It's not a - or the - book: it's a *Movie* and great cinema!

Rating: Null/10 (10 October 2003)

Enjoyed King's book and had looked forwared to Kubrick's film: not exactly the same (film never is) -- but the ominous unseen *dread* permeates it, and that fear makes it one great feat. As most Kubrick films: it is extremely rich visually, and the music is perfect.
Most criticism seems to emanate from it not matching closely enough those viewers expectations: it's not supposed to. It's supposed to convey an author's and director's ideas -- King's protestations to the contrary, it does.
The hallucinations are scary, but they're not the really terrifying part of this story: that part's never seen -- yet Kubrick makes it as tangible as your morning coffee.
Like others probably, there were parts of the book I really looked forward to seeing in the film that weren't there -- most especially the topiary menagerie -- but Kubrick didn't shortchange me.
King writes books -- not movies: but it you want to see his ideas on film then see the made-for-tv one. To see greatness -- in a film: in cinematography and visual style, in acting and directing, in effect -- see Stanly Kubrick's.