Stanley Kubrick

[gdl96]

Several months ago, after some nagging at my board, I rented Dr. Strangelove and loved it. It was just such a well done movie with such a great, dark, funny plot. Impressed with Kubrick's work, I finally got around to renting A Clockwork Orange another GREAT movie. It's hard to describe what was so great about it, but it just was. Unfortunately, it seems that Kubrick's works never caught on cuz I've never seen ANY movie that's even close to the greatness of Strangelove and Orange. Todays movies only consist of trite action sequences and cliche love triangles and such. What has happened to movie-making? It's that most people my age don't know about these great, classic movies, and shun black-and-white. They just don't know what they're missing.

Any recomendations on some other classic movies I should see? It's gonna be a long summer.

[IronParrot]

I've wanted to see those two films for ages, but never got around to them...

I personally enjoyed 2001: A Space Odyssey, though admittedly it is a very "love it or hate it" sort of movie.

Spartacus is great, but Kubrick actually didn't have that much directorial input on the film, and it shows - the film is more of a straightforward plot-driven epic than a character study...

[anduin]

If you want a great B/W movie rent Citizen Kane. (Hmm, that was B/W, right??) It has been called the greatest movie ever made...or something like that. :)

A Clockwork Orange was the most disturbing film I had ever seen. I do want to see Dr. Strangelove though.

[Darth Tater]

Citizen Kane is good, but it's not the greatest movie ever made, though the hollywood dribble dissagrees with me. That title goes to Bridge on the River Kwai.

[IronParrot]

Ah, Tater...

"Do not speak to me of rules! This is not a game of cricket!"
I can also imagine you going:
"If you do not work hard, you will be punished!"
in a heavy Japanese accent...

I don't like ranking films but if I had to pick the greatest cinematic achievement of all time, I'd have to go with Lawrence Of Arabia.

[Darth Tater]

Now let me go hide under a barrel as I admit I've never seen that work by my favorite actor.I know, I know, it's definately on my list, but I'm stuck watching mostly movies my twelve year old sister will like too.

[anduin]

Let me clarify that it's not my opinion that Citizen Kane is the greatest movie ever made, just that it has been said to be so.

[juntel]

Whatever has been said, whatever the "dribble"...

I'd go with Citizen Kane.

[Darth Tater]

Citizen Kane, a movie with a mistake the size of, well, there's nothing else that big! I mean, for petes sake, you know what i'm talking about

[anduin]

Ummm, not exactly.....but it has been awhile since I've seen it. Still, I remember it being a great movie. Can you elaborate?

[juntel]

"Citizen Kane, a movie with a mistake the size..."


From someone who defaces one of the greatest Tolkien board on the Net, this could mean anything or nothing...

Many mistakes have been written about CK in numerous books.

Doesn't change the exceptional quality of that movie.

[Darth Tater]

Defaces? I think it's a real improvement ;)

I'm talking about the central plot of the movie itself, the error that makes it impossible for the movie to actually exist in the first place. Rosebud.

[juntel]

What?
The arguement that nobody would have heard him say it when he died?

that's an oldie.

[anduin]

LOL, people are going to get the impression that we think that Kubrick was responsible for Citizen Kane!

[Darth Tater]

LOL. oldie, yes, but still a very true fact

[juntel]

the usual response is that because we see nobody in his room at the begining doesn't mean there wasn't anybody... seeing the journalist talking to the "maitre d' " , and knowing what kind of character he was, one wouldn't be surprised that he would sneek in his master's bedroom, especially if Kane was ill and not noticing much what was around him...

... and the guy did say he was the one who heard the word at his master's death bed...

so, it's not so big a mistery...

it just takes a bit of imagination... if one has some...

[juntel]

in fact, i might add that this "error", which it isn't anyway, isn't the most serious mistake in the movie... (which it isn't anyways, again)

[Darth Tater]

Well considering it (supposedly) embarassed Hitch, and he would definately show the guy in the room, that's his style, i'd have to say it's a bad one

[juntel]

if that makes you happy, they go on and listen to Hitch...

[Darth Tater]

Did I say Hitch? Oops, musta mean Orson Wells ;) Guess it's from just seeing North by Northwest. Boy, his movies get better every time! (and dvd certainly helps)

[juntel]

oh... i see...

[anduin]

They are showing Citizen Kane on the big screen at the end of the month where I live :)

[IronParrot]

I just saw Dr. Strangelove for the first time. I LOVE IT. My second-favourite satire film ever, behind Brazil.

I also rented Full Metal Jacket and will be watching that tonight...

[Shanamir Duntak]

That's a cult movie! you won't be disappointed...

C'est quoi ton probleme mon p'tit baleine? C'est tes parents qui t'ont pas asser couvé quand t'étais p'tit??? BANG!

[Xivigg]

People say Citizen Kane is the greatest film ever for two reason

first : for most old movies, their mistake and flaw became more obvious as the time pass. Not so with Citizen Kane, as the time pass it's stay just as it was on it's first presentation, perfect.

Second : This movies has influenced the cinema industrie more than any other. Except maybe for Battleship Potemkin.

True it's not the greatest stories ever told (that would go to the Lord of the Rings :p ) but it's still very actual even today. Add to this that It was the first movies Orson Welles produce, that he was also actor in the movies and was also doing almost everything all by himslef and he was only 25 years old at that time and you might begin to understand.

It's truly a great movies because he set the pace for everythings that came after.

Other great classics (I like them anyway)

Nosferatu 1922 by Murnau
Battleship Potemkin 1924 by Eisenstein
(it was the best movies ever until Citizen Kane.)
Taxi Driver Martin Scorscese
The Godfather
2001 a space Oddessy
Psycho

[gdl96]

A couple weeks ago Full Metal Jacket was on HBO, but I missed the last half hour. Not as great as the other Kubrick movies, but still pretty good and worth watching it. I also rented 2001: A Space Odyssey over the weekend. Awsome movie. I was confused about some things when I finished watching it, but after thinking about it more and visiting some web sites, I think I pretty much get it all. Except for the Star Child thing at the end. If anyone gets that part, I'd appreciate it if you shared you knowlege with me.

[Darth Tater]

I love Nosferatu! Possibly the greatest vampire movie ever, certainly one of the best silent films

[juntel]

gdl, whatever you do, don't watch the awfull sequel (2010)...

the starchild? heck, there's no definite/official answer anyways...
A renaissance...
A new step in human evolution, with the help of the aliens (monolith), sent back to earth...

etc...

Don't confine yourself from getting answers on the net: it's a movie to see again and again.
For this is where the answers will be.

[IronParrot]

Shanamir, that line is even better in the English version...


"WHAT IS YOUR MAJOR MALFUNCTION?"


I can't stop quoting FMJ. Most of the quotes are too obscene for this board, particularly the Sgt.'s insults, but hey...


This is my rifle! There are many like it but this one is MINE!

[juntel]

... as they did their march, holding their gun: "this is my gun", and holding their ... : "this is my ..."

:lol:

[Darth Tater]

I saw Lawrence of Arabia. It was very good, but I still prefer Bridge on the River Kwai. Peter O'Toole is a bit too over dramatic IMO, and though it works for some of the public seens since Lawrence was like that, it doesn't really work in the private ones. And really, who can hold a candle to Sir Alec Guinness?

Also, I found the ending a bit dissapointing. Yes, I know it's a true story, but they coulda done it better. I think it should have tied in with the motorcycle thing.

Also, Lean seemed to be too attached to the film. Long movies are good, but it was TOO LONG. He could have edited it to a much tighter version. but they, they're both Lean films after all, and he does rock!

[Shanamir Duntak]

M-I-C-K-E-Y-M-O-U-S-E Mickey Mouse, Mickey Mouse...;)
;

[anduin]

??? What does that have to do with this thread?

[IronParrot]

Watch Full Metal Jacket and you'll understand.

[anduin]

Ahh, forgot that was even mentioned. :)

[Shanamir Duntak]

Did you know Xivigg is studying in Cinema? We'll (I'll) try to find a camera for EntmootCon. Then he could maybe mix it, and I could make it into a movie file.

[Darth Tater]

We've got editing suites at school and I've got a bit of experiance, i was actually considering doing an Entmoot 2001 (I think we've decided the Con is unnnecessary, entmoot is a gathering after all) documentary myself

[Shanamir Duntak]

Nice....

[ringbearer]

Originally posted by gdl96
A couple weeks ago Full Metal Jacket was on HBO, but I missed the last half hour. Not as great as the other Kubrick movies, but still pretty good and worth watching it. I also rented 2001: A Space Odyssey over the weekend. Awsome movie. I was confused about some things when I finished watching it, but after thinking about it more and visiting some web sites, I think I pretty much get it all. Except for the Star Child thing at the end. If anyone gets that part, I'd appreciate it if you shared you knowlege with me.

If you read the book it "implies" that the "star child" comes back...and destroys mankind by "releasing the flowering megatons" or something like that...

Look at the symbolism...the ape finds a weapon (the bone)...he tosses it into the air, and it becomes something (in the future). The movie does not convey what this thing is. The book says it is an orbitting nuclear weapon!

as far as it goes Strangelove is his best movie...AWESOME!

[webwizard333]

I finally got around to seeing Dr. Strangelove last night since Blockbuster had it finally. It was one of the funniest movies I've ever seen. Especially the ending with the need to prevent a mine shaft gap. Good stuff.

[BeardofPants]

Stanley Kubrick is my favourite director. I've seen most of his movies, and it's true that nothing he's done ever really measures up to 2001 (my favourite movie), Dr Strangelove (which I watched again recently on DVD - Peter Sellers is such a chameleon), and A Clockwork Orange. However, to my shame, I still haven't seen Lolita, or Sparticus (Ben Hur has been putting me off... stupid I know).

Anyway, my list of best directors of all time:

1) Stanley Kubrick
2) Frances Ford Coppola
3) Martin Scorsese
4) Alfred Hitchcock
5) Orson Welles.
6) David Lean
7) Oliver Stone.
8) David Lynch
9) Ridley Scott
10) George Lucas
11) The Coen Brothers
12) Terry Gilliam

[IronParrot]

Regarding Full Metal Jacket, I thought the first half was the best depiction of boot camp on film by a country mile or three. The second half was a bit weak, though, and not all that memorable next to the other titans of Vietnam movies...

I haven't seen that many films by Kubrick, now that I think about it... only Spartacus, FMJ, Strangelove and 2001. They were all very good. But I wouldn't call him my favourite director by any stretch... Spielberg, Lean and Gilliam - perhaps among others - have produced bodies of work that are closer to my heart.

[katya]

oh my gosh, i saw the movie for a clockwork orange and i totally loved it. its the only kubrick movie i have seen but he did a great job on it. i read the book first. the book is one of my favourites. it emphasizes more of the whole free will dont be a clcokwork orange thing, and if anyone has seen the movie or read the book there is a thread about it and i would appreciate anyone who went there. thanx! oh! yeah and the soundtrack is good too. not that kubrick did that but it is...

[BeardofPants]

Great to see another kubrick fan! :)

[gdl96]

I want to read the book, but I'm too busy with summer reading (Jane Eyre YUCK). I hope to get around to it soon. I also want to read Red Alert, the book Dr Strangelove was based on.

[Coney]

2001: A Space Odessy explained.

http://www.kubrick2001.com/2001.html