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I'm watching both DVD versions of The Shining simultaneously on different monitors. It's undeniably odd.
<<<< (not at this part yet)
The earlier version is indeed the original camera negative, simply a bigger and "more" picture of the image that was shown on screen. There's a significant space of "extra" image at the top and bottom, and even more image on the sides (a lot more on the right than the left, for some reason).
The color timing on the new DVD is simply more beautiful, but I can't say how accurate.
Nor can I say which is the "real" version of The Shining.
Even if it's true that Kubrick filmed the movie so that it couldn't be pan&scanned for TV, did he compose the shots for the widescreen frame? The TV frame? Both??
The widescreen matting is much more pleasant ... but now that I know it's simply a matte covering over the existing image, I have a harder time accepting it as the "real" film. Are most films like this ... with a larger negative image that's simply matted into the widescreen and 'scope aspect ratios shown theatrically?
I don't suppose there's any way to confirm that Kubrick intended audiences to see the widescreen compositions, but I assume he had enough clout that the release version is his director's cut in every way.
It's tough to suddenly think of the some of the picture "missing" from The Shining, but it's nice to finally have the theatrical version of the film on DVD.
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