Stanley Kubrick Movies. Favorites? Analysis?

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I’m pretty certain that 2001 was the first movie of Stanley Kubrick’s that I saw. As a child it held my interest, completely, though it was confusing and that made it somewhat boring towards the end. My mother tells me my grandfather took the family to see it and he walked out after the monkey smashed the skull with the bone. Yeah, he was a little high-strung.

Over all though, what I remember as remarkable was how each scene captured you into the mood. Even as a child, there eerie strings during the discovery of the monolith on the moon, then the juxtaposed grace and dance of the ship docking with the station along to the Blue Danube... every scene, along with the audio, drew me into the story.

Of course I had watched many Star Trek episodes before I even saw this movie and was an avid sci-fi fan.



I don’t remember which was the second Stanley Kubrick movie I saw... but the one I do remember seeing for the first time was Clockwork Orange. As a teenager, a buddy of mine and I were bored and he suggested we go see the midnight showing in LA. It was the most shocking movie I think I have ever seen. Ultraviolent. Dealing with rape, murder, outrageous violence, future culture, prison, pschology and gaming the system... though the set design was clearly what past people thought the future would be like.

Another great soundtrack. Lovely lovely Ludwig Van. With Clockwork Orange Kubrick juxtaposed the most gracious of culture of courtly music and dance with the most absolutely crude culture of wanton rape and pillage.

I’ve seen it a million times since and what I get now is the political and social commentary.




I feel like this is a wall of text now. I’ve seen only half of his films and am currently reviewing the ones that I own. I’ll be happy to comment more on the others I have seen if the topic picks up.




I will say this in closing. One common aspect of his movies is the eerie perspective shots... visually at least. That stillness of the camera down a long hallway, or a grand foyer, coupled with dramatic audioscape, along with the message behind the shock are what have me constantly putting his movies on for review.

[Warriorbird]

A Clockwork Orange or Dr. Strangelove. Dr. Strangelove is especially entertaining because of the two characters that are reminiscent of you and PB, Backlash.

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A Clockwork Orange or Dr. Strangelove. Dr. Strangelove is especially entertaining because of the two characters that are reminiscent of you and PB, Backlash.

At least I seem like the sane one. Though the actor does play three different parts.

I only just bought and watched that movie within the past year. While more action packed, like with all his movies it’s all about the political and social commentary of the time. Which I think actually is still poignant to this day.

[Drew]

Mostly overrated. I like his vision if nothing else.

[DCSL]

I loathed 2001 but liked A Clockwork Orange. All my friends preferred Dr. Strangelove but I found it to be nearly as boring as 2001. Not quite, though, because I managed to stay awake and didn't find myself completely hating the characters.

I just... don't like to be hit over the head with the same message again and again from a single viewpoint. Honestly, I liked A Clockwork Orange for the visuals and there were a few key phrases that clung to my brainmeats like honey.

The Shining had to be my favorite. It was frivolous and visceral for me. Full Metal Jacket was also enjoyable, chock full of memorable quotes.

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and there were a few key phrases that clung to my brainmeats like honey.

Are you married? Do you want to be?

I’m putting in Eyes Wide Shut. Will return tomorrow...oh, around the afternoon sometime.

[Revalos]

Eyes Wide Shut was an extremely interesting art project, but not a great movie, IMHO.

Full Metal Jacket on the other hand...stellar. One of the reasons I never would join the military.

2001 is a must-see regardless of your feelings on how boring it is. The fact that that movie was made before the fucking moon landing is completely beyond comprehension in my mind. I guess that would be Sir Clarke's assistance there, but still that was awesome.

Clockwork Orange is great for a little bit of the Milk+ and the Ultraviolence. The sped up sex scene is really kind of a spectale to behold.

Lolita is another artistic tour de force, but I actually liked the remake better than the original one Kubrick did. I can't even fathom how that movie would ever ever be made like that again.

The Shining is a good one though. But that may be more for the acting that the direction...but it is pure Kubrick.

Spartacus is long as hell...but also a damn good movie, especially being a half decade old and still being remade in the form of all those gladiator movies and bullshit that holywood keeps churning out.

Kubrick was waaaaay before his time. Could you imagine if he had directed some of the M. Night Shamalayan movies, or like Independence Day or such? Those movies had such potential, but fell flat due to direction.

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Lolita is another artistic tour de force, but I actually liked the remake better than the original one Kubrick did. I can't even fathom how that movie would ever ever be made like that again.

Agreed. I saw Kubrick’s and fell asleep at the end. The remake (HBO?) was much more sexy?

Then again... where does that put us? Old dirty bastards or asthetletes who appreciate the hard topics being brought to the forefront?

Sex, death, murder, rape, homosexuality? These are all facades he used to bring the true issues he wanted to comment on forward.

In my humble opinion, anyway.

[Whimsi]

The Shining. I read the book not long before I saw the movie and it's one of the few times that I've not been disappointed in a movie based on a favorite book.

[CrystalTears]

The Shining, Full Metal Jacket and 2001 are my favorite. The rest I either haven't seen or did not like at all (i.e. Eyes Wide Shut).

[AnticorRifling]

Full Metal Jacket on the other hand...stellar. One of the reasons I never would join the military.


LOL

[Some Rogue]

Anticor = Pvt. Pyle.

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The Shining, Full Metal Jacket and 2001 are my favorite. The rest I either haven't seen or did not like at all (i.e. Eyes Wide Shut).

Eyes Wide Shut is a hard movie to watch. Nicole Kidman’s dimpled ass and perky tits are just obscene. Not to mention the jealously aspect which is painful tenthousandfold.

My father told me The Shining was one of the most horrifying books he ever read by King. The movie makes me laugh though. Except when Scatman gets it.

Maybe because Shelly Duval was Olive Oil in Popeye? Love her.

[crazymage]

Nocturnal Rob and I's favorite is clearly Lolita.

[crazymage]

Eyes Wide Shut is a hard movie to watch. Nicole Kidman’s dimpled ass and perky tits are just obscene. Not to mention the jealously aspect which is painful tenthousandfold.

My father told me The Shining was one of the most horrifying books he ever read by King. The movie makes me laugh though. Except when Scatman gets it.

Maybe because Shelly Duval was Olive Oil in Popeye? Love her.

The Shining (for it's day) was horrifying to most people. We're desensitized now and that shit doesnt effect us, but that and Jaws are 2 of the top thrillers of all time.

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The Shining (for it's day) was horrifying to most people. We're desensitized now and that shit doesnt effect us, but that and Jaws are 2 of the top thrillers of all time.

Based on a true story, so I’ve heard. The Shining anyway.

Bloodbath elevator doors are striking. Haunting kids, ballroom ghosts and mouse suits... when you get beyond the shocking images what is it all about?

[crazymage]

isolation

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isolation

So you identify with Jack. Thats probably not so good.

Well, look, I do to, to an extent. Just get out more.

[Kayse]

I've seen: 2001, Clockwork Orange, the Shining, Eyes Wide Shut (unfortunately), Dr. Strange Love

I still want to see Full Metal Jacket and Spartacus.

I appreciate his work for different reasons and he was definitely a talented man and I understand why we studied certain films of his in film school. But besides the Shining, I haven't seen any of those movies more than once. To me they aren't really movies where you can sit down and watch them over and over again. Yet, some people I know can, so who knows.

[Mighty Nikkisaurus]

I've seen: 2001, Clockwork Orange, the Shining, Eyes Wide Shut (unfortunately), Dr. Strange Love

I still want to see Full Metal Jacket and Spartacus.

I appreciate his work for different reasons and he was definitely a talented man and I understand why we studied certain films of his in film school. But besides the Shining, I haven't seen any of those movies more than once. To me they aren't really movies where you can sit down and watch them over and over again. Yet, some people I know can, so who knows.

You haven't seen Full Metal Jacket?!

I know what we're doing next time you come to New England :-P (Or I go visit you).

[Soulpieced]

I just saw A Clockwork Orange a few weeks ago (thank you NetFlix) and loved it. Probably not for everyone though.

[DCSL]

Are you married? Do you want to be?



Heh, engaged. Why?

[Kayse]

You haven't seen Full Metal Jacket?!

I know what we're doing next time you come to New England :-P (Or I go visit you).

Yeah, I know I fail. There are so many "classic" movies I haven't seen, it makes me embarrassed to call myself a filmmaker. haha. I haven't even seen all of the "Godfather!"

[Revalos]

Reviving an old thread to say after watching Eyes Wide Shut again this evening, and after being further away from my divorce process...I have to say that it is a damn good movie. But you have to have the background to appreciate it.

I recently saw an amazing special on TV about Kubrick and his massive collection of movie related research (and crazyness) that is now being archived by the University of London. I am definitely going to make a special trip to see it next time I'm in the UK.

http://www.arts.ac.uk/kubrick.htm

[Fallen]

I think the only Kubrick movie I have ever seen is Eyes Wide Shut, and only parts of it. It was wierd.

[BriarFox]

Full Metal Jacket is a really gritty take on military culture and Vietnam, but it's great. Spartacus is just fun, and, random fact, he filmed the sound of the crowd in the Coliseum by capturing the sound at one of the 1950s Michigan State and Notre Dame games, when both were national powerhouses and it was one of the mega-rivalries in sports.

I still want to see 2001 and Clockwork Orange. I'll have to rent them sometime.

[Fallen]

Well, that's silly. I've seen full metal Jacket and Spartacus too.

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Reviving an old thread to say after watching Eyes Wide Shut again this evening, and after being further away from my divorce process...I have to say that it is a damn good movie. But you have to have the background to appreciate it.

I recently saw an amazing special on TV about Kubrick and his massive collection of movie related research (and crazyness) that is now being archived by the University of London. I am definitely going to make a special trip to see it next time I'm in the UK.

http://www.arts.ac.uk/kubrick.htm

Cosmic. I just watched this movie again last night.

It’s classic Kubrick and Kidman is to hot for this planet. Cruise is annoying because he practically repeats every line thrown at him.

Thanks for the link.

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I still want to see 2001 and Clockwork Orange. I'll have to rent them sometime.

You’ll be glad you did.

[Celephais]

You’ll be glad you did.
Clockwork orange, yes, 2001... meh. Of all his movies it's the least rewatchable to me. You'd have to be stoned out of your gourd to enjoy the whole 'space flight' scene, and I wasn't, so it was just a half our of annoying noise and obnoxious light flashing (or however too long it was)

[BriarFox]

Oh, Kubrick wrote "AI," too, but never got it produced. Spielberg finished it for him. It was a much lighter movie than I tend to expect from Kubrick, and I expect Spielberg tweaked it a bit. It had its hard and poignant moments, of course, but overall it was sympathetic, and a touch childlike.

Loved that they quoted this poem in it:
"Come away o' human child,
to the waters and the wild.
With a fairy hand in hand,
for the world's more full of weeping
than you can understand."

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Clockwork orange, yes, 2001... meh. Of all his movies it's the least rewatchable to me. You'd have to be stoned out of your gourd to enjoy the whole 'space flight' scene, and I wasn't, so it was just a half our of annoying noise and obnoxious light flashing (or however too long it was)

I can definitely concede that point. That sequence is a bit over drawn for us hyper attentive kids. But overall it is an amazing cinematic experience.

[Revalos]

Clockwork orange, yes, 2001... meh. Of all his movies it's the least rewatchable to me. You'd have to be stoned out of your gourd to enjoy the whole 'space flight' scene, and I wasn't, so it was just a half our of annoying noise and obnoxious light flashing (or however too long it was)

I assume you're talking about the monolith sequence. Yes, that was what it was designed to be...psychadelic. It was the 60s. Pretty amazing that he did it with the paltry special effects available to him back then (I don't even think ILM had even been started by that point).

All of his movies have good parts and bad parts, just like if you look at any piece of art in a gallery close enough, you'll find some imperfections, but standing back, you get the full effect.

Oh, and I've got a better link for the archive. I blame the UK for not knowing how to code a redirect to the actual archive page, not something from 2006.

http://www.arts.ac.uk/kubrick-archive.htm

[Celephais]

I can definitely concede that point. That sequence is a bit over drawn for us hyper attentive kids. But overall it is an amazing cinematic experience.
You're certainly going to be at a disadvantage to all sorts of pop culture references if you haven't seen 2001 though, that's for sure. I wouldn't be surprised if that's the most referenced movie from other works.

[BriarFox]

(I don't even think ILM had even been started by that point).

Industrial Light and Magic was developed by George Lucas for the Star Wars movies, I think, then broke off into an independent special effects studio. I think he still owns it, though.

Edit: Yeah, it's still owned by Lucasfilm.

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Oh, Kubrick wrote "AI," too, but never got it produced. Spielberg finished it for him. It was a much lighter movie than I tend to expect from Kubrick, and I expect Spielberg tweaked it a bit. It had its hard and poignant moments, of course, but overall it was sympathetic, and a touch childlike.

Loved that they quoted this poem in it:
"Come away o' human child,
to the waters and the wild.
With a fairy hand in hand,
for the world's more full of weeping
than you can understand."

I read somewhere that the reason he did not make that film was because he did not have the resources for the special effects he wanted for it.

Spielberg did a decent job of it though. And the viral marketing campaign was genius.

[Revalos]

Industrial Light and Magic was developed by George Lucas for the Star Wars movies, I think, then broke off into an independent special effects studio. I think he still owns it, though.

Yeah, and they pretty much set the standard for special effects after their creation...in 1975 (thanks Wikipedia). Kubrick made 2001 in 1968.

I'm still completely stupefied that his depictions of space were as accurate as they turned out to be. I still wouldn't be shocked if we see a space Hilton in our future.

[diethx]

I couldn't stand Eyes Wide Shut, and that was before I wanted to rub shit in Tom Cruise's face.

Fav is definitely Clockwork Orange. I know it's dirty and wrong, but I so had the hots for McDowell in it. :/

[Celephais]

I'm still completely stupefied that his depictions of space were as accurate as they turned out to be.
Well...
http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o85/Waterbro_photos/2001-baby.jpg
I, for one, welcome our new space fetus overlords.

[diethx]

I, for one, welcome our new space fetus overlords.

You would!!11111

[Celephais]

Fav is definitely Clockwork Orange. I know it's dirty and wrong, but I so had the hots for McDowell in it. :/
Wanted him to give you the ole in out, didja?

[diethx]

:/

EGGY WEGGS

[Fallen]

You guys are going to summon Jenovadeath any time now.

[LMingrone]

Funny, I just bought the full Kubrick collection yesterday. I know alot of people love The Shining, but I think it's overrated (The camera work and and the look of the film was great though). I'd go with Clockwork and Full Metal Jacket as my favorites. Eyes Wide Shut I have to watch again to decide if I like it or not. Dr. Strangelove and 2001 I've seen a million times, so although I think they're great, it's hard to keep watching them anymore. Kubrick fucking owns.

[Liberi Fatali]

You guys are going to summon Jenovadeath any time now.

Haha, why?

[diethx]

Look, it was true.