Stanley Kubrick

ChemEng · 27-01-2004, 23:36

What do you people think of this director?

I ask as I saw his name pop up in previous threads.

I reckon he was a bit of an enigma. He could produce brilliance - like Full Metal Jacket - but unfortunately, for me anyway, I regard some of his other films as rather pathetic attempts to grab attention, and perhaps cover up his directorial (is that a word?) shortcomings.

I mean how could anyone claim Clockwork Orange is good? Its just an orgy of hideous violence and sexual assaults from start to finish - who would want to sit down and eat their dinner in front of that tosh?

I know FMJ is violent too, but warfare is good, clean violence

and isnt sick and appalling just for the sake of it.

What does everyone else think? Be interested to hear your opinions.

SubCrawler · 28-01-2004, 20:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChemEng

He could produce brilliance - like Full Metal Jacket - but unfortunately, for me anyway, I regard some of his other films as rather pathetic attempts to grab attention, and perhaps cover up his directorial (is that a word?) shortcomings.

This must be a piss take.

SK is considered by many in the film world to be one of it's greatest artists. The fact that you believe Full Metal Jacket to be an act of brilliance and not, say, 2001 - A space odyssey, speaks volumes about your lack of understanding of the man and his work.

A Clockwork Orange is meant to be violent, that is the point. What Kubrik is trying to do is submerse you in the life of a violent, dysfunctinal human being. That is why it is truly a work of art, because it challenges, or did when released, perception of behaviour.

Suggest you take a closer look at the great man's work.

ChemEng · 28-01-2004, 21:46

I didnt say Space Odyssey wasnt good - I was only using FMJ as a particular example. Of coruse he made other good films apart from that. Like I say, in my opinion, he seems to gravitate between good films and rubbish.

What about Eyes Wide Shut? That was a huge turkey! Pure p*ss! I could have done better with some action men, barbies and a cine camera!! haha!

Im still not convinced about Clockwork Orange. It just seems like an effort to gain notoriety to me. He still could have challenged behaviours without being so appallingly graphic. I think a lot of the people who like it may find it appealling due to the graphic horrors it contains, rather than through appreciation of any message/challenge underlying.

Surely the fact that it was banned for a long time supports this?

What do you think?

rebusrahman · 28-01-2004, 21:55

If you read the book first (by Anthony Burgess) then perhaps you would have a greater appreciation of the film by Kubrick?

stevieboy · 29-01-2004, 02:48

Eyes wide shit! Terrible film, so bad in fact, that it drove the 2 leads to divorce!
The trippy time-shift ending of 2001 still looks absolutely amazing, and FMJ is a fascinating study of national war/personal madness.
Wasn't Dr Strangelove directed by SK? That was pretty cool...

ChelseaDave · 29-01-2004, 04:59

the shining and fmj r the only 2 stanley kubrick films i've seen. they're both excellent! fmj's drill seargent is brilliantly played & directed by kubrick. And nickelson in the shining is a dark character and is played v. well. so on that basis im going to say kubrick was a brilliant film maker...

ChemEng · 29-01-2004, 17:16

Good point Rebusrahman - I may look into the book one day, as I generally enjoy them better than the equivalent film, even if the film is a good version of the story.

Yes, Chelsea Boys, the Drill Sergeant in FMJ was cool. The dude who played him was actually a USMC Drill Sergeant in real life once. Think he had a small part as a chopper pilot in Apocalypse Now also.

SubCrawler · 29-01-2004, 20:05

The Killing
Spartacus
Paths of Glory
Lolita
Dr Strangelove
2001
Clockwork orange

All of these films are considered to be ground breaking, as it were 'state of the art' filmmaking. Full Metal Jacket is a good film, but a great film?

I consider Paths of Glory to be Kirk Douglas' finest film, a true tour de force. In fact Paths of Glory is nothing short of a masterpiece. Shame it does not get better coverage.

Kubrick was not prolific, he only made about a dozen films in forty years, so each film was a much look forward to event. All his films are at the extreme emotional end of the spectrum. Not for him the bland and the boring, and I say thanks for the journey Mr Kubrick.

Honestly, take a closer look at his work and I am sure you will change your opinion.

rebusrahman · 29-01-2004, 20:12

SubCrawler? What do you think to Spielberg's take on Kubrick in AI? I don't know how AI would've turned out done by Kubrick but I think it would have been less SFX-ey, maybe? But perhaps it couldn't have been done with less SFX?

SubCrawler · 30-01-2004, 19:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by rebusrahman

SubCrawler? What do you think to Spielberg's take on Kubrick in AI? I don't know how AI would've turned out done by Kubrick but I think it would have been less SFX-ey, maybe? But perhaps it couldn't have been done with less SFX?

One of the great unknowns. While the two of them worked closely on the initial draft the fact of the matter is that it is the director that shapes the final offering.

Certainly any of the sugar coating would have been stripped away. Shame the bugger upt and died on us.

rebusrahman · 30-01-2004, 20:24

He was about 70 something to be fair! Think Spielberg is getting better tho - less candy more caustic!

Travis Bickle · 30-01-2004, 21:17

AI would've finished alot quicker if Kubrick had done it, Spielberg 'fantasy special Fx mad films' just seem to go on forever. The bit when the kid falls into the pool is one of my favourite scenes in cinema, the humans can't accept the robots naivety and innocence.

eyes wide shut, I personally thought was amazing, I do like films where nothing really happens but the acting and situations are inspiring.

rebusrahman · 30-01-2004, 21:19

I just remembered I had the opportunity to be an extra on Eyes Wide Shut when it was filmed in 97. But it was my final year in uni and I had exams. Kinda figured that it was more important to do them than some extra work which might lead nowhere.

Travis Bickle · 30-01-2004, 21:33

You probably would've got cut out anyway. I read something about agirl who was a patient in a scene with Tom Cruise for about five minutes had lines and everything. Then she went to see it at the cinema and she wasn't in it.

rebusrahman · 30-01-2004, 21:38

It happens all the time... at the moment I am at "as long as I get paid I don't care" stage. Once I start making a bit of moolah I will want to see my stuff too. Altho it could be painful as I can't act ;-)