Every frame is a piece of art

Rating: 10/10 (30 May 1999)

Many people wonder why I say "The Shining is the Greatest Movie Ever Made". I show it to them, turn it off, and then they just say: "What's the big deal?". The Shining is a big deal. It isn't just about a recovering alcoholic caretaker suffering from a bout of cabin fever, it focuses on his growing hatred for his family, and his growing love for the Hotel, as graphically described in the book (just for the record, I prefer the movie). Kubrick's obsession with the Stedicam, chasing Danny through the long winded, carpeted halls of the Overlook Hotel, the score and the beginning music: "Dies Irae" from the Symphony Fantastique by Borodin all add to the truly amazing, terrifiying and fantastic roller-coaster of a ride that is The Shining.
If you haven't seen The Shining, you are missing out on a film where every frame is a piece of art.