The film based on Stephen Kings classic novel is considered a horror masterpiece.
The miniseries…not so much.
How do they compare?
Kings career was taking off like a rocket.
KubricksThe Shiningcame out in 1980 but was met, at least initially, with mixed reviews.
However, the harshest criticism perhaps came from King himself.
But Kings displeasure with the film never wavered.
It was a ratings and critical hit, with some preferring it to the Kubrick film.
Decades later, how do the two compare?
Which version is more faithful to the novel?
There are no such moments in the book, nor are they in the miniseries.
Conversely, Kubrick and Nicholson opted to give Jack an ax instead.
Three critical plot points from Kings book, altered by Kubrick, are likewise restored in the miniseries.
Jack and Danny are haunted by a collection of topiary hedge animals, which gradually come to life.
Kubrick of course discarded those entirely, preferring to utilize the chilly image of a labyrinthine hedge maze instead.
Are the ghosts of the Overlook Hotel real?
The movie is structured to suggest that everything could be viewed through the lens of Jacks psychosis.
Thats a radically different reading of the source material.
That makes the manifestations in the book and the miniseries very real, indeed.
Again, until the closing scenes, Kubrick is cagey about what is real and whats not.
How is the ending different in the two versions?
Well, thats exactly what happens.
But in its bloodlust, the hotel forgets that the boiler needs dumping.
In Kubricks film, the boiler is never an issue and is barely addressed.
Hallorann is dead, but has left a snowcat parked outside.
At the bottom of the photo, grinning up from the crowd of revelers, is Jack.
Which version has the better performances?
Nicholsons performance as Jack Torrance in Kubricks film is nothing less than iconic.
His grinning face peering through the broken door frame, saying Heres Johnny!
and leering maniacally, is one of the most recognizable images in all of cinema.
Jack comes to the hotel psychologically prepared to do its murderous bidding, Kubrick told Clement.
He doesnt have very much further to go for his anger and frustration to become completely uncontrollable.
He is bitter about his failure as a writer.
He is married to a woman for whom he has only contempt.
He hates his son.
He is frustrated with his career, but hes not quickly ready to fulfill his dark role.
It thus makes him far more sympathetic and tragic.
Having said that, Weber is primarily a TV actor.
Well swing back in the movies favor, however, for little Danny.
Which version has the better production values and direction?
In fact, KubricksThe Shiningdownplays almost all visual effects for the most part.
Both versions do offerfascinating controls.
It is cold while the miniseries is… warmer.
The film version ofThe Shiningis streaming on most major platforms, while the miniseries is not.
The latter can be found on DVD, while the movie is available on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray.
