The Shining DVD

rhett · 06-06-2001, 11:52 PM

I just received my disc in the mail, and is the new transfer ever incredible! Despite being filmed in 1980, this transfer easily rivals today's films. The restoration done for this Full Frame transfer is about the equivalent of what AB did for Halloween in widescreen. The sound too, is very well done, and has some good movement on the surrounds for quite a few scenes and is still fairly true to the original track. I have yet to hear the documentary's commentary, but I am sure it will be exceptional. Warner has done a marvellous job on the remastering of this disc, and the video has to be seen to believed!

06-07-2001, 02:36 AM

I own the original Warner Bros. DVD of this classic and the transfer on it is absolutely crap. There is grain and artifacts that pop up throughout the film and the sound is mono and boring but I know that Kubrick intended it that way.

So is the new release a MUCH better transfer?

rhett · 06-07-2001, 11:13 PM

Night and day.

Mark Relford · 06-17-2001, 12:40 AM

I was impressed with the transfer. (A HUGE improvement over the previous one.) It's definitely worth an upgrade.

The documentary had some interesting behind-the-scenes moments. (Nicholson getting worked up for an intense scene. Kubrick putting the smack down on Duvall for missing her cue.) Vivian Kubrick's commentary didn't do much for me, but it was a nice extra to have. I would love to see the hospital ending that was cut by Kubrick. Maybe the next edition will include it.

Also, it's a bloody shame that a proper soundtrack wasn't released for this film.

TobalRox · 06-17-2001, 06:32 AM

Is it the same documentary that's on the original disc?

Mark Relford · 06-17-2001, 06:48 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by TobalRox:
<STRONG>Is it the same documentary that's on the original disc?</STRONG>

It's the same documentary. The commentary by Vivian Kubrick is new.

rhett · 06-17-2001, 08:23 AM

I thought the commentary was pretty nice. She sounded very energetic and fond of the film, and hell, that is more than most of the people doing commentaries these days. The documentary itself is probably one of the best, if not the best documentary ever released on DVD. Although it isn't as long ones like The Exorcist and such, it is so interesting to watch because it is shot without restraint and at the time of filming. There is no "fluff" pieces in it, just a very personal documentation on what labours need to be done to make a film. Seeing arguably the best actor in movies today read over his lines and get ready for a take is a sight to behold. I really wish more documentaries were like this. Still though, I am sure WB could have dug up a little more extras for the DVD, as well as the rest of the Kubrick collection.

06-17-2001, 09:21 PM

I agree Landrvr, Hearts of Darkness was one of the very best movie (behind the scenes) documentaries ever made. It is never dull, and wholey rewatchable, unlike most. I had a VHS copy, but repeat viewings degraded the picture... and this is why I will buy VHS no more, forever! LOL

Anyways, the documentary for The Shining is very interesting as well, though not quite as entertaining as Hearts of Darkness. Though not particularly impressed with Jack's interchangable charecters (if you've seen one performance, you've seen ALL of his performances), it was pretty cool to be as though on the set with him while learning his lines especially his small but interesting homage to a master of horror cinema. I do consider Kubrick to be among the ten most important directors of all time, sadly after watching the obvious sugar coating his gives to Jack then turns right around to beat down Shelly was very upseting to me. This left a string of open ended questions for me. Did he and Duvall not get along? Is he particularly hard on his female actors in general? Is he one of those men that loves his mother, wife and daughter but then hates all other women? There was obviously more going on there then merely bitching her out for missing a cue. Had this documentary been feature length, it would have been a hell of a lot better! And perhaps would have answered all those questiones posed by the mere fraction of what was actually filmed we're allowed to see. Perrhaps a restoration of the lost documentary footage would be a task worth undertaking. Hell, I knw I'd snag a copy in a heartbeat.

06-18-2001, 06:27 AM

i agree that it was a great documentary.

my vote for absolute best documentary easily goes to Hearts of Darkness; Eleanor Coppola's amazing look at the making of her husband's film Apocalypse Now. when it came out, many thought the documentary superior to the film it was based on!

though offered on laserdisc, it's criminal that it has not yet been released on DVD. there were some rumblings a year ago, but i've heard nothing sense.

06-06-2001, 11:52 PM	#1
rhett Moderator Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Canada Posts: 8,875	The Shining DVD I just received my disc in the mail, and is the new transfer ever incredible! Despite being filmed in 1980, this transfer easily rivals today's films. The restoration done for this Full Frame transfer is about the equivalent of what AB did for Halloween in widescreen. The sound too, is very well done, and has some good movement on the surrounds for quite a few scenes and is still fairly true to the original track. I have yet to hear the documentary's commentary, but I am sure it will be exceptional. Warner has done a marvellous job on the remastering of this disc, and the video has to be seen to believed! __________________ "It's a good scream...it's a good scream..."

06-17-2001, 12:40 AM	#4
Mark Relford Chairman of the Bored Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Indy Posts: 2,610	I was impressed with the transfer. (A HUGE improvement over the previous one.) It's definitely worth an upgrade. The documentary had some interesting behind-the-scenes moments. (Nicholson getting worked up for an intense scene. Kubrick putting the smack down on Duvall for missing her cue.) Vivian Kubrick's commentary didn't do much for me, but it was a nice extra to have. I would love to see the hospital ending that was cut by Kubrick. Maybe the next edition will include it. Also, it's a bloody shame that a proper soundtrack wasn't released for this film. __________________ "Have you ever had an Egyptian feast?"

06-17-2001, 06:32 AM	#5
TobalRox HackMaster Join Date: Sep 1999 Location: Springfield, MA Posts: 1,892	Is it the same documentary that's on the original disc? __________________ "It's a spadoinkle day" -Cannibal: The Musical Self proclaimed owner of oldest sig on the board! AIM: XnocreativityX My eBay auctions <-- Check often, as I am constantly adding new stuff

06-17-2001, 08:23 AM	#7
rhett Moderator Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Canada Posts: 8,875	I thought the commentary was pretty nice. She sounded very energetic and fond of the film, and hell, that is more than most of the people doing commentaries these days. The documentary itself is probably one of the best, if not the best documentary ever released on DVD. Although it isn't as long ones like The Exorcist and such, it is so interesting to watch because it is shot without restraint and at the time of filming. There is no "fluff" pieces in it, just a very personal documentation on what labours need to be done to make a film. Seeing arguably the best actor in movies today read over his lines and get ready for a take is a sight to behold. I really wish more documentaries were like this. Still though, I am sure WB could have dug up a little more extras for the DVD, as well as the rest of the Kubrick collection. __________________ "It's a good scream...it's a good scream..."

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06-07-2001, 02:36 AM	#2
suspiria Guest Posts: n/a	I own the original Warner Bros. DVD of this classic and the transfer on it is absolutely crap. There is grain and artifacts that pop up throughout the film and the sound is mono and boring but I know that Kubrick intended it that way. So is the new release a MUCH better transfer?

06-07-2001, 11:13 PM	#3
rhett Moderator Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Canada Posts: 8,875	Night and day.

06-17-2001, 09:21 PM	#8
David666 Guest Posts: n/a	I agree Landrvr, Hearts of Darkness was one of the very best movie (behind the scenes) documentaries ever made. It is never dull, and wholey rewatchable, unlike most. I had a VHS copy, but repeat viewings degraded the picture... and this is why I will buy VHS no more, forever! LOL Anyways, the documentary for The Shining is very interesting as well, though not quite as entertaining as Hearts of Darkness. Though not particularly impressed with Jack's interchangable charecters (if you've seen one performance, you've seen ALL of his performances), it was pretty cool to be as though on the set with him while learning his lines especially his small but interesting homage to a master of horror cinema. I do consider Kubrick to be among the ten most important directors of all time, sadly after watching the obvious sugar coating his gives to Jack then turns right around to beat down Shelly was very upseting to me. This left a string of open ended questions for me. Did he and Duvall not get along? Is he particularly hard on his female actors in general? Is he one of those men that loves his mother, wife and daughter but then hates all other women? There was obviously more going on there then merely bitching her out for missing a cue. Had this documentary been feature length, it would have been a hell of a lot better! And perhaps would have answered all those questiones posed by the mere fraction of what was actually filmed we're allowed to see. Perrhaps a restoration of the lost documentary footage would be a task worth undertaking. Hell, I knw I'd snag a copy in a heartbeat.

06-18-2001, 06:27 AM	#9
landrvr Guest Posts: n/a	i agree that it was a great documentary. my vote for absolute best documentary easily goes to Hearts of Darkness; Eleanor Coppola's amazing look at the making of her husband's film Apocalypse Now. when it came out, many thought the documentary superior to the film it was based on! though offered on laserdisc, it's criminal that it has not yet been released on DVD. there were some rumblings a year ago, but i've heard nothing sense.