The version that King made because Kubrik ruined his story. It is a must watch for any King fan.

Now anyone who is familiar with King adaptations knows that they are either just terrible awful messes, big budget hits or low budget campy experiences. (This is the latter) so proceed with caution if you don't like the campier stuff.

Stanley Kubricks version is boring and just not really good, unpopular opinion I know, but I honestly never liked it even before I knew the differences to the book ( and I saw it many many years ago as a child and was very underwhelmed). But it is NOTHING like the book or this mini series that does the book justice. I understand why King wants nothing to do with SKs version because it is not the story that he wrote and it is a personal story to him.

Jack Nicholson was the worst casting choice because he is not a gentle man. He is someone you could easily see being violent with his family. This is not how the character is supposed to be. In this adaptation, Steven Weber it is more in line with the book. Jack is supposed to be a more timid man you would not believe would be able to be harmful to his family or be violent in nature. SW did a pretty good job at going back and forth between being his gentle self and being what the hotel wanted him to be.

Wendy is a boss babe who can handle her own not an annoying shell of a person (sorry Shelly). She is a great mother and heroine of the story.

The kid is totally punchable.. not gonna lie. his face is just the worst (sorry kid, I hope you grew up okay lol) and is def the weakest part of the adaptation.

The effects are 90s tv mini series quality so they haven't aged the best but the makeup and practical effects are actually pretty good!

The ending (that Kubrick threw out the window) is far superior to Kubrick's. I don't want to post any spoilers here but the ending changes Jacks character SO MUCH and for the better.

Now, I do like this version much more than the movie, and i like how true it is to the book, but with all of that being said, this is a 90s Stephen King mini series... which of course means it is dated, lower budget, campy effects, safer acting techniques, and overall watered down for 90s TV. So you REALLY have to put yourself in a suspension of disbelief when watching this to fully appreciate it.

With the modern surge in understanding miniseries are the superior way to tell a story I would love to see a modern remake of this with the now more accepted darker tones and mature content and acting that pushes the boundaries a little more.

If you aren't familiar with the book but like Kings work I do recommend watching this especially since Doctor Sleep is a direct sequel to the book and this adaptation, not Kubricks movie. Kubrick changes the plot and ending so drastically that Doctor sleep wont make as much sense. Dannys experience and how he views his father are two completely different stories.