This is the DVD that should have
been from the get-go. Stanley Kubrick’s
THE SHINING has already seen two DVD incarnations: an inexcusable, noise-ridden
and non-color-corrected travesty with flat and strident audio first released in
1999, and a gorgeous image and Dolby Surround sound makeover in 2001. Now, on October 23, Warner
Home Video will release a new two-disc Special Edition of the film. It’s one of several films that comprise a
Kubrick DIRECTOR’S SERIES collection that also includes new special editions of
2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY, A CLOCKWORK ORANGE, FULL METAL JACKET and EYES WIDE
SHUT. There will also be a deluxe box
set containing the aforementioned titles in addition to LOLITA, BARRY LYNDON
and the documentary A LIFE IN PICTURES.
For the first time, the film will
be presented with an anamorphic 1.78:1 transfer. Up until now, it has always appeared
full-frame at 1.33:1, “as Stanley Kubrick intended.” The first disc will contain a Dolby 5.1
Surround audio with audio commentary by Steadicam inventor Garrett Brown and Kubrick
biographer John Baxter; the second disc will include:
• The Making of THE
SHINING, with optional commentary by Vivian Kubrick (from the previous DVD)
• New View from The
Overlook: Crafting THE SHINING featurette
• New The Visions of Stanley Kubrick
featurette
• New Wendy Carlos, Composer
featurette
Retail price for DVD is $20.97; the HD-DVD and
Blu-ray discs will be $28.99. The complete DIRECTOR’S SERIES: STANLEY KUBRICK
box will be $79.92.
I would have liked Warners to have reverted to
the original yellow poster and black lettering by Saul Bass ad art for the film
for a change, as it has never been used in promotional art for any video
release that I am aware of.
