The Shining, Lethal Weapon 2 and Heaven's Gate

[Trevor]

There they are: the three films from the 1980s that I loathe the most but have in my collection anyway.  

I have gotten my writing mojo back it seems, and I would like to ask if I should review them? Lethal Weapon 2 for obvious reasons but the other two are loved and reviled in equal measure.

What say you?

[zelmo73]

Why do you loathe The Shining (1980)? I know why Stephen King loathed it, but that's what he gets for having Stanley Kubrick as a director. 

[major jay]

I'd like to hear your take on THE SHINING.
I first saw it when it debuted, and didn't think that much of it. Since then I've enjoyed it quite a bit. I think the movie's all about Jack Torrance and his loathsome personality. He dislikes his wife, his kid and his general lot in life. Then he finally snaps when he can't even come up with one page worth of words for his new novel. And to add to this Wendy steps up and assumes his role as the man of the family.

[Allhallowsday]

I think the film THE SHINING is superior to KING's novel. 

[bob]

Did you end up getting The Criterion Collection edition of Heaven's Gate?

Anyways, if you want to review all three of them go for it! 

[zelmo73]

I think the film THE SHINING is superior to KING's novel. 

The film is Kubrick's more realistic take on the book, which is why King didn't like it. In the book, the ghosts and the haunted hotel were the stars, whereas in the film, Jack Torrance's insanity and movie history's most extreme reaction to writer's block took center stage; while the ghosts and the haunted hotel were treated almost as though they were simply figments of Jack Torrance's crazed mind. What was considered to be a flop by Stephen King's standards, was considered to be a work of Stanley Kubrick's filmmaking genius by countless others.

[Trevor]

Why do you loathe The Shining (1980)? I know why Stephen King loathed it, but that's what he gets for having Stanley Kubrick as a director. 

The book terrified me and the film was the first movie adaptation of a book I liked: I didn't like the film. It wasn't all bad, but to tell you the truth, it was wayy better than the TV miniseries. 

[Trevor]

Did you end up getting The Criterion Collection edition of Heaven's Gate?

Anyways, if you want to review all three of them go for it! 

Thanks bob: I once had a Criterion DVD in my hands - it was Mona Lisa. The cost? 600 South African rand which is approximately $60! Yikes, no ways.    I have the MGM Heaven's Gate DVD.

[zelmo73]

Why do you loathe The Shining (1980)? I know why Stephen King loathed it, but that's what he gets for having Stanley Kubrick as a director. 

The book terrified me and the film was the first movie adaptation of a book I liked: I didn't like the film. It wasn't all bad, but to tell you the truth, it was wayy better than the TV miniseries. 

I honestly never gave the TV miniseries a chance. My parents were BIG fans of the book and the movie, and they said that they never laughed so hard in their lives before the TV miniseries came along. All I saw was that the guy from Wings was playing Jack Torrance, which pretty much decided it for me right there. 

[Bushma]

What say you?

Write the reviews for yourself. I'll read at least The Shining, I enjoy that movie and wkd be interested to know why you don't.

[HappyGilmore]

Why do you loathe The Shining (1980)? I know why Stephen King loathed it, but that's what he gets for having Stanley Kubrick as a director. 

The book terrified me and the film was the first movie adaptation of a book I liked: I didn't like the film. It wasn't all bad, but to tell you the truth, it was wayy better than the TV miniseries. 

I loathe the miniseries. Nothing better than spending six hours watching people talk.

Do something! Hey look..a ghost. Nope...back to talking. Ahhhh....

[Trevor]

I'd like to hear your take on THE SHINING.
I first saw it when it debuted, and didn't think that much of it. Since then I've enjoyed it quite a bit. I think the movie's all about Jack Torrance and his loathsome personality. He dislikes his wife, his kid and his general lot in life. Then he finally snaps when he can't even come up with one page worth of words for his new novel. And to add to this Wendy steps up and assumes his role as the man of the family.

Among the many things I dislike about this film is the fact that Wendy is portrayed as being essentially weak - which she was not in the book - and speaking as someone raised by a feminist, that is a very low image of any woman. 

[Trevor]

I loathe the miniseries. Nothing better than spending six hours watching people talk.
Do something! Hey look..a ghost. Nope...back to talking. Ahhhh....

LOL

[Trevor]

What say you?

Write the reviews for yourself. I'll read at least The Shining, I enjoy that movie and wkd be interested to know why you don't.

I should just add here that I don't hate the film: it was just not the film adaptation of a wonderful book that I wanted. If I did hate it, no ways would I spend a week or so writing a review about it. There is a lot of good in it (some really good scares) but I really did not take to it at all. It is better than the miniseries though. 

[retrorussell]

Wow, I'd think there's more movies you could hate from the 80s in at least equal measure.  GYMKATA, RUSSKIES, HOWARD THE DUCK, SCREAM (the 80s one), GARBAGE PAIL KIDS, CAVE DWELLERS, etc.
I'm sort of with you on The Shining; it's kind of a platform for Jack Nicholson to just wildly emote.  I didn't dislike it by any means but I did feel it was a letdown.  And the "REDRUM" thing was pretty laughable.