A hilariously poor attempt at horror that's unfaithful to the original book.

Rating: 2/10 (24 November 2012)

Having read the book and been fascinated by Stephen King's portrayal of family issues, alcoholism, and the haunting nature of the Overlook Hotel, I figured I might as well watch the critically acclaimed film to go along with it.
Man, was it horrible.
To put it bluntly, it's as if Kubrick read the plot synopsis for the book, nodded his head, and made a movie. Almost none of the film reflects the events or atmosphere of King's original work. Not only that, but key components that are stressed over and over again by King are completely missing in this 2+ hour atrocity. Furthermore, no one but Scatman Crothers do a good job acting in this adaptation; even Nicholson somehow fails to deliver a decent performance. The camera angles were very well done, but the things they were showing made me face-palm at almost every scene, without fail. The music was excessive and eventually downright irritating. There wasn't a moment in the film when I was scared, mystified, or on the edge of my seat.
Overall, surely a huge disappointment for anyone who's read the novel and expects anything at least remotely above mediocre.