A METHOD OF TORTURING YOUR ENEMIES. JUST SIT THEM DOWN AND MAKE THEM WATCH THIS.

Rating: 1/10 (14 July 2001)

Rarely have I seen a masterpiece of literature turned into a pile of horse manure...
PROBLEMS:(SPOILERS)
1.JACK NICHOLSON= Hugely miscast.The descent into madness is supposed to be gradual. This Jack looked like he was already going to murder his family.
2.SCRIPT=Although the names and basic plot are in place(guy goes loopey in hotel) a lot of the scenes in the film I could not remember reading(eg two girls,blood in lift). Why did Kubrick drift from the book? Mostly, he didn't drift in A Clockwork Orange, so why here?Plus, the characters were one dimensional cardboard cut-outs, so how could I pity them?
3.SHELLY DUVALL=Deserved to die, she was that annoying. The Wendy in the book is strong willed and not a pathetic loser. The reason they went to the Overlook was to save their marriage.
4.ENDING=Jack did not freeze to death in the snow. In the book, it showed that Jack was still human enough to recognise his love for his son. The ''frozen'' scene here left me with a feeling of disgust that the pinnicale of the book had been replaced for a cheap shock.
WATCH THE TV SERIES INSTEAD BUT READ THE BOOK FIRST.