The Shining [SteelBook] [Includes Digital Copy] [4K Ultra HD Blu-ray/Blu-ray] [Only @ Best Buy] [1980]

The Shining is a horror film the likes of which we will never see again. It is not reliant upon bogeyman-in-the-closet scares to get its effect, nor on a body count or "who's next" attitude. Rather, master filmmaker Stanley Kubrick gets us most by making us wait. We wait as young Danny rides his big-wheel tricycle around the hotel. We wait as Jack slowly goes insane, and we wait for the inevitable consequences. This is the story of Jack Torrance and his wife and son, Wendy and Danny, who are winter caretakers for the Overlook Hotel in Colorado. The Hotel is very isolated, not only because of its location on a mountain, but because when heavy snows hit, there is essentially no way for them to get to town. In this setting, Jack's mind begins to deteriorate. However, as he meets strange figures such as Lloyd the bartender and Delbert Grady the butler, who shares a name with the previous caretaker who mudrered HIS family, the question arises: is this mere madness? Or is there a supernatural element involved? This film is no less eerie and atmospheric than it was upon its initial release, and certainly this new DVD release does not hinder it in any way. The picture and sound are beautiful, and Kubrick's starkly contrasted colors are totally intact. Kubrick originally shot the film in a 1.37:1 aspect ration, in which the top and bottom of the picture are meant to be masked off for the theatrical run to create widescreen, but on TV it will be the standard 1.33:1. It is presented on this DVD as 1.85:1, which is the format of widescreen TVs. This is a good DVD set, complete with the previously-released production documentary by Kubrick's daughter Vivian and some new featurettes. If you're a fan of this film, or if you have yet to see it, be sure to pick it up.

As a fan of all things King, I feel bad that his least favorite movie drawn from his work just happens to by my favorite...but I am also a huge lover of Stanley Kubrick and this is one of my all time favorite of his films and one of my favorite horror films too!! This copy replaced my old full-frame dvd and I must say, it was well worth the double dip. Seeing Kubrick's gorgeous cinematography in true widescreen format is nothing short of spectacular! This bluray presentation looks beautiful and sounds great. Of course, the movie and the acting are stellar as well, plus I love the new artwork for the steelbook design. Looks great on display with my Jack Torrance Pop and has made a welcome addition to my Stephen King collection. I also picked up the other two Best Buy exclusives released this month for It and Salem's Lot. If you're on the fence on this one, all I can say is jump down and head to your nearest Best Buy with your credit card in hand! Turn the lights down, grab some snacks and enjoy!

I've seen the Shining dozens of times, but still get something different out of it, at each viewing. Frightening beyond belief, because it could really happen. Surreal, because of the inconsistent oddities that occur, which could be just in Jack's (the main character) imagination, or could actually be paranormal. Because of that, I see a lot of it metaphorically. Some things aren't actually happening the way that you see them, but rather symbolize what's going on, in part what the guy's head is filled with, and partly what the family is experiencing. The screenwriter did the story differently than Stephen King did. Stephen hated that the wife was portrayed as a wet dishrag, like a helpless noodle. So did I. However, I revert to what I said before--the methaphorical take on what's happened. When you consider all and then things still don't make sense, think of it metaphorically and you'll begin to piece things together. So, while the wife may have been much stronger in reality, her behavior was symptomatic of the marital relationship. I love Stephen King, but I can understand the artistic license that the screenwriter took. Mind-blowing, and frightening. You won't be able to walk around without looking over your shoulder for awhile after seeing it.

As far as Kubrick's filmography on Blu-ray goes, 1980's The Shining is second to 2001: A Space Odyssey in picture quality and story. The colors on the transfer are vibrant and striking. It is only after the door to room 237 opens that the film gives off a detached, uneasy tone. Suddenly, the atmosphere- in sound as well as in picture- drops. At this instant, the viewer starts to feel like something isn't going right, like there's something more to the bigger picture, of which only Jack Torrence can see. Simply put, the film's transfer looks beautiful, and it has a sound track to match it. The extras aren't exactly 5-star material, though. The trailer is not in full high definition (although it is still eerie), and there's only so much that the featurettes can deliver. The commentary with Steadicam inventor Garrett Brown is one of the two special features that is really worth noting. The other is Vivian Kubrick's insightful mini-documentary that gives audiences that rare glimpse into the legendary's director's mindset while working on a film. My first viewing of this film was on Blu-ray, and I cannot imagine seeing it any other way, except maybe on a large theater screen. Both the execution of Kubrick's film and it's haunting performances are those that stay with you forever... and ever, and ever.

I am Impressed ! I never thought for a moment that a 28 year old film, could be transfered over to high definition with this much clarity. At times it's startling to see the amount of definition, which includes exceptional depth with color looking like this film was just shot! Okay enuff Kudo's. To the audio. They have included a Multichannel PCM/Digital Dolby 5.1 soundtrack which is a step up from the normal offerings. Granted most of the action comes from the center, with music being played through the satellites and occasionally some discrete effects. All in all its a good mix, but a bit flat on the frequency scales, but hey! This film is almost 3 decades old.. Extras: 30 minute documentary, and the usual optional audio commentary. I will say this much, even if you have this title on Dvd, its still worth the upgrade to Blu-ray. Believe me when I tell you, this version is a revelation thats has to be seen to be believed. Wow! Shelley Duvall has teeth the size of Chiclets!

The Shining is a film that needs no introduction - if you haven't seen this you are doing yourself and your existence a disservice. If you happen to be getting into horror cinema then hopefully this is high on your list of "to see" films. This particular edition is the first and only blu-ray version of the movie available thus far and it looks excellent - the colors are spot-on and detail is evident but not so strong as to give you an overly grainy picture. It's also worth noting that this edition shows the film in its original widescreen aspect ratio which is most welcome since the common DVD release had the picture cropped to fullscreen. All-in-all, this is the best The Shining has ever looked and I cannot recommend this release highly enough to anyone with even a passing interest in cinema at large let alone horror.

The movie is a perfect psychological thriller. Jack, an aspiring but failed writer undertakes the winter-caretaker duty of a hotel on the Colorado mountains. Yes, he comes with the quite dysfunctional family, through in the beginning of the movie Jack, wendy the wife and danny the kiddo play the audience, giving an atmosphere of normalcy around them. Well, slowly we see the facade falling, as Jack is showing the symptoms of a mentally ill person (hallucinations, sudden rages, depression). It is quite a watch to see how his illness develops in a terrible murderous fashion in the solitude of the hotel. Wendy's courage and Danny's apparent "psychic" powers add to the charm of the movie.

The shining is definitely a classic and if you like this movie you’ll love this Steelbook version. The picture quality is perfect and is everything you can ask for from an older movie. The sound is perfect as well. As for the steelbook art I love the back of the movie, and the front cover captures one of the most iconic scenes in the movie as well. It’s a beautiful addition to your collection and I got it at a great price. I’m extremely happy with my purchase. If you don’t have The Shining, or if you have it and it’s not a steelbook, you should definitely pick this up today because it’s a top notch product.