Kubrick's worst film.

Rating: 7/10 (11 April 2007)

Stephen King, if he had been dead, would have been spinning in his grave. Stanley Kubrick's version of "THE SHINING" lost me as a fan when it departed so radically from the novel. I do not wonder that King had another version of the story filmed later. While Kubrick is a great director has done wonderful films, this one missed its chance. I am not saying that it is not a scary movie, it is that. But the casting of the film was all wrong, except for Scatman Crothers as Halloran. It is his murder, among the other changes from the book that disappointed many King fans. I also felt cheated when they substituted the maze for the scenes in the Topiary Garden and the playground, which to me were some of the most terrifying in the book. In it's defense I will say that the scenery and sets for the movie were first rate. I would like to have heard Wendy Carlos' complete score for the soundtrack. Still it is watchable, but just not the film it should have been