The Shining (film). Horrible.

[Stumbleweed]

Re: The Shining (film). Horrible.

"Tony is a kid that lives in Danny's mouth and he talks when Danny wiggles his little finger.

This is what having The Shining gets you: a make believe friend so bad, you don't even give him a face. "

Haha, that was hilarious. I disagree with you on the overall perspective of the movie, but you do bring up some solid points. I haven't read the book -- so that's probably what ruined it for you (as books tend to do), since they're better than the corresponding movie 95% of the time.

[born_bad]

Re: The Shining (film). Horrible.

Okay, fine. You wish there were scenes in the movie that were more clearly spelled out in the book. That’s a common complaint with most movies based off a book. I still don’t see why you consider it “garbage,” though. The info you’re looking for is in there, it’s just not as obvious or shoved down your throat.

So, we agree it was actually established in the doctor scene that Jack has a history of drinking and hurt Danny. Wendy says he vowed never to touch the stuff again. Later, when Wendy and Jack are getting a tour of the hotel from the manager, they go to the bar/lounge. Wendy mentions it would be a great place for a party and the manger mentions they’d have to BYOB, because they don’t leave any liquor in the off-season. I forget who, but either Jack or Wendy say, “We don’t drink!” So, again, another scene referencing the drinking past of Jack.

I forget the chronology here (it’s been a few years since I’ve seen it), but I think the scene where Jack goes to the empty bar and starts talking about how he wants a drink is right after a fight with Wendy, in which she suggests it was Jack that hurt Danny again. You need more than a fight with his wife about hurting their son, the cabin fever discussions, the fact that he was an alcoholic who is now very stressed in a hotel that is haunted for you to believe he wants a drink? I don’t get it. I can see varying opinions on the movie (King himself didn’t like it because the over-the-top performance of Nicholson), but to say it’s garbage because you didn’t think there was enough motivation for Jack to want a drink is stretching it to me.

The scene where Danny is scared to go into the room is another odd complaint about lack of set up. His mom, Wendy, had just specifically told him Jack was being cranky and she doesn’t think it’s a good idea for him to disturb him right now to get his truck. She eventually tells him OK, but tells him to be very quiet and not wake him. So, of course the kid is very cautious going into the room – he was just told to be by his mother. The creepy music kicks in and you realize Jack is awake. So, to me, the scene works because the tension should be there – history of violence against the kid, Jack is starting to get stressed, Mom didn’t want the kid going in there, eventually lets him but warns him not to wake Jack up, and now Jack is already awake. Then, Jack is being weird and creepy and tells the kid to come over here. You really felt you needed more for the tension in that scene to be explained?

I’m not really sure what you wanted. Did you just recently read the book and wanted the movie to be exactly like it?

[CMH]

Re: The Shining (film). Horrible.

I can understand if liberties were taken. I only reference the book to mention moments where the book would provide momentum toward a key moment in the plot.

I just don't feel that the movie had any momentum. I don't see the strength in those scenes. I watched and felt agitated to see Nicholson take the next step in the story.

It just wasn't believable to me and because of that the film was garbage. I think the visuals, the story of this man going nuts is why people love this film. I don't think they really took a step back and tried to understand how pieces were just thrown together.

I see most of the comments and reviews on the greatness of this film talk about visuals. The negative reviews all talk about the plot. I fall in the negative review side (obviously) and I have the same feeling: the plot was weak.

[sb24]

Re: The Shining (film). Horrible.

Did you read the book before you saw the movie?

I liked the movie but i see what you mean. It actually makes me want to read the book and i dont read often.

[CMH]

Re: The Shining (film). Horrible.

It should come as no surprise to anyone that actually follows my comments on films here on OS. Most films everyone likes here, I hate.

Plot is most important to me and if it's a mess I won't like a film.

I can understand if plot is confusing, but it's how it's planned out. If there are holes in the story, I can probably let them go. But when the plot looks like a 3,000 piece puzzle that was taped together, I can't let it go.

That's how I saw The Shining. I saw a weakly put together plot, which means bad writing. I'm not talking about the story, the visuals, the direction, or even the acting (at this particular moment). Just plot. Does the story make sense in it's world and do the scenes explain and/opr compliment each other. The Shining did not pass the test for me.

And I bring up the book because the book had strong plot so it confuses me how the movie could just throw all of it away. Again, liberties are fine. I don't expect a movie to be exactly like the book. I would hate that, actually. But, plot is the most important aspect of laying out a story. The book did it right. The movie did not.

[CMH]

Re: The Shining (film). Horrible.

Did you read the book before you saw the movie?

I liked the movie but i see what you mean. It actually makes me want to read the book and i dont read often.

I read the book about two weeks ago just before reading Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere.

I usually like to read the book before watching the movie - if the book is popular enough to warrant a read.

I did the same with I Am Legend and I thought both the book and movie were great. The movie took extreme liberties and pretty much changed the entire story. But, I thought it was put well-together. The ending might have been a bit blah, but I've learned to not expect the best out of an ending. A perfect ending is nearly impossible, anyway, because everyone expects something different.

[CMH]

Re: The Shining (film). Horrible.

I am surprised no one has commented on how it took me till the age of 27 to watch The Shining.

Haha, I really don't know the answer to that question, actually.

[sb24]

Re: The Shining (film). Horrible.

I am surprised no one has commented on how it took me till the age of 27 to watch The Shining.

Haha, I really don't know the answer to that question, actually.

You wont hear that from me. One of the most popular things said to me is "you havent seen _______?!?!?!?!?! What is wrong with you"

[CMH]

Re: The Shining (film). Horrible.

I hear the same all the time. So, I'm trying to play catch up with a load of films. There are so many I haven't seen that will definitely make most people do a double take.

Even worse because when I was in film school, I'd get triple takes from all of the film addicts that attended.

Luckily, I had a cool teacher that thought it was ridiculous to believe you have to watch millions of movies to know how to make them. Not that he defended me. He actually defended another student that hadn't seen some movie - I think it was Rocky. And most students thought the person was crazy so he kinda jumped in and asked why it was important to watch every movie to know how to make a good one.

Obviously, I'm going to agree.

[Stumbleweed]

Re: The Shining (film). Horrible.

I've never sat through the Star Wars movies, the Indiana Jones series, the Spidermans, Harry Potters, X-Men, etc. About the only major franchise movies I've seen lately were The Dark Knight and Batman Begins. I've also never seen Gone With the Wind and many other classic films (watched Citizen Kane)... I suck at watching movies, but I basically avoid the first few mentioned at this point.. just so I can say I've never seen them.

[CMH]

Re: The Shining (film). Horrible.

Oh, man, you're worse than me.

I have not seen Citizen Kane, but it's up there on my must watch list. Just a careful balance of new releases and old classics. I've only held back on watching Citizen Kane because it seems to be a splurge fiesta for film students. I find that annoying and I want to give it time before I jump into the film.

About the only classic series' I've never seen are: James Bond (exception: Casino Royale) and Indiana Jones (exception: Raiders of the Lost Ark, which I feel I saw recently and well, I can't even remember watching it so I guess it had no affect on me at all).

I saw the first Pirates of the Caribbean and found that movie to be horrible as well so I didn't care to watch the sequels.

I watched the first Bourne film and remember enjoying it, but haven't made an effort to watch the sequels.

Never watched: Die Hard (might have seen the first as a kid), Beverly Hills Cop, Lethal Weapon, The Fast and The Furious, Harry Potter (saw the first film. It was good)...too many I can't remember right now.

[Joey P]

Re: The Shining (film). Horrible.

Never watched: Die Hard (might have seen the first as a kid), Beverly Hills Cop, Lethal Weapon, The Fast and The Furious

Wow...

I saw The Shining as a kid and it still haunts me.

[CMH]

Re: The Shining (film). Horrible.

Wow...

I saw The Shining as a kid and it still haunts me.

The film is definitely scary. It does horror right. I really enjoyed the editing and score.

For me, it's just about the plot. I just feel it wasn't done right. And like I said, what I perceive to be bad plot will ruin a movie for me.

[Darkleaf]

Re: The Shining (film). Horrible.

I really liked the movie when I first saw it, and after watching Rob Ager explain all of the stuff I would never have found out otherwise I like it even more.

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[Stumbleweed]

Re: The Shining (film). Horrible.

About the only classic series' I've never seen are: James Bond (exception: Casino Royale) and Indiana Jones (exception: Raiders of the Lost Ark, which I feel I saw recently and well, I can't even remember watching it so I guess it had no affect on me at all).

I saw the first Pirates of the Caribbean and found that movie to be horrible as well so I didn't care to watch the sequels.

I watched the first Bourne film and remember enjoying it, but haven't made an effort to watch the sequels.

Never watched: Die Hard (might have seen the first as a kid), Beverly Hills Cop, Lethal Weapon, The Fast and The Furious, Harry Potter (saw the first film. It was good)...too many I can't remember right now.

Heh the only Bond movie I've watched the whole way through is GoldenEye (at the theater for some reason). Never seen any of the other ones you mentioned except for small bits of Lethal Weapon on TV, etc. I have seen the first Die Hard as well as the 3rd with Sam Jackson, but otherwise I share that list completely.

You can add the Lord of the Rings movies to the list as well haha...