Review - The Shining

Watched the Shining last night. I am not sure if I am disappointed in it because I had such high expectations of this movie or just disappointed about it in general. The movie was far too drawn out (at 143 minutes) and badly paced. The basic concept underlying the movie, caretakers in an isolated mountain hotel over the winter when strange things start happening and they cannot get out, is solid. Perhaps, seeing it in 1980 it would have worked better without knowing all of the catch-phrases ("Redrum" and "Here's Johnny"), that Jack Nicholson plays a good crazy and little bits about the movie one absorbs from popular culture. But it simply did not work for me, plot threats were tugged on then dropped, no part of the story was really resolved, it just was not good. The scenery, set and filming were pretty amazing though (first major use of the Steadicam). My grade: C-/C