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How about we just make this thread about the whole movie?
It's a great movie. Very scary.
But being a fan of the book, I found bits of the story disappointing in the movie.
In the book, Jack is a good guy. Definitely a guy with some personal demons, but he isn't a bad man. In the movie, Jack looks batpoop crazy from scene one. But hey, it's Jack Nicholson. Whaddaya gonna do?
And the movie really downplays the supernatural. Most of the movie (except for the very last scene) could be explained by a mentally unstable little boy with an alcoholic father who catches a bad case of cabin fever. In the book, the supernatural element is inherent to the story. But I think this is probably Kubrick's atheism dictating the movie's story.
And the movie really downplays the supernatural. Most of the movie (except for the very last scene) could be explained by a mentally unstable little boy with an alcoholic father who catches a bad case of cabin fever. In the book, the supernatural element is inherent to the story. But I think this is probably Kubrick's atheism dictating the movie's story.
That's interesting. I never thought of the supernatural as being downplayed, but I can see that. However, in the film, the "Shining" itself (and the "possession") was presented as a very real thing.
However, in the film, the "Shining" itself (and the "possession") was presented as a very real thing.
It's been a long time since I last watched it, but I only remember two scenes that could only be explained by the supernatural:
1.) How Jack gets out of the locked pantry.
2.) The last shot of the picture.
Everything else could be explained by mental illness. The little boy culd be suffering a mild form of epilepsy coupled with mental illness. Jack is fighting alcoholism, and the first scene sets you up with the whole cabin fever excuse. Wendy could be simply suffering from hysteria. Part of the genius of the film is that Kubrick never really gives you a definitive explanation either way. Supernatural? Going crazy? Could be either (except for those two scenes I mentioned.)
I once read an interview with Stephen King, who said that during the filming, Kubrick would sometimes call him in the middle of the night, almost frantic, asking if he believed in God. It was King's opinion that Kubrick was a rather tormented atheist who just couldn't bring himself to accept the supernatural, and it distorted his interpretation of the story.
It's been a long time since I last watched it, but I only remember two scenes that could only be explained by the supernatural:
1.) How Jack gets out of the locked pantry.
2.) The last shot of the picture.
Everything else could be explained by mental illness. The little boy culd be suffering a mild form of epilepsy coupled with mental illness. Jack is fighting alcoholism, and the first scene sets you up with the whole cabin fever excuse. Wendy could be simply suffering from hysteria. Part of the genius of the film is that Kubrick never really gives you a definitive explanation either way. Supernatural? Going crazy? Could be either (except for those two scenes I mentioned.)
I once read an interview with Stephen King, who said that during the filming, Kubrick would sometimes call him in the middle of the night, almost frantic, asking if he believed in God. It was King's opinion that Kubrick was a rather tormented atheist who just couldn't bring himself to accept the supernatural, and it distorted his interpretation of the story.
Hmm - interesting. I also don't have a perfect recollection of the movie, but what about the groundskeeper guy - wasn't there something blatantly supernatural going on w/ him?
Hmm - interesting. I also don't have a perfect recollection of the movie, but what about the groundskeeper guy - wasn't there something blatantly supernatural going on w/ him?
I don't remember a groundskeeper. Do you mean the cook played by Scatman Carruthers?
I don't remember a groundskeeper. Do you mean the cook played by Scatman Carruthers?
Yes, that's right! Sheesh, my memory of the film is so bad, that maybe I only think I remember the supernatural element. Anyway, as a kid watching the movie, the thought of natural explanations of the events never crossed my mind. And I never thought about analyzing that aspect of it later. But what you say about Kubrick makes a lot of sense - he probably did want to keep the possibility that this was all "in their heads" open.
Yes, that's right! Sheesh, my memory of the film is so bad, that maybe I only think I remember the supernatural element.
Halloran and Danny do have the talk about "shining," and later on, when Jack is really starting to lose it, Danny "shines" to Halloran in Florida. You're right. That is really hard to explain without a supernatural element, altough a sceptic in complete denial could chalk it up to coincidence.
But just to play the other card: There are scientists out there who will give some credence to psychic phenomena, that it may simply be an aspect of science we have yet to understand, and not supernatural at all. Just ask Dr. Venkman!
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