Over-long and over-rated

Rating: Null/10 (4 January 2001)

Just like 2001 and EYES WIDE SHUT, this Kubrick film is overly long with not enough pay-off to justify the length. What happens when an over-rated director makes a movie of an over-rated author's book? An over-rated movie.
Ominous, ominous, toil and trouble, Fire burn and caldron bubble. SHINING is a tale told by a King, Full of Kubrick and fury, Signifying nothing!
I liked the contrast between the seeming sophistication of the civilized hotel in the wilderness and the monstrous atmosphere created. But there is much less here than meets the eye. I guess I would have to say, "All atmosphere and little story makes SHINING a dull thing." Ironic, ain't it, considering the title.
The real horror of the movie is the excruciatingly slow pace. It would have been a much better movie if it had been edited to make it move faster. But then this is a Kubrick production which means that it is self-indulgently long.