The Shining

Based on Stephen King's novel, The Shining captivates the audience bringing them to the Overlook Hotel. Jack Torrence (Jack Nicholson), his wife, Wendy (Shelley Duvall), and their son, Danny (Danny Lloyd) make it to the grand Overlook Hotel, which is an isolated hotel in the middle of the Rockies in beautiful Colorado. It was a brand new start for the family as Jack took the responsibility as caretaker for the Overlook. Things don't go so well for the family though as the movie progresses. The story of the family just makes viewers wonder what the heck is going on in this family's mind as things unravel. Jack's calm demeanor is shattered as the spirits of the Overlook try to take him and make him the official caretaker. Danny's shine attracts the spirits making his mother worry to the point where she has to carry a knife around everywhere she goes, so that she has some kind of security from her insane husband. All in all, The Shining will make you reconsider where you want to stay on your next vacation.

My Rating: A+

As you probably guessed, I did read the book, so here is a separate movie rating of the Shining...

This 80's movie sets the storyline straight when it comes to the Torrence family. When it came for them moving to the Overlook hotel, because Jack was responsible as caretaker of the hotel, it was spot on, but there was a lot and a mean A LOT of details missing. The stories on why Jack had to move his entire family across the country were clipped and not just taken out; They were shortened to the fact that yes, it was very interesting that Jack explains it in the middle of the movie, but he only explained one of the reasons. The actors though, were amazing. Jack Nicholson, the actor who plays Jack Torrence, did an amazing job showing his insanity side as the Overlook was manipulating him. Shelley Duvall, who played Wendy, looked so terrified that I was wondering if the producers just made her wake up of a nap just to film a scene, and Danny Lloyd... let's just say, children sometimes make great actors especially in horror films. The innocence children portray is instantly shattered once something horrible happens, and it's that connection the audience makes with children that is a little heart wrenching. I was kind of disappointed by the lack of detail, but then again, the producers added a lot more to the movie like adding a maze in front of the hotel. What kind of hotel has a maze in front of the place? This movie was based on an actual hotel that is located in Colorado, and I'm pretty sure, the Stanley Hotel does not have a maze in front of it. All in all, I was disappointed. Story wise-it is spot on, but with the improvisisations-it was not that a little upsetting.

My Rating: C-