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This is surprisingly good, and as has been mentioned a more faithful adaptation of King's book. Steven Weber made an interesting Jack Torrence and Rebecca DeMornay a more stablised Wendy (than jittery Duvall), though I have some reservations about the kid who was perhaps just a bit too odd and wooden for comfort. The topiary animals should never have been seen moving of course, though fortunately CGI wasn't too intrusive throughout, and the model work wasn't bad either.
Also discussed here is the book vs film debate, with the oft quoted 'they are two different mediums' as a dismissive conclusion. However, perhaps the point being made when somebody compares a book to its film is the level of enjoyment and, more specifically, involvement gained from each telling of the story.
So smart arses can bang on all they like about reading words and forming mental images being different to watching moving pictures and listening to sound, but as Garris' The Shining perfectly illustrates, the subtleties required to make this kind of ghost story work are often more satisfying than the sometimes crude and harsh attractions central to the likes of Kubrick's adaptation. Not to say his version isn't quite effective, but as a telling of a story about a haunted hotel it lags behind King's book and Garris' miniseries.
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