Home Video Review: Kubrick's The Shining, by Melissa Roberts staff writer Director Stanley Kubrick and novelist Stephen King came together in 1980 to produce what many consider the scariest movie of all time. They may have done just that. The Shining still competes with today's high priced horror movies. The Shining, based on King's earlier novel of the same name, is a story of Jack, Wendy, and Danny Torrence. Jack (Jack Nicholson) is the formerly alcoholic writer who had become sober after an injury he caused to his son. Wendy (Shelley Duvall) is the obedient wife, who puts up with everything Jack decides to do or whatever he tells her she is going to do. Their son, Danny (Danny Lloyd), resorts to having an imaginary friend named Tony, after being taken away from his friends in Vermont to move to Colorado to benefit Jack's writing career. Tony is not just an ordinary imaginary friend; Tony helps Danny understand that he has "the shining"—which is an ability to pick up psychic vibes from the present, past, and future. Danny keeps "the shining" to himself, while his family lives a relatively quiet life. In the beginning "the shining" introduces to the viewers the seriousness of the deaths that have occurred at the hotel. At first, the idea of a little boy being able to see things that have happened or are going to happen seems a bit unreal, but later this adds to the growing climax of the plot. Desperate for some peace and quiet so he can write, Jack takes a job of looking after the Overlook Hotel while it is closed for the winter season, due to the bad weather that strikes the Colorado mountains. Set about 30 join The Collegian staff call 898-6488 ACROSS 1 Apple PCs 5 Alaskan language 10 Plenty 14 Woodwind 15 Actress Diamond 16 Roman tyrant 17 Donations to the poor 18 Lizardlike amphibian 20 Language of Katmandu 22 Make happy 23 Make happy 24 "Star Wars" princess 25 Stomach ills 27 Danger signal 31 Prize money 32 Spooky 34 Cut off 35 Rouse to action 37 Roadside furrow 39 Caper 40 Goofed 42 Rai's title 44 Sample 45 Detects by scrutiny 47 At any time 49 Berry and Norton 50 Brownstone entrance 51 Crocheted coverlet 54 Cries noisily 57 Disastrous 59 Runny cheese 60 Garden of _ 61 Nary a soul 62 Singular 63 Potential plant 64 Reverberating instruments 65 Brings to a close DOWN 1 Ecstatic cry 2 Having the skill 3 Garbage squeezers 4 Opening word 5 Estimated 6 Tenancy term 7 Model a timeless horror flick miles up a twisting road in the Rocky Mountains, the Overlook Hotel is set in the area where the Donner Party was lost years ago. During the interview the owner of the hotel tells Jack about a tragedy that struck the hotel in 1970. In 1970, Mr. Gordon, the man who took care of the hotel during the off season, had gone crazy because of the isolation during the winter. Mr. Gordon had killed his two Director Stanley Kubrick knows how to make an effective horror movie....A lot of small details throughout the whole movie lead to a very suspenseful ending. daughters and wife with an ax and stacked them in room 237, then stuck a gun in his mouth and killed himself too. The owner of the hotel tells Jack of this tragedy to ensure that this tragedy will not strike again. On closing day of the Overlook Hotel, the Torrances move into their new home at the hotel and get a grand tour and instructions. Danny's feeling of what had happened in the hotel get stronger and stronger and often leave the boy completely terrified of his new home. The head cook at the Overlook Hotel also has "the shining" and begins to explain the phenomenon to Danny. As much time passes, Jack becomes frustrated with his writing and becomes hostile towards Danny, and Wendy and Jack begin to get "the shining" too, getting visions of Mr. Gordon, the past caretaker of the hotel who brutally slaughtered his family. AU rights reserved MacPherson 8 Actress Thurman 9 Packed down 10 Hardened by heat 11 Queen of Sparta 12 Raw minerals 13 Barreled (along) 19 John Smith, perhaps 21 Attract 24 Bloodsucker 25 Bumped higher 26 Peter, the actor 27 Gam and Moreno 28 Role for Madonna 29 Remove moisture again 30 Donahue and Aikman 33 Gets up 36 Swabbie 38 Interruptions 41 Reverie 43 Amorphous mass 46 Baseball unit 48 Balance precariously 50 Suspended 51 Top cards 52 Grow less Mr. Gordon seems to be giving Jack ideas to kill his family as well. The winter gets heavier and Jack gets crazier and crazier, as he sabotages the SnoCat (the only method of transportation from the hotel). Finally all three realize what is going on; and while Wendy and Danny fight for their lives, Jack is on a rampage to eliminate them. If it isn't scary enough that Jack is crazy and chasing both Danny and Wendy around the house, both Wendy and Jack start getting "the shining" themselves. Blood running from the elevator, ghosts sitting in the dining room and Danny running from the wrath of Jack contribute to the suspense and drama of the movie. The dark scenes along with the hallowing music inform you that this a classic horror movie. Director Stanley Kubrick knows how to make an effective horror movie. In old horror flicks it is often a dialogue of "I'll go answer the door" or "I better see what is scraping on the window," but The Shining is far from this. It is so straight forward, without any tricks you have no idea what is going on. There are thrills in each room and you don't know what will be around the next corner. Unfortunately, only about 45 out of the 144 minutes of the movie is filled with suspense; but the other 99 minutes are filled with enough plot so you don't get bored. A lot of small details throughout the whole movie lead to a very suspenseful ending. What details seem small and minute, in the end, turn out to be major parts of the plot. This movie ranks right up there with recent movies like Scream and 1 Know What You Did Last Summer. This is a perfect movie to rent when you are ready for a scary, suspense filled time. distinct 53 Merriment 54 Blessing 55 Tough coat 56 Catches a glimpse of 58 Also Features photo by Jason Pirate King (RJ Frelin, left) and Frederic (Michael Lechner) collaborate forces in The Pirates of Penzance, the spring musical which runs March 25-29. The 'gang of singing and dancing pirates rehearse their parts for Gilbert and Sullivan's The Pirates of Penzance. 2 / 1 9/98 lour SaciAL WoSErAfTOR k - YVoRK ... Thursday, February 19, 1998 - The Behrend College Collegian - Page photo by Jason Blake o , o l ' 1 rsVT S .•4114w,
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