Just brilliant!

Rating: Null/10 (29 August 2000)

After getting out The Shining for the first time and watching it for about the third time this week, it is definitely a new favorite of mine. After only seeing one other Stanley Kubrick film, Eyes Wide Shut, which is also just brilliant, The Shining highlights Kubrick's style, and makes a horror movie into more of a psychological thriller. It wasn't like your typical 'I can see that you're wearing a mask' horror movie, it was more like a Silence of the Lambs type. SO much more satisfying and disturbing. I had always wanted to see The Shining, and I only just remembered by chance in the video store that I should get it. I must say, it was one of my best choices ever! It is funny how you don't have to get a new release out on video that you missed in the movies to be entertained; a classic from the 80's has turned my head away from the Hollywood movies which don't catch my attention half as much anymore.
The only thing I was withdrawn about was that in Australia, it was given an M rating, which means 15+ years can watch it, or at least rent it. And in other countries it is R, I don't understand this. I think this is a dramatic mistake on the classifications part, because there is no way I could stomach or mentally accept this movie if I was any younger. I am 19. And it deals with way too much that a child would not understand and would be frightened by. I am a psychology and counseling student, and not all of it was clear to me either. Was the fantasy all psychological? It should be much more restricted viewing. It was not like any other horror movie, and is not something I will forget anytime soon. It still lies with me like the wood-chipper scene in Fargo. Kiddies should watch out for this one when they are older.
Great movie, Jack Nicholson can certainly pull off those stares!