The Shining

The filmmaking obviously isn't anywhere near Kubrick's level, but I prefer this version's handling of Jack Torrence - here he gets an actual character arc instead of being a crazy-from-the-get-go psychopath. Worth a watch if you're interested in something closer to King's original vision.

Watch this if you doubt why everyone is raving about how great a filmmaker Stanley Kubrick was. This adaptation of 'The Shining' isn't much more than a visualization of the book, which is disruptive to the pacing, tension building and overall impact of the item. It's a typical - if harmless - example of failed remediation.

I don't usually want the bad guy to succeed, but man, Danny was fucking annoying.

Close adaptation of the book, and that's its biggest problem.

Even as a child I recognized the obvious superiority of the Kubrick version.

What ultimately dooms it isn't the actors, or even the effects. King and Garris are so busy Corrrrecting Kubrick that they never manage to tell a story of their own. Say what you want about Kubrick's decisions, at least he made them; Garris just nods and obediently keeps the camera running. Despite occasional scenes of decent family drama, it's slow, unscary, bland. A movie that knows it owes its entire existence to the movie it wants to replace, but just makes the other one look even better.

A must see for any King fan and a definite for horror fans.

No no no NO NO. And I'm not saying this because of my love for Kubrick's version. I understand that this version was meant to be true to the book. With that being said, some things are better left alone. I know this is what Stephen King wanted but really, look at his film track record. Just because he wanted the film to be like this it truly doesn't mean the film SHOULD be like this. Blah.

In 1997 I was 11 years old, had read the novel and the film was (and is) a favorite of mine (no personal judgments, please). And while this may be more faithful, I knew it had no sense of suspense or terror at all. A perfect example: the moving bushes. Sure, scary. You want to know what's NOT scary?: SEEING the CGI BUSHES MOVE. Every scene fails at arriving at the horror that is intended.

Closer adaptation to the book, although I couldn't help but hum the Wings theme.