The Shinning by Stephen King is a great book.
The movie was good too but the book really pulls you into the protagonist's madness. I remember feeling actual dread when reading it,that's why I won't read it again😂.
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basilfawlty89 · 36-40, M
Thank you!
I hated the movie in many ways.
Jack is reduced to a one dimensional villain.
You get the feeling he's gonna try to murder his family like 5 minutes into the movie.
Jack in the book is a layered person.
He is flawed and struggling with addiction, childhood abuse and mistakes, yet trying to be a better person.
That's what makes the Overlook so insidious.
It twists his mind and preys on his trauma to drive him to madness.
I hated the movie in many ways.
Jack is reduced to a one dimensional villain.
You get the feeling he's gonna try to murder his family like 5 minutes into the movie.
Jack in the book is a layered person.
He is flawed and struggling with addiction, childhood abuse and mistakes, yet trying to be a better person.
That's what makes the Overlook so insidious.
It twists his mind and preys on his trauma to drive him to madness.
robingoodfellow · M
@basilfawlty89 I find the movie to be very good as long as you throw the book out the window. Kubrick put the essence of the story on screen instead of trying to do a faithful version of the book because to do so would make an 8 hour film, or something crazy like that.
basilfawlty89 · 36-40, M
@robingoodfellow yes and no.
On its own, the film is decent.
As to the essence of the book - not at all.
The real horror of The Shining is not the ghosts. It's the real ghosts such as trauma, and at its heart is a foray into domestic violence.
On its own, the film is decent.
As to the essence of the book - not at all.
The real horror of The Shining is not the ghosts. It's the real ghosts such as trauma, and at its heart is a foray into domestic violence.
robingoodfellow · M
@basilfawlty89
I found that to be at the heart of the film. I don't see the film as much of a ghost story at all. But I guess we see it differently.
The real horror of The Shining is not the ghosts. It's the real ghosts such as trauma, and at its heart is a foray into domestic violence
I found that to be at the heart of the film. I don't see the film as much of a ghost story at all. But I guess we see it differently.
basilfawlty89 · 36-40, M
@robingoodfellow I could see that perspective, but where's Jack's character development? We see nothing of his own childhood abuse at the hands of his father. We barely see his struggles with alcoholism. He's just a one dimensional villain.
robingoodfellow · M
@basilfawlty89 I don't disagree with you. But this is why I said throw the book out the window.
The first time I watched it I was disappointed because I saw only fragments of the book in there. But watching it repeatedly and taking the film on its own terms I began to appreciate it.
The first time I watched it I was disappointed because I saw only fragments of the book in there. But watching it repeatedly and taking the film on its own terms I began to appreciate it.