Topic: Do You Believe Stanley Kubrick's "Mysterious Messages"?

[chveik]

your channel sucks more like

[Noodle Lizard]

I saw the longer American version first because that's what they played on TV, so I was a bit confused at all the missing bits when I finally got the R2 DVD. Specifically things like losing the explanation for why there's no alcohol in the hotel or the discussion with Wendy and the social worker near the start. I wondered if those two plot points would've made as much sense if you went into the shorter international version cold - it seems a bit disjointed by comparison.

I also like Wendy stumbling upon all those skeletons. It's a bit silly, but fun.

[Goldentony]

Watched a few of his reviews out of curiosity and now have even more appreciation for On Cinema. Has to be an inspiration, surely?

Might have to give this a watch now, always thought On Cinema took a little bit from AVGN when he does film reviews out of character, the stuff he talks about old classic horror sounds word for word like Gregg sometimes

[frajer]

I heard so much Turkington in those reviews I thought it might be a parody account. In fairness I only watched a few “quickies” but if they’re any indicator I don’t fancy a longy.

[chveik]

I heard so much Turkington in those reviews I thought it might be a parody account. In fairness I only watched a few “quickies” but if they’re any indicator I don’t fancy a longy.

he uttered the words 'oscar pick' at some point

[St_Eddie]

I'm not going to respond in kind to this, because I think you've done a great job undermining your own point

I did no such thing.

[St_Eddie]

If you have the option, I would enormously recommend The Shining on 4K UHD Blu-ray, one of the best I've seen. It still looks exactly like a very filmic 70s movie, but with impeccable presentation and detail which makes it look like it could have been made yesterday.

2001 on 4K Blu-ray is even better. I don't even like the film that much but the depth on that picture is unbelievable.

Meh.  When it comes to certain films, the worse the picture quality the better for me.  I've always thought that The Shining plays best on a shoddy VHS, with bleeding reds and the picture warping every now and then.  It really adds to the creepiness.  I feel the same way about the Coen Brothers' Blood Simple.

[Chedney Honks]

Eddie, mate.

You're kind of on one at the moment, it seems. I hope all's well.

You're talking a fair bit of bollocks, though, and quite insistently so.

I've got a lot of time for you so I'm just saying please have a moment's reflection while you phrase things.

No harm intended here.

[St_Eddie]

Eddie, mate.

You're kind of on one at the moment, it seems. I hope all's well.

You're talking a fair bit of bollocks, though, and quite insistently so.

I've got a lot of time for you so I'm just saying please have a moment's reflection while you phrase things.

No harm intended here.

What are you on about?  Because I think that certain films suit not being in HD and having a ropey visual quality to them, that means I'm "off on one" and mentally unwell?  Have a word with yourself.

[St_Eddie]

I often also prefer the lovely, warm crackly sound of vinyl over a clean high quality mp3 file, so if anyone wants to call those lovely men in their clean white coats and get me committed, now's the time to do it.

[bgmnts]

I'd like to see Disney Marvel on 80s vhs. That'd be fun.

[Goldentony]

they set the standard for steadicam with the mother fucker, you'd be put in prison in the 80s for this, Empire subscription lost, all sorts!

[greenman]

I often also prefer the lovely, warm crackly sound of vinyl over a clean high quality mp3 file, so if anyone wants to call those lovely men in their clean white coats and get me committed, now's the time to do it.

I mean to be fair a lot of the point of UHD is to try and recreate the original media for film releases as closely as possible, the higher resolution, wider contrast and more colour detail plus less compression and hopefully less grain removal relative to DVD and even BR.

If Kubrick had intended for the Shining to be watched on VHS he'd have recorded it on video.

[madhair60]

Meh.  When it comes to certain films, the worse the picture quality the better for me.

can only agree. I think digital has sucked the life out of cinema. gimme dat grain baby.

[greenman]

can only agree. I think digital has sucked the life out of cinema. gimme dat grain baby.

Which wouldn't be a case for watching something on VHS or earlier DVD releases were you would not see much grain at all unless it very very prominent indeed.

Modern UHD and BR releases have actually tended towards messing around with the films less than was the case in the past. Something like Don't Look Now for example the UHD release has the grain in it much more visible than my old DVD. To sample an analog media to a digital one most accurately you typically want to have as much ability to record information as possible.

Not that you'd expect to see much grain in The Shining, it was shot very clean intentionally.

[Goldentony]

ninja zombie looks good on tape, scary tales too, not sure about the shining

[greenman]

Although a lot of italian horror actually looks really good, much of the effort/talent on production design and cinematography.

[St_Eddie]

I mean to be fair a lot of the point of UHD is to try and recreate the original media for film releases as closely as possible, the higher resolution, wider contrast and more colour detail plus less compression and hopefully less grain removal relative to DVD and even BR.

If Kubrick had intended for the Shining to be watched on VHS he'd have recorded it on video.

I understand that.  I wasn't suggesting for one second that Kubrick intended for The Shining to be viewed on a warped VHS tape.  I know that he didn't.  I'm merely saying that I personally enjoy watching a select few films in that manner, be it on actual VHS or through an emulation of a knackered old tape through filters applied in Vegas Pro.  I enjoy viewing those select titles which I feel suit it because it's akin to watching a dodgy VHS on a crappy old tube TV, with the red colours bleeding over and occasional tape warps.  I feel that it adds to the ambience of certain films and there's likely a nostalgic element to it, reminding me of growing up watching a well loved VHS of a favourite film over and over again, with the image quality degrading further and further upon repeat viewings.

99.9999% of the time I prefer to watch films in the best possible quality, whilst maintaining the presentation as intended (so HD, no DNR and no god awful retroactively applied teal and orange colour grading).  There are just a tiny number of films (I can literally only think of two - The Shining and Blood Simple) that I feel benefit from being viewed in a poorer quality and that's my own subjective taste.  Quite frankly, who is anyone to judge me for that and tell me that I'm wrong?  If it enhances my own personal viewing experience, when I'm sat by myself watching at home, then why should I care if it's how Kubrick intended for me to view the film or not?  I'm not arguing for Warner Bros. to release the film in shitty VHS quality on Blu-Ray and streaming or anything ridiculous like that.  I'm not attempting to force my own individual quirky tastes upon anyone else.

I've seen The Shining as intended by Kubrick countless times and I shall view it as intended countless more times before I die (I own a lovely a Blu-Ray copy).  There's literally no harm in me occasionally going out of my way to degrade the image and emulate an old VHS tape, as a special treat, if I feel that it makes for a more personally enjoyable and engrossing viewing experience.

[Goldentony]

I was on the set of the shining and watched it happen, it was one take like Birdman

[Chedney Honks]

What are you on about?

Please don't speak to me like that. I don't mind how you watch films but your tone is ranty at the moment. Before you get in an argument with someone over nothing and disappear again, I'd rather say something to you out of residual goodwill. If you don't like that, I understand, but I would rather you stuck around.

can only agree. I think digital has sucked the life out of cinema. gimme dat grain baby.

As greenman said, UHD transfers are the best format available for reproducing the original film grain. If you watch a 4K disc of 'catalogue' movies like The Shining or Jaws or 2001 or Alien or The Blues Brothers, they've never looked closer to film since they were first projected. I was amazed. You get that warm film feel but with pinprick detail and incredible, restored colours.

[madhair60]

I can't afford a 4k tv sadly. Well I could, but I bought an Xbox Series X instead. Its a bit like Gift of the Magi.

[Chedney Honks]

I would like one, but not £500 like one.

You've got your 4K player there, in any case.

[ImmaculateClump]

Please don't speak to me like that.

It was pretty patronising what you said, like, Honks.
I think it was you who spoke to him like that first.
St Eddie was making as much sense as anyone else in this thread.
I hope that's not too rude to say that.

I remember quite enjoying that room 237. The conspiracy theories were entertaining for the running time but not something I'd think about in more detail than that.

Did anyone see doctor sleep? That was a bit of a guilty pleasure. I wish the studio had had the balls to just let it be it's own thing instead of tying it into the shining film. The last bit where he goes back to the house felt totally tacked on.
For all it's flaws, I kind of enjoyed it.

Really liked the astral projection scene where she floats round the world :D - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=71HG4F0QXyc

[Chedney Honks]

It's hard to say 'you don't seem yourself' without coming across as patronising, but I understand the point you're making.

I don't particularly like Kubrick so I'll leave you fellas to it.

[ImmaculateClump]

I bet you've still got all the blu-rays :D

I like to hear what you've got to say about everything, even pc gaming!
Sorry, I shouldn't have said nowt.

edit: https://i.imgur.com/L7kSTmi.jpg I did it! :D

[Chedney Honks]

Great work! I've not played since the first-person couple of days but that's a stellar effort. I found it pretty tough, I have to say! Really fun game, though.

I do have the Blu-rays, yep, but not madly in love with him. I really like the cinematography but find his films quite cold.

[ImmaculateClump]

Yeah, sterile. It works for some of them, but not others.

[St_Eddie]

Before you get in an argument with someone over nothing and disappear again...

Well, I certainly wouldn't describe myself being falsely and unfairly accused of being a massive racist over and over again in a pile on as being "nothing".

I'd rather say something to you out of residual goodwill. If you don't like that, I understand, but I would rather you stuck around.

Who ever said I was thinking of leaving?

It was pretty patronising what you said, like, Honks.
I think it was you who spoke to him like that first.
St Eddie was making as much sense as anyone else in this thread.

Thank you for fairly assessing the situation and standing up for me.  It's appreciated.

[Chedney Honks]

I'm not trying to argue with you, and I wasn't earlier, so we'll leave it there.

[bgmnts]

This is exactly what Kubrick wants.