This is a toughie. Stanley Kubrick delivered a truly frightening picture with visuals that will give us
nightmares forever. The cast is incredible. The legendary Jack Nicholson is at his best as an unnerved
father who becomes possessed. “Here’s Johnny” is one of the most famous quotes in movie history
and who could forget the whispers of “Redrum.”
However, the book adds an emotional element to a rather tragic story. Jack’s character isn’t as mean
as portrayed in the film. He made mistakes and had alcohol problems, but at the root of it was a good
father and a good man who becomes unhinged once he enters the haunted hotel.
We don’t see that in the movie as Jack is annoyed and disconnected from his son Danny and wife
Wendy. Even author Stephen King says that he hated the movie. I think that’s a bit harsh. Both are
worth your time. However, because of emotional weight and a better understanding of these troubled
characters and their abilities. I go with BOOK.
The Harry Potter series
I haven’t read all of the Harry Potter books; however, I
believe I’ve read enough to form an opinion. They’re fun and
full of imagination and it’s a great way to get children and
teens to read. Adults enjoy them too, but they’re a bit simple
on the details, description, etc. It’s hard because J.K. Rowling
created these iconic characters and they really are terrific for
what they are.
But the movies are, for lack of a better word, epic. The
moment you see Hogwarts and quidditch live in action, along
with dementors and Lord Voldemort, it’s quite special. It also
helps that everyone is cast so perfectly. It took a film or two
but Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint hit their
stride, much like the films. Once they became darker and
veered away from being identical to source material, they
became special. It’s not often a franchise produces eight hit
films in a short time. This clearly goes to the MOVIE.
The Shining
Moneyball
This is another tough one! The book is for
baseball nerds, like myself. It revolutionized the
game and that is an understatement. It explained
how a broke Major League Baseball team like the
Oakland Athletics used advanced statistics and
‘computers’ as purists would say.
It went into great detail about how undervalued
players can be signed on the cheap and a winner
can be developed as opposed to the free-spending
Yankees. It goes into some basic math that helps
you understand the strategy. And you get to listen
to elderly scouts and their antiquated way of
thinking.
Personally, I think both old school thought
and advanced stats need to have a presence in
baseball. But it certainly makes you think. It made
every other MLB team think as they have all tried a
part of the formula from the book and Oakland’s
model.
The movie introduces these thoughts in an
entertaining way. It’s as accurate a baseball film
as I’ve seen, probably made by baseball fans. Not
an easy feat. The difference is Brad Pitt and Jonah
Hill’s performances. They’re just terrific together.
There’s lots of emotion that includes the love for
his daughter and his failed marriage. Also, seeing
Chris Pratt before he became a movie star is pretty
cool.
But it’s not just made for entertainment. The
same elements and thoughts are in the movie. but
it’s made to appeal to just the baseball nerd. So
my verdict is for the baseball fan, book, but for the
general audience, movie. So I’d call it a DRAW.
Courtesy of Warner Bros.
Courtesy of Anchor
Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
Courtesy of W.W. Norton & Company
Courtesy of Warner Bros.
QNS.COM
SUMMER 2017 11