The Shining (R2) - HELP!!!

[Dan is Fat]

Just got the Kubrick collection for x-mas.....was wondering. the shining seems to be full frame, is this right? on the back it says 1.33:1, why is it full frame then...unless im just stupid...help!

[SilverLiner]

I'm pretty certain that 1.33.1 and full frame are the same thing, as I know the widescreens are something like 1.66.1 or 1.77.1.
If you have Friends on DVD I think you'll notice they're full screen and 1.33.1 as well :)

[danrees]

Kubrick shot most of his films in 4:3 (1.33:1).

[Sputnik]

Indeed, nowt to worry about! It's the way it should be :p 'cept that its half an hour shorter than the version that's half an hour longer :p The longer version is in the R1 set, but not everysone likes it better..........

1.33 is fullframe on a 4:3 TV, if that's what you're confused about. 1.33:1 is the same as 4:3 ;)

But as already pointed out (including by me :/ ) this is how Kubrick shot it, you'll make the same unnerving discovery when you watch Full Metal Jacket and Eyes Wide Shut ;)

I'm pretty sure it's because dear ol' Stan didn't like what a 4:3 TV did to 2001, but I may be wrong.

[pjn]

Cool..so that means my Full Metal Jacket and Shining DVDs *arent* crap?

nice one.

[goof]

Depends what you view as crap...if you mean 4:3/1.33:1 is crap then yes, FMJ and Shining are also crap!
Personally, I find the the black bars are comforting :D

[Michael Brooke]

Kubrick's films were mostly shot in 4:3, and this was apparently his preferred ratio - though he was pragmatic enough to compose his images so they wouldn't suffer when cropped to 1.66:1 or 1.85:1, as most cinemas can't show 4:3 any more.

There's no particular reason why Kubrick preferred 4:3 to other ratios - it's just a shape he felt comfortable with (according to his former PA Leon Vitali "he liked height!"). Luc Besson similarly favours 2.35:1 and many other directors have similar preferences.

On the subject of the cuts to <I>The Shining</I>, they were made by Kubrick of his own volition, and that the shorter R2 version is apparently his favourite - though I happen to disagree with him on this, which is why I went for the R1.

[daveo]

I got the Shining on R1 (dissapointed with the snapper case) and the box set FMJ (R1) which is pretty cool. Not watched them yet, and can't remember what aspect ratio they are in.

[Michael Brooke]

All DVD releases of <I>The Shining</I> and <I>Full Metal Jacket</I> are in 4:3, as per Kubrick's request (he approved the specs of the DVDs a couple of months before he died).

[Dan is Fat]

I dont get it, i know that the american version in 30 minutes longer....but what was cut. I know that there was a little scene on the end in the hospital...but 30 minutes...must have been loads!!!!

[toot]

i think it's the scenes set outside the hotel which where cut out. have a look on IMDB in the Alternate Versions section, and it gives all the details.

[Michael Brooke]

The film originally ran 146 minutes, and was first shortened by about 2 minutes a fortnight into its run, when Kubrick decided that a coda where hotel manager Ullman visits Danny and Wendy in hospital was too distracting and made the film's main ending less effective. This footage has never been seen since, and may well have been destroyed.

After the film's US release, Kubrick then removed a further 25 minutes for the international version, reducing it to 119 minutes (the PAL speedup accounts for the additional missing five minutes, which the IMDB doesn't take into account). The cuts are detailed <A HREF="http://us.imdb.com/AlternateVersions?0081505">here</A> (NB: spoilers galore, but you probably predicted that!).

The R1 disc contains the 144-minute cut, the R2 and R4 discs the 114 (aka 119)-minute cut. As far as I can see, the extras are identical, so it really depends on whether you want to see the longest version or Kubrick's preferred version!

[Idle Child]

hey Michael, i seem to recall that you advised one version of the R1 Shining over another? :confused:
did you prefer the old kubrick r1 or the new kubrick r1 shining?

or am i just imagining all this?

[edit] r1 new kubrick release it is then!
michael's review! (http://www.dvdtimes.co.uk/index.cgi?page=Review&id=464&story=)

[Michael Brooke]

The new version of <I>The Shining</I> is such a staggering improvement that it really shows up the dangers of purely relying on simple feature listings!

On paper, it doesn't look that different - the only additional extra is a commentary on the documentary - but the crucial difference is that it's been comprehensively remastered from scratch, so a DVD that used to have a shockingly poor transfer from a noticeably damaged print with very soft mono sound now boasts a damn near pristine picture and a subtle but very effective 5.1 remix.

If you want the full 144-minute cut (assuming the 146-minute version is lost forever), the current R1 is the only one to go for - and you can tell the difference between it and the old version by the "DIGITALLY REMASTERED" logo below the 'Kubrick Collection' heading: the old R1 didn't have that.

[grant]

Originally posted by Dan is Fat
I dont get it, i know that the american version in 30 minutes longer....but what was cut. I know that there was a little scene on the end in the hospital...but 30 minutes...must have been loads!!!!
There are quite a few scenes that are shortened.
2 I recall, are the interview at the beginning of the film, in the UK version, this is significantly shorter, with the other employee of the hotel suddenly appearing in the room.
And the chase in the maze at the end, there's a few grizzly nightmare flashbacks cut out of the UK release.
Interestingly, when ITV broadcast it, about 5 years ago, they played the uncut version (probably the same one now on R1 DVD)