The Criterion Collection

[Will G]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

I have heard this said before... what do you mean by this?

The sex scenes in the orgy were blocked, view was obscured, in order to achieve an R rating. It it my understanding that Kubrick thought this lessened the effect of the film & probably would have fought it if he had lived.

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by stevieray44

Yes, they are difficult to fault if you enjoy them, but very easy to fault if you don't. His films very easily polarize people, and I think that can be attributed to the fact that he makes his movies. He makes them his way, according to his vision, and nothing and no one would ever get in the way of that. What we see in his movies is his direct mark left indelibly on every frame.

I think that's why so many people either criticize or love his films so intensely: we are getting pure, unfiltered Kubrick, the man himself, when we watch his films.

I recently just had a screening with about 4 of my friends of 2001: ASO (my favorite of his films), with none of them having ever seen it, nor having any idea of the story other than "it take place in space". Of the four of them, 1 said it was decent but a movie he would never watch again, and the other 3 outright hated it. In fact, one my friends still talks about the experience, claiming the film should be used as a slow torture device, haha. I will never, as long as I live, forget the sound of the room full of them sitting in their chairs and, waving their arms in exhaustion, screaming "JUST LAND THE SHIP ALREADY!".

Tbh you can't blame people nowadays when they are brought up with the film that are released now. Saying that not all are bad, but majority of films now are just made for as much profit as possible, which is a shame.

[SkyAntoine]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

"highbrow" is not a term I would ever associate with Stanley Kubrick

I don't know another director that has been more intellectual that Kubrick. I always get the feeling he was toying with his audience. That's what I meant.

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by SkyAntoine

I don't know another director that has been more intellectual that Kubrick. I always get the feeling he was toying with his audience. That's what I meant.

Haneke is brilliant at toying with his audience - look at Funny Games, when you read peoples reaction/feedback on those films it is exactly the reaction he wanted, the audiences play right into his hands (myself included!).

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

It for too bugs me that everyone bangs on about 2001 all the time yet his other works never get the attention they deserve. The Shining is in my opinion higher than 2001, it has so many more details and just works so much better.

The Shining is one of my least favorite of Kubrick's films.

Now, I love 2001: A Space Odyssey, and have talked before about how it was a transformative film for me, changing me from a movie-watcher to a film-fan. But it's actually not my favorite film of his: if I was ranking my Top 5 Kubrick films, it would go like this:

A Clockwork Orange
Paths of Glory
The Killing
2001: A Space Odyssey
Barry Lyndon

A Clockwork Orange is one of my choices in the "Best Films Ever Made" category. It's one of the few that I would call near-perfect.

[Will G]

moviegeeksunited.net has done an extensive "Kubrick Series." With over 60 special guest interviews, it is by far the most
in depth examination of Stanley Kubrick's work I've witnessed. I would highly recommend that anyone who has any interest in
Kubrick's films to check it out.

[RojD]

Originally Posted by SkyAntoine

I watched The Killing last night for the first time. Easy to see its influences on Reservoir Dogs.
Because it was Kurbrick I was expecting it to be a little more of a highbrow story, but it was enjoyable and straight forward. The ending was especially great.

I'm thinking about watching Macbeth and then Throne of Blood next. But, I can't seem to get excited about Macbeth due to the length and reviews I've seen. Any fans of the film?

If it's the Polanski Macbeth, be sure to let us know what you think. I haven't watched it yet. If it's the Orson Welles, I'd suggest popping down to BN to pick up the Polanski as a blind buy. The Welles Macbeth defies physics by turning 90 minutes into 4 hours.

Of the film treatments I know, Throne of Blood gets the Shakespeare play better than any. Even when I see the play live, I think about Kurosawa's film. I really want to see the Polanski with it, too.

[LuckyDragon]

Originally Posted by RojD

The Welles Macbeth defies physics by turning 90 minutes into 4 hours.

Tell me about it. I recently watched it for the first time after putting it off for way too long, and was bored out of my mind. The Polanski and Kurosawa versions are easily my two favorites. They're so different that I can't really compare them or choose one over the other. They're both masterful.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

I rarely see people discuss Lolita or even Eyes Wide Shut. Maybe thats just me not exploring enough?

If you wish. I think Lolita is Kubrick's worst film. I think he made hash out of an absolutely wonderful novel. All of his choices but one were poorly made.

The well-made choice was the convention going on at the motel where Humbert planned to deflower Dolores. I don't recall what the convention was in the novel, but it was something completely random. Kubrick turned it into a State Policeman's convention, which I thought was deliciously wicked.

The worst choice he made was casting Peter Sellers as Quilty. In the novel, Quilty was an overarching figure of menace that never really took stage. Kubrick made him into a slapstick buffoon.

[SkyAntoine]

Originally Posted by RojD

If it's the Polanski Macbeth, be sure to let us know what you think. I haven't watched it yet. If it's the Orson Welles, I'd suggest popping down to BN to pick up the Polanski as a blind buy. The Welles Macbeth defies physics by turning 90 minutes into 4 hours.

Of the film treatments I know, Throne of Blood gets the Shakespeare play better than any. Even when I see the play live, I think about Kurosawa's film. I really want to see the Polanski with it, too.

I have the Polanski version. I have not seen a Polanski film I have not liked, but I have not seen his longer, period dramas (Macbeth, Tess). With four kids it is not the easiest thing to plop down in front of a 2-3 hr movie.

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by jayembee

If you wish. I think Lolita is Kubrick's worst film. I think he made hash out of an absolutely wonderful novel. All of his choices but one were poorly made.

The well-made choice was the convention going on at the motel where Humbert planned to deflower Dolores. I don't recall what the convention was in the novel, but it was something completely random. Kubrick turned it into a State Policeman's convention, which I thought was deliciously wicked.

The worst choice he made was casting Peter Sellers as Quilty. In the novel, Quilty was an overarching figure of menace that never really took stage. Kubrick made him into a slapstick buffoon.

Fair enough it was just one of the first films that came to mind of his that I hadn't seen discussed much

-

On subject of Macbeth, I am stupidly excited about the new one that is coming out, I don't mind that its not 100% loyal to the original story, I think it keeps it refreshing (I believe this one only has minor changes). But looks pretty awesome plus I love the guys other films

MACBETH - OFFICIAL TEASER TRAILER - YouTube

I know I mentioned it before but if you like Macbeth - the BBC in UK did a great adaptation of the most popular Shakespeare stories, Macbeth had James Mcavoy and he was brilliant and it was a very fresh take on the story (the witches were bin men for example :P).

Part 1 (leads to the other parts):

[Show spoiler]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yY3JxKPC0y0

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

I have heard this said before... what do you mean by this?

Originally Posted by Will G

The sex scenes in the orgy were blocked, view was obscured, in order to achieve an R rating. It it my understanding that Kubrick thought this lessened the effect of the film & probably would have fought it if he had lived.

I wouldn't imagine that that would be what Polaroid meant. He referred to us never having the opportunity to see Kubrick's vision for the film. The version of the film you describe was the way it was released in North America (or maybe even just the United States). The uncensored version was released throughout the rest of the world, as well as eventually being released here in the US on disc. The currently available Blu-ray is the uncensored version.

[hoytereden]

Originally Posted by stevieray44

I see what you mean about expecting it to be "highbrow"; I love Kubrick myself, and expected The Killing to be the same before the first time I saw it. He was indeed a very intellectual director. It almost seemed like he was more interested in making visual literature than your traditional plot-line films.

But, I digress: let me just suggest that if you enjoyed The Killing, that you seek out a little film he did before that called Killer's Kiss. It's not quite a heist movie, nor is it (in my opinion) nearly as great a work as The Killing, but they do share a bit of the same stylistic ideas. It's just a little film that's close to my heart, and if you pick up the Criterion blu-ray of The Killing, Killer's Kiss comes along with it as a bonus feature.

Originally Posted by octagon

Killer's Kiss is well worth a watch or two. I expecting a much rougher, student film kind of thing but it's fairly polished and works very well. It's not an A-list film by any stretch but it could probably hold its own against other Late, Late Show type movies.

I enjoy Killer's Kiss very much. I love the location shooting and also the

[Show spoiler]warehouse fight

which is certainly unique. I also think the mostly unknown cast do a good job and the leads make you care about their characters. Lastly, the theme music has stayed with me from the first time I saw the film. Maybe because it's repeated often but, whatever the case, it just suits the film.

[Yami]

It's such a shame that Douglas Trumbull isn't able to make his 2001 making of documentary, Beyond the Infinite. It looked brilliant and it even got as far as

having a trailer

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by Yami

It's such a shame that Douglas Trumbull isn't able to make his 2001 making of documentary, Beyond the Infinite. It looked brilliant and it even got as far as having a trailer

Why didn't it get made/released? Sounds like a great Doc!

[D2Girls]

Can someone maybe tell me what movie I saw a video of a while ago, I'm pretty sure its a criterion release, and one of the film versions of Macbeth.

In it, there's two knights in heavy looking armor, and they're struggling in what appears to be a last fight to the death. The setting looks bleak, there's very nice low level lighting, I remember seeing a lot of black and red. Very black and very red, looked almost vampire-ish.

And one of them has a spear, and I remember one of them stabs the other in the chest, and the other has a sword. It looked like the spear knight won, but the man with the sword ends up lunging at this angle, and manages to pierce him. They both end up dying then, I think.

Oh, and if it helps, I remember the shot being completely stationary. It was set almost to the side, and no cuts of the struggle.

[Yami]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

Why didn't it get made/released? Sounds like a great Doc!

I'm not entirely sure that Warner have stated the reasons it was cancelled, but when I emailed Trumbull to suggest he Kickstarter it he said it couldn't be done as Warner wouldn't allow use of 2001 footage.

[jmclick]

Originally Posted by jayembee

The Shining is one of my least favorite of Kubrick's films.

Now, I love 2001: A Space Odyssey, and have talked before about how it was a transformative film for me, changing me from a movie-watcher to a film-fan. But it's actually not my favorite film of his: if I was ranking my Top 5 Kubrick films, it would go like this:

A Clockwork Orange
Paths of Glory
The Killing
2001: A Space Odyssey
Barry Lyndon

A Clockwork Orange is one of my choices in the "Best Films Ever Made" category. It's one of the few that I would call near-perfect.

You and I differ greatly on our assessment of Kubrick's oeuvre. After I got over the discrepancies between Kubrick's The Shining and Stephen King's novel, I came to love the film. It's not perfect by any means, but I find it entertaining, and an interesting examination of the creative human mind coping with (or rather, failing to cope with) isolation.

A Clockwork Orange, on the other hand, totally repulsed me. I found it sordid and degrading, as if Kubrick had tricked me into descending into a world of depravity. I consider myself a fairly open-minded and adventurous filmgoer, but I don't enjoy what I perceive to be assaults on my sensibilities. That's one of the reasons I have no desire to see Pasolini's Salò; I don't need to see it.

I'm afraid I'm also one of those people who finds 2001: A Space Odyssey to be a chore and a bore. I don't why I kept thinking of Kubrick's film while I was watching Interstellar, but I did; and despite its flaws, I much preferred Nolan's film.

My top five Kubrick films:

Paths of Glory (best film of 1957 for my money)
The Killing
Dr. Strangelove
The Shining
Eyes Wide Shut

I would have placed Spartacus at number 4, but it has always seemed to me to be more a Kirk Douglas production than a Kubrick film. And I have to admit, I've not yet seen Barry Lyndon, although it certainly sounds like a film I would enjoy.

[Halation]

well if it's a list party

[Show spoiler]11. Full Metal Jacket
10. A Clockwork Orange
09. Killer's Kiss
08. The Shining
07. Lolita
06. Dr. Strangelove
05. The Killing
04. Eyes Wide Shut
03. Barry Lyndon
02. 2001
01. Paths of Glory

[jw007]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

Other people word things so much better than me haha. I get so muddled.

Its a documentary I can revisit over and over because of all the details, same as you said about Kubricks films. It for too bugs me that everyone bangs on about 2001 all the time yet his other works never get the attention they deserve. The Shining is in my opinion higher than 2001, it has so many more details and just works so much better. Both are great. It saddens me we will never see his version of Eyes Wide Shut, but I am mad about that film, its so good but I would love to see what Kubrick wanted to really say about it.

Kubrick was pretty cruel to Shelley Duvall but she gave an incredible performance for it - that's why i think The Shining is one of his best films over 2001, it has incredible performances, nearly every scene is perfect and even the flawed scenes lead and create a better scene after. I also love how Kubrick portrayed a haunted hotel without the need for all those horror cliches and who he made the hotel become alive without shoving it down our throats. The story is pretty easy to follow as well so in a way its more enjoyable as you don't have to try analyse the film as much as you would say 2001.

Plus I am so thankful they codlin afford to do the hedges coming alive :P would have been a bit tacky on screen I think.

We need more Kubrick docs and I know its over said but he is one of the best, his film are very hard to fault.

Talking about Kubrick and his films makes me want to study film so bad, for my Graphic Design essays + dissertation I focused on Kubrick, tutors didn't mind but it was so fun - I just don't have time or money to go back and study film. Everything I know is self taught (hence I am never as technical as other who post here and come across stupid).

Well, I classify 2001: A Space Odyssey in its own league, its own class. It's a movie from another dimension of time and space. The Shining is in its own right just as good in terms of hypnosis and absorption, but comparing Kubrick's films is like comparing different varieties of wines. They're all good, but each has its own unique flavor and quality.

Personally, I'd love to see more behind the scenes footage on the making of Eyes Wide Shut, with outtakes and documentary footage of Kubrick on the set. That film is possibly his most mysterious of all movies, alongside 2001 and The Shining, because its a jigsaw puzzle that isn't totally solved by the end of the film. And of course I dream and fantasize about Kubrick who could have lived just a bit longer to make more edits/changes possibly and even read his reaction of that film as it incubated in his mind. But his work literally killed him, and that is the greatest way to die for any genius artist.