Cinematic Disasters - Room 237

 

This one was a little challenging to do because I've never done a documentary before. But I decided to take a chance and review this anyways.

Room 237 is a documentary movie that was produced by Highland Park Classics and The Ebersole Hughes Company, and distributed by IFC Films and IFC Midnight. Room 237 was directed by Rodney Ascher.

The documentary is about people through voice-overs discuss their interpretations of Stanley Kubrick's horror classic, The Shining. While we're given those theories, we're also given a possibility of a bigger thematic oeuvre.

My Thoughts

Before I start getting into some of the theories, I want to write about how the documentary is structured and along with another problem I had with it, but let's stay with how it's structured for now. Basically the way this was edited was, footage of The Shining, footage from another Stanley Kubrick movie, footage from The Shining, footage from a completely different movie, footage from The Shining, and so forth. This cycle was repeated so many times, that I actually got sick and tired of seeing The Shining. Yes, one of the many greats in the horror genre, and I got sick of seeing it. When you make people got sick and tired of seeing footage from a great movie, you messed up big time! Not too mention, that doesn't make this movie feel like a documentary, if anything it felt more like something that's better suited for a YouTube video.

The second problem is a lot of this movie isn't gonna be remembered. If the theory these people are talking about isn't crazy enough, you just wind up forgetting about it. Like I remember a lot of the commentators talk about Danny riding his bike around the hallways and there was something about it being odd, I don't quite remember what is was. Like I said, it wasn't so out there that you really don't care, and there's many more things like that as well.

Then there's the problem of what people are saying about this doc. Basically a lot of people are claiming this to be a satire. But the problem is, satire much like every other form of comedy, needs a punchline. So if this was meant to be satire, then it failed miserably. Because there is no punchline!

Okay, now that I've got that stuff out of the way, let's get into some of these theories. I say some and not all, because like I said previously, unless is sounds bonkers, you're not gonna remember much, anyways, 

Theory #1 - The Shining Parodies Horror Movies.

Now the basic idea for this theory is about a scene when Jack and Wendy are talking. During that scene, a chair can be seen in the background, but then we cut to Wendy's face, then when we cut back to Jack, the chair is gone. That's it, that's what the guy was going by. To him, that wasn't a simple movie mistake, the was a sign that Kubrick was spoofing horror movies.

Now, Stanley Kubrick was a very talented director, there's no doubt about that, but even he wasn't above making mistakes when it came to his films. You can find continuity mistakes in Dr. Strangelove, 2001: A Space Odyssey, A Clockwork Orange, Full Metal Jacket, and Eyes Wide Shut. And I highly doubt any of those mistakes were Kubrick parodying black comedy, epic sci-fi, crime films, war dramas, and mystery films.

Theory #2

Just watch this.

I firmly believe this lady has never been anywhere near a skiing site. I mean...seriously?! First off, that pose, that the skier is making, it's a very common pose to do. Whether you're a pro skier or not, you're gonna make a pose like that. And those ski poles, they're actually there! There's no "suggestion" that they're there, they are there!

Theory #3 - The Moon Landing

This'll be the last one because I don't want to go on forever with these theories, cause then this post will be longer than it should be but, oh boy. This theory. This theory has haunted Stanley Kubrick all the way up to the day he died.

Here's a video regrading that theory.

Let's break this down, shall we?

1) Have you ever considered the possibility that those Hollywood special effects artist were just screwing with you? You've got a crazy conspiracy saying Stanley Kubrick directed the moon landing, and you really think they didn't take the chance to mess with you?

2) So because Danny is wearing an Apollo 11 sweater, that means your theory is absolutely right? Going by that logic than anytime any film director ever put an Apollo 11 reference in their movie, then they also admitted to directing the moon landing, whether they were a newborn, a baby, a toddler, or they weren't even born yet. Also, what if Danny didn't wear the sweater? What then? Would that have proven you were wrong?

3) I don't what resort you called pal, but I did research on that same exact lodge and they do indeed have a room 217. So Kubrick most definitely changed the room numbers at the request of the hotel. So that part of his theory is ruined.

4) The distances between Earth and the moon varies within its orbit. Scientist have said at its apogee is 252, 088 miles, on its perigee it's closer to 225, 623 miles, with the average being 238, 855 miles. And as of Aug 18th of this year, the distance is 252, 250 miles. You'll probably noticed a lack of 237, 000 miles.

5) Really? The only word you can spell with those letters are Moon Room. You can't spell any other words with those letters! Just Moon Room!

Room 237 is such a disappointment. The premise of making a documentary about what The Shining could be and the theories surrounding it is actually very good, the problem is, this wasn't the documentary for it. This whole thing is just a waste of time. You're better off avoiding this, and making your own assumptions with The Shining, or just enjoy it as a really good horror flick, whatever floats your boat.

My final rating is, Awful!

So that's all for now. Come back on Saturday, Aug 26th, for my review of Gran Turismo. Until then, enjoy the rest of your day.