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The Shining [VHS] [1980]
 
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The Shining [VHS] [1980]

VHS ~ Jack Nicholson
4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (106 customer reviews)

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4 new from £3.25 19 used from £0.01 4 collectible from £2.95

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Product Description

Amazon.co.uk Review
Stanley Kubrick's The Shining is less an adaptation of Stephen King's best-selling horror novel than a complete re-imagining of it from the inside out. In King's book, the Overlook Hotel is a haunted place that takes possession of its off-season caretaker and provokes him to murderous rage against his wife and young son. Kubrick's film is an existential Road Runner cartoon (his steadicam scurrying through the hotel's labyrinthine hallways), in which the cavernously empty spaces inside the Overlook Hotel mirror the emptiness in the soul of the blocked writer settled in for a long winter's hibernation. As many have pointed out, King's protagonist goes mad, but Kubrick's Jack Torrance (Jack Nicholson) is Looney Tunes from the moment we meet him--all arching eyebrows and mischievous grin. (Both Nicholson and Shelley Duvall reach new levels of hysteria in their performances, driven to extremes by the director's fanatical demand s for take after take after take.) The Shining is terrifying--but not in the way fans of the novel might expect. When it was redone as a TV mini-series (reportedly because of King's dissatisfaction with the Kubrick film), the famous topiary-animal attack (which was deemed impossible to film in 1980) was there--but the deeper horror was lost. Kubrick's The Shining gets under your skin and chills your bones; it stays with you, inhabits you, haunts you. And there's no place to hide... --Jim Emerson, Amazon.com

Synopsis
A horror tale which tells the story of a hotel caretaker who is sucked into demonism by the black forces surrounding the hotel. Based on a story by Stephen King.

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What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

The Shining [VHS] [1980]
80% buy the item featured on this page:
The Shining [VHS] [1980] 4.3 out of 5 stars (106)
The Shining (2 Disc Special Edition) [DVD] [1980]
10% buy
The Shining (2 Disc Special Edition) [DVD] [1980] 3.7 out of 5 stars (15)
£4.98
One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest (2 Disc Special Edition) [1975] [DVD]
5% buy
One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest (2 Disc Special Edition) [1975] [DVD] 4.7 out of 5 stars (48)
£4.98
Clockwork Orange [1972] [DVD]
3% buy
Clockwork Orange [1972] [DVD] 4.4 out of 5 stars (81)
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Customer Reviews

106 Reviews
5 star:
 (73)
4 star:
 (12)
3 star:
 (9)
2 star:
 (5)
1 star:
 (7)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.3 out of 5 stars (106 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
33 of 36 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy..., 19 Aug 2007
By H. Serkan SILAHSOR (Ankara, TURKEY) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   
This review is from: The Shining [DVD] [1980] (DVD)
Though not Kubrick's best, "The Shining" is a true horror classic: full of atmosphere, haunting backdrops, chilling soundtrack, masterful camerawork (especially low-angle tracking shots are excellent), and Jack Nicholson's razor-sharp acting are combined with Kubrick's perfectionism and his keen eye for detail. The result is an awesome experience, you'll never forget.

Even at the very beginning you expect something sinister will happen. A creepy music on the background, a yellow Volkswagen meanders along road at threatening Colorado Rockies. Mesmerizing aerial shots and overall atmosphere here are beyond all description. Really, really perfect. Kubrick begins to display his unique skill and vision at the very first scene.

Actually the story is quite simple: a recovering alcoholic Jack finds an off-season caretaker job at an isolated, mountain-locked hotel in the middle of nowhere in Colorado Rockies so that he can make some money as well as write in peace. Because the hotel is inaccessible during winter, he takes his family to the hotel too. Once the family is alone in the hotel, Jack begins suffering from writer's block and cabin fever. Also, the hotel seems to be replete with all sorts of evil vibes and horrible legacies. Under these circumstances he slowly disintegrates, descends into insanity and inflicts an unbearable terror on his skinny wife and psychic son, Danny.

Although it seems so plain and simple, actually this is not the case. The fact is that all Kubrick films are open to many different interpretations, because they contain lots of symbolism and cryptic meanings hidden deep in the plot and visuals. This is true here. My theory is that the film is about alcoholism and its devastating effects on family. The hotel symbolizes how unbearable a home can be for those who have to live there.

It enjoys some of the most unforgettable shots in motion picture history, such as the amazing chase scene in snowbound topiary maze, Jack's shattering of door with ax, blood pouring out of elevators, looming details of hotel interior as Danny rides his Big Wheel through empty hallways, and haunting look of Grady twins. There are plenty of them, all neatly distributed and absolutely wicked.
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11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Essential Viewing, 23 Aug 2004
This review is from: The Shining [DVD] [1980] (DVD)
'The Shining' on DVD is essential viewing, not only because the film itself is one of the most beautifully shot horror classics of all time, but also because it comes accompanied by a wonderful documentary. 'The Making of The Shining' provides a rare insight into director Stanley Kubrick ('A Clockwork Orange') and also features actors Jack Nicholson and Shelley Duvall at work on set, both in and out of character. From this invaluable footage, you will learn to admire those who do the business behind the scenes and gain a good appreciation for what it takes to create a masterpiece.

As a movie, The Shining is thoroughly watchable from start to finish. Jack Nicholson steals the show as the ex-alcoholic, ex-teacher who is looking for solitude for a 'writing project', and the Overlook Hotel appears to be just what he is looking for as he pitches in as caretaker during the snowbound winter months. Joining him at the Overlook are his wife Wendy (Duvall) and his talented son Danny (Lloyd), whose special ability to 'shine' causes him to fear (and rightly so) the dark secrets of the hotels past.

With The Shining, director Stanley Kubrick has thankfully created an intellectual horror movie rather than merely played it for shocks. His superb pacing builds the tension up gradually, and with so many memorable scenes here, there is enough to make you return time and again, where you will always find something new.

I cannot recommend this film enough; if you haven't seen it, what are you waiting for?

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10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Redrum, REDRUM!, 5 Oct 2003
This review is from: The Shining [DVD] [1980] (DVD)
This film had me on the edge of my seat, my legs hunched up in front of me so that I could not see the screen. It was very well edited and how the cameraman managed to film Danny on the tricycle with steadicam was amazing.
Apart from the excellent technical effects, it is a very well written film. It is full of images which will stay with you for days, from the dead girls (WHO ARE NOT TWINS IF YOU LISTEN) in the corridors, the rotting woman in room 237 (you won't go near a bathroom for a long time), and the many shots of 250 gallons of blood coming out of the elevator. Jack Nicholson portrays Torrance marvellously (Heeere's Johnny!) and Danny Lloyd plays Danny Torrance very well (it seems that in every horror film there has to be a creepy kid - 6th sense, the others, the ring)
However, it does not follow the original story by Stephen King very well, so if you are looking for his story, get the remake made in the 90s. But this is the better film as many people will know. Get this now, OR I WON'T HURT YOU, I'LL JUST BASH YOUR BRAINS IN! (don't take literally)
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars good
Package came in a decent amount of time considering it came from the states. One problem though was the box was slightly damaged but that's probably due to the poor box and weak... Read more
Published 3 days ago by A. Line

3.0 out of 5 stars The Shining - but only just
I sometimes think that this film version of Stephen King's the Shining should come with a warning that is only very very loosely based on the book. Read more
Published 12 days ago by Adam Gardiner

5.0 out of 5 stars Blue ray from the U.S.A,YES,YES for britain
Right we all know how excellent,superb,never to be repeated,the shining is,the shining with jack nicholson & shelly duvall is the only version to be considered,. Read more
Published 1 month ago by sawyer

5.0 out of 5 stars A MARVELLOUS METAPHYSICAL MURDEROUS METAFORCE
A METAPHYSICAL METAFORCE

THE RATHER MEDIOCRE BOOK BY KING IS TURNED INTO A PARABLE ON HOW THE HUMAN SUBCONCIOUS IS ALTERED BY THE ENVIRONMENT . Read more
Published 5 months ago by Dr. U. L. Khawaja

3.0 out of 5 stars JACK NICHOLSON AND STEPHEN KING
The Shining [1980]
An ugly, hard-to-stomach horror movie, from Stanley Kubrick, whose sense of taste and feeling for his character have somewhat dulled. Read more
Published 7 months ago by JESSICA'S DAD

5.0 out of 5 stars the shining
this film is well better than the book this makes you worry about your family jack nicolson is a great actor but is scarey at times this is the best horror film ever made
Published 8 months ago by Mrs. D. Wilson

3.0 out of 5 stars Film/Book Comparison
I decided to read the Shining Before watching the film. I Loved the book a i feel i would have enjoyed the film alot more if i hadnt read the book 1st, not only did the film take... Read more
Published 8 months ago by P. Derrick

4.0 out of 5 stars GREAT FILM
Having never heard of this film i was told by a friend to get it, i watched it and realy enjoyed it , yes the film looks dated , and there are no great special affects, but the... Read more
Published 9 months ago by Mark Southwell

3.0 out of 5 stars If you have read the book dont watch the film!!
I read the book a few months ago and i loved it but when i watched the film i just wanted it to be over its a very bad adaptation of the book there is so much wrong about the film... Read more
Published 9 months ago by A. G. Harris

5.0 out of 5 stars who cares about the book...its one of the greatest films ever made
this is a stunning piece of film making that is certainly needed on everyones shelves.
i saw this on telly last christmas and it gave me the chills... Read more
Published 12 months ago by S. J. Pinder

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