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Post by slayrrr666 on Nov 18, 2005 14:24:06 GMT -5
 One of the last films in the "Never-ending Shame" series, and also one of my favorites: “The Shining” is a great psychological horror film. **SPOILERS** Writer Jack Torrance (Jack Nicholson) accepts a job overlooking the Overlook Hotel for the winter, a massive resort facility in the middle of Colorado. Bringing along his wife Wendy (Shelly Duvall) and son Danny (Danny Lloyd) to the hotel, Jack and Wendy adjust quite easily while Danny isn’t as quick to take to it. The owner of the hotel, Stuart Ullman, (Barry Nelson) gives them the tour of the hotel, where they meet Head Chief Dick Hallorann, (Scatman Crothers) who helps them understand their duties even more. He knows a secret about Danny that no one else knows: Danny has “The Shining,” a special psychic ability. After everyone has left for the winter, they are left to themselves, and Jack seems to be going a little crazy at the thought of being alone with his family for the long haul. As the months progress, he becomes convinced that ghosts inhabit the hotel and want him to kill his family. The Good News: Well, where to start. Obviously, many people state this one as their favorite horror film, and they’re not into horror at all. I think the main reason for that is the hotel itself. It is so massive and creepy that much of the suspense and atmosphere created by the film is caused by just seeing the hotel. All to often it takes up so much screen space and the characters are so small compared to it that an already massive building looks even bigger than it really is. The massive interiors alone are well worth the suspense, but the overall house is completely creepy. The dead air and cold surrounding it combines together with the grand hotel into one big suspenseful house. That also sets in one other great suspense trick in the film: the isolation. From the very beginning of the film, we know that the family is trapped alone inside the hotel for a very long time. We know that, and we also know that the hotel will be secluded from contact with the outside world as well, so that condition is already programmed into us before we even get started with the rest of the movie. We are all familiar with those emotions because we all had them at some point, so we can connect to the fear and isolation that the characters’ experience is real. Whatever we know, the only thing about the movie that we don’t know about is whether or not the isolation of the house or the madness Jack descends into is the real cause for what has happened. We got tons of evidence for both viewpoints, but several things cancel out the other, so it is a mystery for the audience to figure out for themselves. Even the music is a huge part of the creepiness of the movie. It just makes your nerves stand on end and makes the characters seem that much crazier. I really love the music in here, and it does what a good horror film score should be: it gets under your skin and accentuates the scene it’s played over. Now, the best parts of this are clearly three key scenes in the film, although it does have many. The following three key scenes (Danny’s shining, the discovery of Jack’s book and the last ten minutes) are all classic scenes, among many, that really rake in the creep factor. My favorite is the novel Jack writes while there. It is the basis for one of its more memorable lines, but to see what he’s been working on the whole time is both scary and brilliant in its execution. It is the perfect caper to show that Jack has gone off the deep end and has passed the point of no return, and the way it is handled is perfect. Handling the emotions required to pull that scene off is sheer genius, and having it with that spooky music playing in the background makes it all the more terrifying. We’ve gotten clues all along, but then this comes along and puts it so clearly in our minds that it really becomes more effective than it should’ve been. The scene afterward is just as creepy, and it is a great example of it being able to get under a person’s skin. The other scenes are important to both the plot and the outcome, so I won’t spoil them, but they are very scary and interesting in their execution. The Bad News: A bit too long, but nothing else. The Final Verdict: “The Shining” is one of the great horror films of all time. It isn’t a fast paced film, but this is still a highly watchable film. So many horror films have used elements of this film that it could be considered just as influential as “Halloween” or “Psycho.” This one is a classic film that shouldn’t be missed by any horror fan. Rated R: Graphic Language, Graphic Violence, full-frontal Nudity and scenes with children in danger |
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Post by Termination on Nov 18, 2005 14:52:43 GMT -5
Me favorite Stanley Kubrick's film. 2001 is real good also, but this one is a little more down to earth.  |
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Post by Pulpmariachi on Nov 18, 2005 15:03:32 GMT -5
Haha, no pun intended, right Term?
Anyways, this is my favorite horror film.
I think the length of it contributes to the creepiness overall. Mainly because it's made of these long Steadicam shots where we just wander around. It's open but claustrophobic (seen through the huge framing but the 1.33:1 aspect ratio keeps it tight).
Jack Nicholson's scary throughout just because he's such a psychopath. At times you kinda just want Shelley Duvall to get maimed since she's so annoying. And the boy does a great job.
Great movie.
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Post by Quorthon on Nov 18, 2005 15:05:41 GMT -5
"Gimme the bat Marge! Gimme the bat! Bat! Bat-Bat-Bat!! Whoo--blapalalpalapalAA!! AAHHH!!"
"Kill your family and I'll give yah a beer."
"Kill my family? But why?"
"Uh... They'd be much happier as ghosts..."
"You don't look very happy."
"Oh I'm happy. I'm very happy. Tra-la-la la-la la-la. There, now kill your family!"
"Um, sir, maybe cutting off the cable and taking away all the booze is what made the previous attendant kill everyone."
"Hmmm, okay, tell you what, if everyone's dead when we get back in spring, I owe you a Coke."
"How do you like it, Marge...? I think I'll call it 'No TV and No Beer Make Homer something something..."
"Go crazy...?"
"Don't miiind if I do!"
"Hmmm... The blood usually gets off on the third floor..."
Finally movin' on to the slower films, huh Slayrrr? Yeah, Shining is fucking beautiful. Good review. Not as spoiler-intensive as your usuals.
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Post by slayrrr666 on Nov 18, 2005 15:12:18 GMT -5
"Gimme the bat Marge! Gimme the bat! Bat! Bat-Bat-Bat!! Whoo--blapalalpalapalAA!! AAHHH!!" "Kill your family and I'll give yah a beer." "Kill my family? But why?" "Uh... They'd be much happier as ghosts..." "You don't look very happy." "Oh I'm happy. I'm very happy. Tra-la-la la-la la-la. There, now kill your family!" "Um, sir, maybe cutting off the cable and taking away all the booze is what made the previous attendant kill everyone." "Hmmm, okay, tell you what, if everyone's dead when we get back in spring, I owe you a Coke." "How do you like it, Marge...? I think I'll call it 'No TV and No Beer Make Homer something something..." "Go crazy...?" "Don't miiind if I do!" "Hmmm... The blood usually gets off on the third floor..." Finally movin' on to the slower films, huh Slayrrr? Yeah, Shining is fucking beautiful. Good review. Not as spoiler-intensive as your usuals. Yeah, I probably should've put some of those Simpson's quotes in the review, because those are all some of the funniest fucking moments in the show. I saw the spoofs of them as I was watching the movie all along. Proves how genius the Simpson's really is. Too bad they didn't spoof the little girls, but I would like to add the following line: "If you're family ever gets into trouble, just use that...Shin of yours and I'll come a runnin'. But don't be reading my mind between four and five: that's Willie's time!" Hilarious scene and episode, right up there with the zombie episode as my favorite Simpson's Halloween spoof. I did try to not spoil it so much this time, Q. I'm glad you noticed that. Bit long this time, but still amazing film. |
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Post by Quorthon on Nov 18, 2005 15:17:47 GMT -5
Yeah, back when the Simpsons Halloween specials were dark and violent and bloody. Now it's all neutered. The last few Treehouse of Horrors have been pretty weak, I think.
So much for pushing the envelope...
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Post by slayrrr666 on Nov 18, 2005 15:21:05 GMT -5
I though the last one, this year's was pretty good. I remember laughing at it a couple of times,, but yeah, nothing like the good ones. I'll do a poll for those on Monday, I need to do some other shit this weekend.
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Post by Bartwald on Nov 21, 2005 15:13:07 GMT -5
This Simpsons episode is what I usually play to my students 'round the Halloween time. But I must say I like "Time and Punishment" even more than "Shinning".
And as for the real Shining: a very good film for sure but not one of my favourite horrors ever; perhaps that's because I'd read King's book before watching the adap - and doing this always scars you.
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Post by slayrrr666 on Nov 21, 2005 15:18:42 GMT -5
Time and Punishment is a classic, Bart. That, and the one where the dolphins invade Springfield in NOTLD style. I almost kill myself laughing at that one.
Well, Shining was a great film, but I thought it was way to dragged out. A lot of stuff could've been trimmed and still gotten the same effect, but so help me if they trim anything from the last twenty minutes: absolutely fucking spectacular.
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Post by Bartwald on Nov 21, 2005 15:23:10 GMT -5
Have you seen the other adaptation of the book, slayrrr? The one directed by Mick Garris? People usually hate it but it's not all bad, really - much more true to King's story. And Steven Weber, though no Nicholson, does pretty good job in it.
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Post by slayrrr666 on Nov 21, 2005 15:27:31 GMT -5
I've seen it around but have never actually sat down and watched it. More than likely, it'll be on this Thanksgiving when the Sci-Fi Channel has their usual programming festivals, and I'm guessing this one will be on when it's Mini-series day, so I'll have to watch it and let you know then. But I've never read the book (one of the few King books I haven't) so even still I couldn't compare the two films to the book. I do know that this one (Kubrick's) isn't very true, so it'll be interesting to see.
Oh, Weber's in it? He really impressed me in Dario Argento's Master of Horror episode, Jenifer. Will do a write-up on that one soon.
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Post by Bartwald on Nov 21, 2005 15:45:03 GMT -5
He's in Jenifer??! I didn't know THAT!!! Gotta see the episode, dammit - always thought Weber is cool!
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Post by slayrrr666 on Nov 21, 2005 15:56:37 GMT -5
Yeah, he's the lead. I'm gonna go do a write up of it in the Masters thread right now. A nice return after a somewhat disappointing Hooper episode.
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Post by Heineken Skywalker on Nov 21, 2005 16:22:10 GMT -5
You know, one of the problems I've always had with Kubrick's SHINING is the same problem King himself has with it, Nicholson's already nuts when the film starts. In the book, the guy slowly descends into madness. As played by Jack, right off the bat we know something's not right with this dude.
Not saying it's all bad. There are definitely some good chills to be found here, for sure. One of the best made horror movies? Sure. One of the best horror movies? Maybe of the 80's, but not of all time, imho.
And Bart's right. Check out the made for tv version too. It's a lot closer to the book, though ironically, by the time it was made, even I couldn't totally embrace it, as I couldn't get past the Kubrick version I was already so used to.
Read the book too. Excellent!
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Post by slayrrr666 on Nov 21, 2005 16:29:09 GMT -5
I remember that Nicholson gripe is something that even King had a problem with. He said people were already clued in that he was going to go nuts when you saw the interview with him, and yes, you can tell that. King reportedly wanted either Jon Voight or Michael Moriarty (sp?) to play the part, saying that they looked far calmer and the descent into madness would've been far more believable. Now try to reimagine that movie with either of them in that role, changes the movie greatly.
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