The Shining

The Shining

directed by Stanley Kubrick, based on the book by Stephen King

I'll admit it...I have mixed feelings about this movie. The Shining was one of the first Stephen King books I had ever read, back when it first came out in 1977. Passages within that book truly terrified me in my teenage years. Stanley Kubrick's film version of the shining, in 1980, featured some big names in the cast -- Jack Nicholson, Shelley Duvall and Scatman Crothers, most notably. This film turned out to be artistically and visually stunning...there are some moments that will remain with you for days, months or years to come...particularly as Danny rides a big wheel around the empty hotel and meets the undead twins, or as Jack slowly but inexorably goes made from isolation and mental issues and begins typing gibberish. However, several key elements of the novel were altered for this film and the changes left this adaptation slightly disappointing for me. For a viewer who hasn't read the book, this is an unforgettable film. For fans of the novel, I would recommend the 1997 TV mini-series adaptation, starring Steven Weber and Rebecca de Mornay, as a more accurate adaptation -- King did the screenplay himself. And, if you're in the mood to travel, don't pass up the opportunity to visit the Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado...the hotel that served as King's inspiration for the novel, and which was actually used to film the later mini-series. The hotel has a props and photo gallery from both productions in its lower level. -- recommended by Scott C. - Bennett Martin Public Library

[Also available in original book format.][ Internet Movie Database entry for this film ] [ official Stephen King web site ]

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