What did the critics and the audience say about it?
Here is a few sections from reviews of the films found from a number of websites.
Here is a chunk of the review from one website.
The process of making the movie took meticulousness to staggering levels — Shelley Duvall was reputedly forced to do no less than 127 takes of one scene; Nicholson was force fed endless cheese sandwiches (which he loathes) to generate a sense of inner revulsion, and the recent invention of the Steadicam (by Garret Brown) fuelled Kubrick's obsessive quest for perfection. The result is gloriously precision-made. The use of sound especially (listen to the remarkable rhythm of silence then clatter set up by Danny pedalling his trike intermittently over carpet then wooden floor.) And that's not forgetting the procession of captivating images: a lift opening to spill gallons of blood in slow motion; a beautiful girl transformed into an old hag in Jack's arms; and, as a million posters now attest, Jack's leering face through the gaping axe wound in the door.
Alive with portent and symbolism, every frame of the film brims with Kubrick's genius for implying psychological purpose in setting: the hotel's tight, sinister labyrinth of corridors; its cold, sterile bathrooms; the lavish, illusionary ballroom. This was horror of the mind transposed to place (or, indeed, vice versa). The clarity of the photography and the weird perspectives constantly alluding to Torrance's twisted state of mind. The supernatural elements are more elusive than the depiction of his madness. The "shining" itself — the title comes from the line "We all shine on" in the John Lennon song Instant Karma — is the uncanny ability to see dark visions of the truth (young Danny manifests the power through an imaginary alter-ego Tony). A power separate from yet entwined with the evil that dwells in the building (the whole family will come to experience it).
IMDB had rated the film an 8.5.
In your opinion how good were the actors performances?
I personally think that Jack Nicholson was a brilliant actor and did a great performance especially with the scene where he pokes his head through the door. Or is looking menacingly through the glass window with his evil facial expression.
I also think Danny (the kid) had a really good performance and the acting was good. Especially in the intense scene where he is shouting 'redrum'
Wendy was also good but i think her acting wasn't as good as the other two, her reactions and sobbing/crying seemed to come across as really false in some scenes and mildly dramatic. Other than that all the actors were really good.
Some specific examples of unusual or innovative cinematography and mise en scene were -
The scene where the camera is tracking Danny across the corridors
as this made the audience on the same level as Danny and have the same power over the situation instead of making the audience feel higher. This is a great technique. Another one is where jack is sat in the golden room on his own and it shows the vast area of the room and hotel. He is seeing people within his imagination (I think) which adds an eerie feeling and intensity for the audience. G
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