Time to visit the Overlook Hotel. Room 237 for fans of Stanley Kubrick, room 217 for Stephen King fans.
(Oregon's Timberline Lodge, a hotel used for exterior shots, didn't want to scare guests away from room 217. Interior shots were mostly done at Elstree Studios in Hertfordshire, England. The Stanley Hotel in Colorado was the inspiration for King's book.)
It's called THE SHINING, but what is that? Basically, “shining” is a combination of telepathy and clairvoyance. (Though Clairvoyance is just about visions, and Danny seems to have a few more ESP/ Clair senses. Also, he sees mostly past events, but also psychic premonitions.)
There are two big flaws Danny has to endure with this. One, he's a child, so getting people to believe he sees, hears, feels, or knows anything is basically impossible, much less when it comes to supernatural stuff. Two, he's a child, so his powers and senses are underdeveloped. Dick Hallorann's character is absolutely crucial to the development of Danny's character. (As far a character type, Dick is a Sage.)
If you've only read the book, you might wonder who Jack is. John Daniel Edward "Jack" Torrance is the full name, as Jack is a nickname for John. (President Kennedy famously went by both John and Jack.) He also doesn't type page after page of "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy," instead writing a story about a family staying in a haunted hotel. (Hey, that sounds familiar... 😉) And the "“Here's Johnny!”" line was from the actor as a nod to a late-night talk show.
A big adaptation annoyance comes when the Overlook hotel manager tells Jack and Wendy that the hotel is built on an Indian burial ground. That doesn't happen in the book.
👧👧 What about the Grady ghosts? Afraid the book doesn't have Danny seeing twin girls.
Thanks to CGI, there is a bloody elevator in the movie that isn't in the book. Because of CGI, there is a hedge maze instead of animated topiaries turning into monsters.
Here's something to ponder:
Is failing writer Jack Torrance the main character? Or is it his five-year-old son Danny Torrance?
Give that a search, and you'll find the Internet is torn! Some say Danny is the protagonist. Others argue that Jack is the protagonist and the antagonist (person-vs-self).
Jack starts off wanting to change into a better husband, father, and writer. By the end, he's about as bad as one can be at all three.
Kubrick was most interested in Jack's battle with sanity, which puts the focus on that character. But also made him more of an antagonist from the start, who is less interested in becoming a better person. In the movie, a bad guy turns into a worse guy, which isn't much of a change or transformation.
Is failing writer Jack Torrance the main character? Or is it his five-year-old son Danny Torrance?
Give that a search, and you'll find the Internet is torn! Some say Danny is the protagonist. Others argue that Jack is the protagonist and the antagonist (person-vs-self).
Kubrick was most interested in Jack's battle with sanity, which puts the focus on that character. But also made him more of an antagonist from the start, who is less interested in becoming a better person. In the movie, a bad guy turns into a worse guy, which isn't much of a change or transformation.
If a protagonist is required to change or transform, Jack certainly qualifies in the book.
It's also argued that Wendy could be the protagonist because she's weak at the beginning (and especially in the movie), but becomes strong in the end by surviving and helping her son survive.
Evidence that Danny is the protagonist is largely based on his defeat of the antagonist, his father. There is room to argue that Danny at the opening could not stand up to Jack and would not allow him to die (by fire or frost), which Danny at the end does, showing character growth as self-preservation.
It's also argued that Wendy could be the protagonist because she's weak at the beginning (and especially in the movie), but becomes strong in the end by surviving and helping her son survive.
Evidence that Danny is the protagonist is largely based on his defeat of the antagonist, his father. There is room to argue that Danny at the opening could not stand up to Jack and would not allow him to die (by fire or frost), which Danny at the end does, showing character growth as self-preservation.
If you've only read the book, you might wonder who Jack is. John Daniel Edward "Jack" Torrance is the full name, as Jack is a nickname for John. (President Kennedy famously went by both John and Jack.) He also doesn't type page after page of "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy," instead writing a story about a family staying in a haunted hotel. (Hey, that sounds familiar... 😉) And the "“Here's Johnny!”" line was from the actor as a nod to a late-night talk show.
A big adaptation annoyance comes when the Overlook hotel manager tells Jack and Wendy that the hotel is built on an Indian burial ground. That doesn't happen in the book.
👧👧 What about the Grady ghosts? Afraid the book doesn't have Danny seeing twin girls.
Thanks to CGI, there is a bloody elevator in the movie that isn't in the book. Because of CGI, there is a hedge maze instead of animated topiaries turning into monsters.
🪓 Axe the axe! The book has a croquet mallet.
REDRUM is in both. 🔎 Grab a mirror if you don't know what that's about.
REDRUM is in both. 🔎 Grab a mirror if you don't know what that's about.
There's an interview (http://www.visual-memory.co.uk/amk/doc/interview.ts.html) in which Kubrick discusses why he decided the book and movie should have different endings. 🔥🧊
Do you like the book or movie more? Prefer King or Kubrick? Would you stay in Timberline Lodge's room 217 (if the number wasn't changed to 237 in the movie)?
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Our usual posting schedule will resume in May. The next Pass or Pages is June/July. Thanks for visiting!
Please vote in our poll! https://forms.gle/8cvCehkUKHMxx5C86
Never read book but saw movie..redrum haunted me for days ...am sure book must b much better. I love Stanley Kubrick movies...u explain differences well
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