Watching The Shining today...for the first time!

dd292 · #1 (**permalink**) 29th August 2009, 07:01 PM

I know, I know, what's wrong with me? I just never got around to watching it, but I grabbed the blu-ray for $10!! So I'm watching it today and I'll be back to report

dd292 · #2 (**permalink**) 1st September 2009, 06:10 AM

Now that I've had time to process it (spoilers of course):

Pretty damn great movie. I love how Kubrick left it pretty open to interpretation, since at first I was convinced it was just the isolation taking its toll on them, right until the door was opened for Jack.

Any theories on the picture at the end? To me it seemed like he'd been reincarnated as Jack Torrance, which is why he felt that "deja vu" when arriving at the Overlook.

I read a crazy (but plausible) theory about how all three of them were actually shining, and Jack opened the door with TK.

LonoXIII · #3 (**permalink**) 4th September 2009, 02:25 AM

Having read the book and seen the movie, there's several aspects to this.

1) Both Jack and his son have "the Shining", which is not only reflecting thoughts but reflecting what is around them (including the horrid past of the hotel). The difference is that Jack doesn't realize this and his reflections that give the ghost's life end up perverting him.

2) The ending was a Kubrick creation, kind of ignoring the whole "shining" aspect and just making it a straight ghost story. Basically Jack becomes a ghost of the hotel, joining the rest in their eternal unrest. The picture isn't a real picture of him (or a lookalike) in that time period, but a sign that he is now just another member of the hotel "staff".

limba · #4 (**permalink**) 22nd September 2009, 04:35 AM

I guess Stephen King hated the original movie, including Jack Nicholson's performance. King fought hard to get his version of the book made into a tv movie.

dasm94 · #5 (**permalink**) 11th October 2009, 12:52 AM

really? too bad that didn't happen, but on the other hand, a tv movie would have been not so good, there's no Jhonny like Jack

sadrose · #6 (**permalink**) 18th October 2009, 10:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dasm94

really? too bad that didn't happen, but on the other hand, a tv movie would have been not so good, there's no Jhonny like Jack

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celtic67 · #7 (**permalink**) 5th November 2009, 02:33 PM

the org is good, but big Jack takes it to the next level, iconic performance.

Batman · #8 (**permalink**) 5th November 2009, 11:32 PM

I liked the movie better than the book, more of a Kubrick fan than a Stephen King fan.

Definately a beutiful movie visually and Jack is an amazing actor, what'sherface was really good too.

also, FYI, they DID make a TV movie, err "miniseries" of The Shining in 1997 under close supervision from Mr. King, and IMO it's terrible (what do you expect? it's made for TV!)

hollerate!