I need to re-read the book too!

Mary wrote: "The movie just didn't compare to the book at all, in spite of Jack Nicholson's stellar performance. Wendy (Shelley Duvall) was weak and whiney, and Dick Halloran (Scatman Crothers) arrives to save ..."

I saw the movie first and then I read the book and I was amazed by the difference. For the first time King didnt kill a charachter I liked in a book - Dick Halloran - but they came and murdered him in the movie!!!! Why????
And Wendy looks totally different from the actress they chose. Although I did like her because she portrayed her terror in a way that was scary by itself.
Also I loved in the book how in the end Jack showed his love for his son. It was really touching.
In total the shining was one of the best movies based on a book by SK but still the book was better.

Mary wrote: "The movie just didn't compare to the book at all, in spite of Jack Nicholson's stellar performance. Wendy (Shelley Duvall) was weak and whiney, and Dick Halloran (Scatman Crothers) arrives to save ..."

I had to laugh when I read this, Mary! Shelley Duvall's performance in the original movie was sooooo irritating. My daughters periodically will run around the house, whining and babbling just like she did in the movie. I was really grateful when I saw the new version and I saw how truly brave and smart Rebecca DeMornay played Wendy. And killing off Halloran in the first movie was just plain stupid. Other than the destruction of the characters in the Kubrick film, I did like the visuals and the music.

I have not seen the movie since I was a kid! And I was so scared I think I had my eyes closed most of the time. I have it from Netflix to watch tomorrow, I am so excited!!

You are right Mary, Halloran gets Wendy & Danny down the mountain in his snowmobile as the hotel blows up with Jack in it. I didn't like the fact that they killed Halloran off as soon as he got there.

The movie just didn't compare to the book at all, in spite of Jack Nicholson's stellar performance. Wendy (Shelley Duvall) was weak and whiney, and Dick Halloran (Scatman Crothers) arrives to save the day, only to be promptly murdered. Plus the ending was so anticlimactic---Jack freezes to death in the maze, instead of whatever it was that happened in the book--the boiler blew up, right? And I may be wrong but I don't remember Jack showing that last spark of humanity and love for his son in the film, as he did in the book.

It's been so long sense i read the book or watched the movie. And i can't seem to remember the wasps at all. Not enough hours in the day sometimes to do all that we would like.

I forgot all about the cloud of wasps coming out of the Overlook at the end. The movie really IS a lot different than the book, isn't it? I tend to blend the two together sometimes in my memory.

Thanks Rebekah! I think I missed most of the wasp references. Definitely time for a re-read!

I *just finished it for the first time. I thought the whole theme of the wasps was fascinating. Toward the end, when Jack is almost totally "gone", he thinks to himself 'living by your wits is always knowing where the wasps are.' Then at the end, when Halloran turns and sees the black cloud flying out of the Presidential Suite into the night, coming apart like a nest of wasps - THAT was really a moment for me - like Jack lost track of who the "real" wasps were...

I got that connection right away. It was one of the memorable moments of the story.

It's kind of the whole point of the book, isn't it?

I read 'The Shining' years ago and don't remember this detail either. Maybe it's time for a re-read of it soon?

I read the shining long time ago and I don't remember this. I think I have never noticed!!!Amazing!!

OMG!!! I read The Shining book and i never even picked up on that!!! Or maybe i just can't remember.
Stephen King is a very clever author!!

yeahy, to say the least lol

Yeah, it puts things in a different perspective, doesn't it?

wow really? Why didnt I catch that.

Ok then. Anthony (Tony for short) is Danny's middle name. His imaginary friend is actually an older/future version of himself.

Yeah, Ive finished it. I must of missed the meaning.

Have you actually finished the book yet? Because you find out later. I wouldn't want to wreck it for you.

After Danny gets stung by the wasps, during his visit to the doctor - the doctor is talking to Wendy and he says this:
" 'And of course you two must understand why Danny's invisible friend is named Tony instead of Mike or Hal or Dutch.'
'Yes,' Wendy said.
'Have you ever pointed it out to him?'
'No,' Jack said. 'Should we?'
'Why bother? Let him realize it in his own time, by his own logic.' "



Whats the signifigance of the name Tony?