The Shining by Stanley Kubrick is a great example of excellent directing!! There are many Kubrick trademarks throughout the movie and these, plus many other aspects, are what make it such a great movie. First and foremost, the directing is phenomenal- we've all heard of how he grilled and drilled the actors through hundreds of takes until he got the performance he felt was needed for each scene. I'm sure in some takes when Shelly Duval's character is completely falling apart there is some real frustration and despair taking place.
The shot choices, as well as the pacing, are excellent. He used a lot of long takes in the film, mostly to increase tension. Although the Steadicam was used in a few movies before this film, The Shining was where the Steadicam became a tool for storytelling. When you needed to move the camera you were always limited by the tracks of the dolly or the length of the crane - until the invention of the Steadicam. With a Steadicam you can mount any camera on it and it mechanically stabilizes the motion while the operator walks, or even runs with it allowing directors to move the camera whichever way they choose. The Steadicam was used extensively throughout The Shining, allowing us to move with the characters. The Steadicam work in the final scene is among film's most memorable moments.
The music and sound effects are remarkable as well. From the excellent original musical score, to the classical pieces, to even the sound effects of Danny's tricycle as it goes over hardwood floor and then soft rugs, Kubrick sets the tone of the film. Another interesting observation is the amount of shots with mirrors there are in the film, which leads us to believe not everything is alright in the mind of the characters.
Based on the novel by Stephen King, The Shining is an excellent movie which I recommend to everyone. This is one of my favorite works of director Stanley Kubrick.
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