"See? It's OK, he saw it on the television!"

Rating: 9/10 (18 December 2005)

Personally I love this film, I think it's a great movie and stylistically brilliant. But I'm obviously not going to change anyone else's opinion on this film, so I won't try.
I'd just like to say that most of the people who seem to hate this film hate it because it doesn't follow the exact plot of Stephen King's book (which I have read and also like!) Well, it's an adaptation of the book not an unerringly faithful cover. It's Kubrick's version of the story- like a cover version of a song, and you'd probably feel a bit ripped off if the cover version was identical to the original, no? Other famous adaptations have changed source material- I mean The Godfather leaves out an entire subplot from Mario Puzo's book and I haven't seen anyone mark that film with one star because the source is changed! Approach the film without expecting to see exactly what is in the book and you might enjoy it a bit more. Make your own judgement on Kubrick's direction, but some of the tracking steadicam shots are undeniably great and the creepy visuals really get under your skin.
The one point I will concede to the 'haters'(sorry chaps can't think of a better word at the mo) is the ambiguity concerning Jack Torrance's character at the start of the movie. Is he already supposed to be crazy? He is a bit over the top to begin with.* In short, though I love this film i can understand why some people might not. I just don't think a good reason to hate it is because the source material has been altered.
*Not sure if this counts as a spoiler but I'm just covering my back!