Login
‘The Dark Tower’ looks like it’s going to be one of Stephen King’s less faithful movie adaptations. Mike Calabro takes a look at the two vastly different versions of ‘The Shining’ to explain why that might not always be a bad thing.
» Subscribe to NowThis Nerd: go.nowth.is/Nerd_Subscribe
1980 saw the release of one of the greatest horror movies ever made from a master of modern cinema: Stanley Kubrick. ‘The Shining’ shocked audiences everywhere with its psychological terror, subtle scares and masterful performances from stars like Jack Nicholson and Shelly Duvall. The film is an undisputed classic, and it’s definitely one of the best Stephen King film adaptations. but there’s one famous person who’s definitely not a fan: Stephen King. ‘The Shining’ was a deeply personal book for King, and he’s always hated Stanley Kubrick’s ‘Shining’ film. So much so that the man himself eventually decided to make his own. Let’s go in-depth on Kubrick vs. King.
‘The Shining’ mini series in 1997 was Stephen King’s baby from top to bottom. It’s as close to an adaptation of ‘The Shining’ book as you could possibly get, but it pales in comparison to the Kubrick ‘Shining.’ The Stephen King ‘Shining’ miniseries was made for TV and it definitely shows. The budget is tiny, the horror is toned down, and the quality just isn’t there compared to Kubrick’s ‘The Shining.’ 1997 Jack Torrance is played by sitcom star Steven Weber, who tries his best but can’t touch the legendary insanity of Jack Nicholson, and the rest of the cast isn’t much better.
The effects in ‘The Shining’ TV version are more ambitious than Kubrick’s film, but director Mick Garris just couldn’t pull them off. And a lot of the subplots and themes that gave such depth to ‘The Shining’ novel only bog down a way-too-long miniseries. There’s none of the brilliance or elegance or subtlety in Stephen King’s ‘The Shining’ 1997 series that made the Kubrick ‘Shining’ such a masterpiece. ‘The Shining’ series is more accurate to the book, but that doesn’t make it one of the good Stephen King movies. Film and literature are extremely different mediums, and what works in one form often doesn’t work in the other.
Get more from NowThis Nerd:
» Like Us: go.nowth.is/NowNerd_Facebook
» Tweet Us: go.nowth.is/NowNerd_Twitter
» Follow Us: go.nowth.is/NowNerd_Instagram
Get more from NowThis News:
» Subscribe to NowThis: go.nowth.is/News_Subscribe
» Like us on Facebook: go.nowth.is/News_Facebook
» Tweet us on Twitter: go.nowth.is/News_Twitter
» Follow us on Instagram: go.nowth.is/News_Instagram
» Find us on Snapchat Discover: go.nowth.is/News_Snapchat
NowThis Nerd is your one stop shop for everything from movies and TV to games and comics. We’re committed to fueling the conversation about the nerd world and nerd culture. Join us every week as we geek out and explore topics such as sci-fi, aliens, monsters, superheroes and villains, comics, Marvel, DC, and so much more.
» Subscribe to NowThis Nerd: go.nowth.is/Nerd_Subscribe
1980 saw the release of one of the greatest horror movies ever made from a master of modern cinema: Stanley Kubrick. ‘The Shining’ shocked audiences everywhere with its psychological terror, subtle scares and masterful performances from stars like Jack Nicholson and Shelly Duvall. The film is an undisputed classic, and it’s definitely one of the best Stephen King film adaptations. but there’s one famous person who’s definitely not a fan: Stephen King. ‘The Shining’ was a deeply personal book for King, and he’s always hated Stanley Kubrick’s ‘Shining’ film. So much so that the man himself eventually decided to make his own. Let’s go in-depth on Kubrick vs. King.
‘The Shining’ mini series in 1997 was Stephen King’s baby from top to bottom. It’s as close to an adaptation of ‘The Shining’ book as you could possibly get, but it pales in comparison to the Kubrick ‘Shining.’ The Stephen King ‘Shining’ miniseries was made for TV and it definitely shows. The budget is tiny, the horror is toned down, and the quality just isn’t there compared to Kubrick’s ‘The Shining.’ 1997 Jack Torrance is played by sitcom star Steven Weber, who tries his best but can’t touch the legendary insanity of Jack Nicholson, and the rest of the cast isn’t much better.
The effects in ‘The Shining’ TV version are more ambitious than Kubrick’s film, but director Mick Garris just couldn’t pull them off. And a lot of the subplots and themes that gave such depth to ‘The Shining’ novel only bog down a way-too-long miniseries. There’s none of the brilliance or elegance or subtlety in Stephen King’s ‘The Shining’ 1997 series that made the Kubrick ‘Shining’ such a masterpiece. ‘The Shining’ series is more accurate to the book, but that doesn’t make it one of the good Stephen King movies. Film and literature are extremely different mediums, and what works in one form often doesn’t work in the other.
Get more from NowThis Nerd:
» Like Us: go.nowth.is/NowNerd_Facebook
» Tweet Us: go.nowth.is/NowNerd_Twitter
» Follow Us: go.nowth.is/NowNerd_Instagram
Get more from NowThis News:
» Subscribe to NowThis: go.nowth.is/News_Subscribe
» Like us on Facebook: go.nowth.is/News_Facebook
» Tweet us on Twitter: go.nowth.is/News_Twitter
» Follow us on Instagram: go.nowth.is/News_Instagram
» Find us on Snapchat Discover: go.nowth.is/News_Snapchat
NowThis Nerd is your one stop shop for everything from movies and TV to games and comics. We’re committed to fueling the conversation about the nerd world and nerd culture. Join us every week as we geek out and explore topics such as sci-fi, aliens, monsters, superheroes and villains, comics, Marvel, DC, and so much more.