Kubrick's Shining WORST novel adaptation ever!

  • This message board permanently closed on June 30th, 2020 at 4PM EDT and is no longer accepting new members.

Christine62

Well-Known Member
Nov 7, 2013
493
3,127
62
Oklahoma City
There are so many things wrong with this movie, I just don't know where to begin. No wonder Mr. King pans it at every opportunity---it's simple awful. There is not one emotional connection between any of the characters--Danny is a little deer in headlights goober who stares off into space and talks to his finger--who is supposed to be Tony? Are you kidding me? There is no reason to like Danny--there is nothing redeemable about him except he is a child--and children should be protected.
How hard could it have been to have a disembodied voice? Danny is a prop. Like Wendy is a prop. There is nothing likable about her at all. She just looks and acts like a dumb backwoods idiot. Shoot if I was Jack l would drink too just having to be with that simpering moron.
Even my beloved Dick Halloran is worthless. Mooning at the camera there is no emotional bond between him and Danny. All these characters give paper doll cut out performances to move the plot--which is Jack Torrence turning into Waco Jacko.
Now don't get me wrong. I like Jack Nicholson. He is a hard working thoughtful actor. But did he read the book or just the piece of **** of a script that Kubrick wrote? All of Jack's scenes are out of character of the real tortured soul that was Jack Torrence in the book. All of his scenes are grossly over acted and why? There isn't even a decent back story to set up why Jacko goes waco.
Kubrick (genius) what did he see in the novel that he wanted to capture on film? The spooky hotel? The ghosty people that had no rhyme or reason? Or Jack Nicholson chasing people around with an ax. It is the stupidest movie I have ever seen.
 

!redruM

Semi-Well Known Member
Nov 15, 2010
444
1,231
Now I disagree with you, Christine. I happen to have loved the movie (although I have yet to read the book! :wha:). Maybe I'll have to crack it open soon (I have a copy) and see if I should jump aboard the S.S.Bad Kubrick! (it's a joke)
That being said, I view 'The Shining' as one of the best Halloween/hotel movies I've seen, and enjoy it for what it is.
Now don't even get me started on the Christine adaptation! ;)
 

doowopgirl

very avid fan
Aug 7, 2009
6,946
25,119
65
dublin ireland
I must respectfully disagree with you Christine. If you compare the book to the film there are indeed many things different that many people don't like. If you take them as separate entities I think the film has bags of atmosphere and it still scares the bejesus out of me. The book is a masterpeice and, as with a lot of King stuff perhaps should have been left on the page.
 

Sundrop

Sunny the Great & Wonderful
Jun 12, 2008
28,520
156,619
I'll give ya a hallelujah and an amen, Christine!!
While the Kubrick version does have some redeeming qualities as a horror flick, it really is a poorly interpreted adaptation of the novel.
If I had never read The Shining, I might have liked the movie....but The Shining is one of my favorite stories, so I can't like this film.
 

kingricefan

All-being, keeper of Space, Time & Dimension.
Jul 11, 2006
30,011
127,446
Spokane, WA
I was angry when I left the theater after seeing it when it was first released. I didn't see it again for many, many years. It is NOT King's version- there are just way too many things different or left out from the novel. The novel is a masterpiece. Now, I can view the film for what it is- Kubrick's own little take on what he thought a scary film about a haunted hotel should be. In Kubrick's version Jack-o is whacko from the start. He despises his family (see the part where they are all driving up the mountain in the little VW bug and tell me I am wrong). Wendi is just a simpering whiny coward. Poor little Danny has noone to play with so he creates an imaginary playmate. The movie is filmed wonderfully though and it does have some great scenes in it. The ending catches you by surprise.
 

!redruM

Semi-Well Known Member
Nov 15, 2010
444
1,231
I was angry when I left the theater after seeing it when it was first released. I didn't see it again for many, many years. It is NOT King's version- there are just way too many things different or left out from the novel. The novel is a masterpiece. Now, I can view the film for what it is- Kubrick's own little take on what he thought a scary film about a haunted hotel should be. In Kubrick's version Jack-o is whacko from the start. He despises his family (see the part where they are all driving up the mountain in the little VW bug and tell me I am wrong). Wendi is just a simpering whiny coward. Poor little Danny has noone to play with so he creates an imaginary playmate. The movie is filmed wonderfully though and it does have some great scenes in it. The ending catches you by surprise.
Based off of what I've heard/seen, some people feel that Kubrick's choice of drastically changing the characters' personalities (so I am told) ruined the film. I read somewhere that King expressed great upset over the casting of Nicholson, since he previously had been in the successful 'One Flew Over the Cukoo's Nest' (or however it's spelled! :) )
 

Christine62

Well-Known Member
Nov 7, 2013
493
3,127
62
Oklahoma City
I suppose if I had seen it as a teen back in the day I would have somethings I liked it--but being 52ish and reading the book as a writer and comparing that book to the movie--it was disappointing. I know it can be done to capture the spirit of a novel--The Green Mile --although I haven't read that one yet!
 

!redruM

Semi-Well Known Member
Nov 15, 2010
444
1,231
I suppose if I had seen it as a teen back in the day I would have somethings I liked it--but being 52ish and reading the book as a writer and comparing that book to the movie--it was disappointing. I know it can be done to capture the spirit of a novel--The Green Mile --although I haven't read that one yet!
Different strokes for different folks, Christine. Read the Green Mile-great book, only seen clips of the movie!
 

CriticAndProud

Not actually dead, just very inactive.
Aug 26, 2013
5,955
24,608
24
Australia
Have read the book, have seen bits of the movie. As an adaption of the book, the movie is, from what I know, a massive chunk of crapola. BUT objectively speaking , if one forgets about the book, it could be considered a reasonably good movie. Good cinematography, enjoyable (if inaccurate ) performance by Nicholson.
 

Neil W

Well-Known Member
May 27, 2008
1,203
2,592
Isle of Wight UK
In one of the documentaries on the Kubrick Shining DVD, the screenwriter says that it is about a man who hates his family and that, in a nutshell, is the main - and fundamental - difference between Kubrick's Shining and King's Shining, because the book is about a man who loves his family.

After years of failure to reconcile those differences, I have finally come to accept Kubrick's Shining as a masterfully executed film of an unpleasant man going mad in a haunted hotel. I am still patiently waiting for a decent (ie. not Mick Garris) adaptation of King's story about a malevolent entity which seeks the energy of the small boy's gift by gradually taking over the weak link that is his father.
 

AnnaMarie

Well-Known Member
Feb 16, 2012
7,068
29,564
Other
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Personally, I liked Kubrik's shining.

And I'm curious exactly what it was that King hated so much. Because when Under the Dome was on tv and people were complaining about them "changing the book" King said no the book is still as it always was, the show is just different.

In other words, changing characters etc., didn't "ruin" UTD, so why did it ruin The Shinng? Unless there was something different that he objected to.