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[Kano on the Phone]

Oh dear, someone hit a nerve.

Tbh I don't think you quite understand the impact Kubrick had on modern cinema or the esteem with which he is held.

People are esteemed all the time beyond what they deserve for various reasons. King himself is held in higher esteem than many better writers because he's very popular, them are just the breaks, as they say. Kubrick's works in his favor, as far as his legacy goes, so it isn't like being overrated is hurting him.

 

[Stet]

People are in love with loving Kubrick, so his stuff gets viewed through many sets of rose-colored glasses. The Shining is a turd that misses the point of the book entirely and is worse for it.

What, pray tell, is the "point of the book"?

 

[bengraven]

If that's the case it makes me wonder if he's actually seen the film at all. It very much isn't all in Torrance's head.

Well I'm basically paraphrasing because I didn't have it in front of me, but "tone" seems to be a huge issue for him.

 

[Ignatz Mouse]

Stephen King doesn't post here.

Just so your post doesn't go wasted, I'll respond by reminding you that Stephen King has had far more of an impact on modern fiction, both written and film, then Kubrick could have hoped for. That's apples to oranges in some ways, since one is a writer and one is a director, but purely as artists, King's influence can't even be stated, while Kubrick made some movies that inspired posters that look fantastic in dorm rooms (not to mention that King's works have inspired movies better than anything Kubrick did).

Kubrick is an all right director who was unique enough to attract fandom beyond his talent.

For instance?

The best I can think of is Shawshank, and that's one movie, and I don't think it's better than Kubrick's best. (And I can be quite critical of Kubrick.)

 

[LCGeek]

The film has a ton of symbolism like most kubrick flicks if this is all they are focusing on they are missing the point.

 

[Drek]

People are esteemed all the time beyond what they deserve for various reasons. King himself is held in higher esteem than many better writers because he's very popular, them are just the breaks, as they say. Kubrick's works in his favor, as far as his legacy goes, so it isn't like being overrated is hurting him.

Sorry bro, there aren't many better writers on the planet than Stephen King at his best. The Dark Tower series is Lord of the Rings/Dune tier. The Stand is an epic that has defined how we as a people perceive a post-apocalyptic future. Even if you take those away you're left with character studies masked behind horror/tragedy stories like Carrie, Salem's Lot, and The Dead Zone.

His straight horror works are best in class and the lot of it doesn't make the top 10 most important works of fiction King ever turned out.

He's all time great bro. All time.

 

[JumpJeff84]

Sort of off-topic, but what are King's best books? I read 11/22/63 recently and enjoyed it much more than I thought I would. I know its much different and probably not as highly regarded as his earlier work, but I never actually read another book of his.

IT is my favorite of his books. It's actually one of my favorite novels ever.

 

[Snowman Prophet of Doom]

Sorry bro, there aren't many better writers on the planet than Stephen King at his best. The Dark Tower series is Lord of the Rings/Dune tier. The Stand is an epic that has defined how we as a people perceive a post-apocalyptic future. Even if you take those away you're left with character studies masked behind horror/tragedy stories like Carrie, Salem's Lot, and The Dead Zone.

His straight horror works are best in class and the lot of it doesn't make the top 10 most important works of fiction King ever turned out.

He's all time great bro. All time.

.......

 

[Kano on the Phone]

Sorry bro, there aren't many better writers on the planet than Stephen King at his best. The Dark Tower series is Lord of the Rings/Dune tier. The Stand is an epic that has defined how we as a people perceive a post-apocalyptic future. Even if you take those away you're left with character studies masked behind horror/tragedy stories like Carrie, Salem's Lot, and The Dead Zone.

His straight horror works are best in class and the lot of it doesn't make the top 10 most important works of fiction King ever turned out.

He's all time great bro. All time.

I didn't say he wasn't. There being better writers who aren't held in as high of esteem is a compliment on their talent, not a knock on his.

 

[Raist]

Nah guys, the movie is about

Spoiler

the oppression of the American Indians and the Third Reich.

No, it was about how the landing of Apollo 11 on the moon was fake.

http://www.bibliotecapleyades.net/luna/luna_apollomissions10.htm

 

[Count of Monte Sawed-Off]

I just remembered that Dreamcatcher was kinda terrible.

I never read the book, but the movie was all kinds of shit.

 

[MetatronM]

That the movie is not exactly faithful to the book and does change some of the core themes is a valid criticism of its role as an adaptation, but it's more or less irrelevant to gauging the quality of the actual movie itself as a standalone work.

And as a movie it's very very good (Shelley Duvall notwithstanding).

 

[joeyjoejoeshabadoo]

Sort of off-topic, but what are King's best books? I read 11/22/63 recently and enjoyed it much more than I thought I would. I know its much different and probably not as highly regarded as his earlier work, but I never actually read another book of his.

IT

The Stand

The Shining

The Dark Tower Series (ties most of his books together in a neat way. Read this when you've read a few of his other books)

Needful Things (Can be hokey but I had a ton of fun with it and it reads like a Twilight Zone episode)

Talisman

Different Season (four short novellas. Includes Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption, Apt Pupil, and The Body which was the basis for Stand By Me)

Nightmares and Dreamscapes (collection of short stories. He has a few collections like it but Nightmare and Dreamscapes is my favorite. I'm a really big fan of his short stories, it's like reading concentrated Stephen King.)

Pet Sematary

 

[CaptainGyro]

Well, if he authorised the go ahead for a big fat pay cheque then his 'criticisms' dont really mean much. It's obvious concessions had to be made if Kubrick thought a complete copy of the book wasn't possible in movie format.

well just because he took a paycheck doesn't mean he has to personally like the version of it either

 

[Porcile]

My only issue with The Shining film is that although Jack should be the most complex character, he is actually the least interesting as far as development is concerned. He goes into The Overlook crazy and finishes that way. There's not much nuance to his descent into madness, it's there from the beginning.

Shelley Duvall is wonderful though.

 

[mattiewheels]

Duh. it wasn't about King's "the shining"

What kind of work?

All you say?

NAY.

A11.

A11 work makes Jack a very dull boy
[/IMG]

After seeing Room 237, reading that as "Apollo 11 work and no play..." kind of makes sense, ha.

 

[Fusebox]

I never read the book, but the movie was all kinds of shit.

Not sure if you were riffin a pun on the shit-scene, well played if you were.

 

[Secret Fawful]

It really bothers me that the first person to die in the Shining dies near the end of the film.....AND IT'S THE FUCKING BLACK GUY.

But other than that the film is incredibly effective. Haven't read the book yet.

 

[G-Fex]

I hated Jack (the character)

The best thing was the spirits or whatever they were.

 

[Fusebox]

It really bothers me that the first person to die in the Shining dies near the end of the film.....AND IT'S THE FUCKING BLACK GUY.

But other than that the film is incredibly effective. Haven't read the book yet.

Spoilers man.

But to be fair killing the black guy wasn't such a blatant trope back then as it is today.

 

[SiteSeer]

It really bothers me that the first person to die in the Shining dies near the end of the film.....AND IT'S THE FUCKING BLACK GUY.

But other than that the film is incredibly effective. Haven't read the book yet.

you know its funny, but it is a trend (black guy dies first) that i've noticed in the movies i've watched over the years, i once wanted to make a blog about it but i'm a lazy asshole so i never got around to it.

 

[ItAintEasyBeinCheesy]

Watching this now bit high.

Do you think during the interview the interviewer planted the whole kill family with an axe into Nichols head or would he still have done the same thing without the story being imprinted.

And is this book the inspiration from A Sixth Sense.

Heisenberg from Breaking Bad is totally crazy Jack Nichols in this movie.

 

[Wiktor]

It really bothers me that the first person to die in the Shining dies near the end of the film.....AND IT'S THE FUCKING BLACK GUY.

But other than that the film is incredibly effective. Haven't read the book yet.

The funny thing is that it was Kubrick change. The guy survived in the novel.

 

[Tim the Wiz]

Well, yes, Kubrick's The Shining might have a different underlying worldview than the book. Doesn't stop it from being the superior artistic achievement though - and I say this as someone who still enjoys King's work.