a classic horror, as is. BTW, it was the first R-rated movie I saw in theater. (My parents were King readers, and took me with them.) So, it was the first time I saw gore and a naked lady on screen!

The TV miniseries is way too long and tedious.

Originally Posted by eiknarf

Are most of Stephen King's stories about something being cursed?
Christine; a cursed car.
Thinner; a cursed person.
Pet Cemetery; a cursed graveyard.
The Shining; a cursed hotel.
It; a cursed clown.
Etc

Just wondering

Pennywise isn't cursed. He's an ancient evil entity that takes the form of a clown to ensnare children.

[thatguamguy]

Originally Posted by eiknarf

Pet Cemetery; a cursed graveyard.

Is Pet Sematary a cursed graveyard, or do people bury bodies there because the bodies will come back to life?