Poll: Stanley Kubrick

[Xhumed]

A close call between Dr Strangelove, Full Metal Jacket and A Clockwork Orange. 2001 and The Shining get edged out because I prefer the books to the films (I haven't gotten around to reading A Clockwork Orange yet.) Dr Strangelove is just in front. It's close though. R Lee Emery is screaming at me in my head now...

 

[Lord Krunk]

No love for 2001?

I voted for Dr. Strangelove, anyway.

 

[PurpleRain]

I voted Dr Strangelove. Gotta love the love.
Also, note something Larenxis, there is no option for 'I don't like him.' NOTE IT!

 

[Logan Westbrook]

I've read it and seen it, and I have to disagree. I don't think movies should be carbon copies of books as they're meant to be paced and experienced in different ways. I actually prefer the movie's ending of him benefitting from the procedure as he'll make loads of money for being a political puppet. The book's semi happily ever after ending didn't fit in with the character.

I'm going to have to disagree right back. At the end of the book, Alex's experiences have changed him and he rejects his violent past. Clockwork Orange, the book at least, is a story of redemption. In the film, Alex is betrayed by nearly everyone he meets and he learns nothing from it. He is used by people for years and he is none the wiser for it.

 

[Dogeman5]

No love for 2001?

I voted for Dr. Strangelove, anyway.

2001 required prerequisited knowledge that Clarke printed later and it was very long too, (not saying it wasn't good); anyways I thought the brain child of two brilliant men would have ended up slightly more polished

 

[Rooster Cogburn]

all but disowned Spartacus

Why did he do that? I quite like Spartacus...

I too love the bomb, so that is how I voted.

 

[Sylocat]

I love A Clockwork Orange and Dr. Strangelove. I'm a little less confident about 2001: A Space Odyssey.

As sacrilegious as it is to question the almighty Kubrick, I think his version of The Shining is overrated, and I despised Full Metal Jacket.

As for his Lolita, well, they could have changed the title and dropped Nabokov's credit altogether, it would have worked just as well and I would have liked it better.

 

[AuntyEthel]

I've read it and seen it, and I have to disagree. I don't think movies should be carbon copies of books as they're meant to be paced and experienced in different ways. I actually prefer the movie's ending of him benefitting from the procedure as he'll make loads of money for being a political puppet. The book's semi happily ever after ending didn't fit in with the character.

I'm going to have to disagree right back. At the end of the book, Alex's experiences have changed him and he rejects his violent past. Clockwork Orange, the book at least, is a story of redemption. In the film, Alex is betrayed by nearly everyone he meets and he learns nothing from it. He is used by people for years and he is none the wiser for it.

Well, I won't dispute your opinion, I just thought that cashing in fitted his persona more, as it's what most people would do in real life. Well, I would anyway, and my name is Alex so it fits me more!

Interesting debate...

 

[Logan Westbrook]

I've read it and seen it, and I have to disagree. I don't think movies should be carbon copies of books as they're meant to be paced and experienced in different ways. I actually prefer the movie's ending of him benefitting from the procedure as he'll make loads of money for being a political puppet. The book's semi happily ever after ending didn't fit in with the character.

I'm going to have to disagree right back. At the end of the book, Alex's experiences have changed him and he rejects his violent past. Clockwork Orange, the book at least, is a story of redemption. In the film, Alex is betrayed by nearly everyone he meets and he learns nothing from it. He is used by people for years and he is none the wiser for it.

Well, I won't dispute your opinion, I just thought that cashing in fitted his persona more, as it's what most people would do in real life. Well, I would anyway, and my name is Alex so it fits me more!

Interesting debate...

I agree that cashing suits his personality at the beginning, but in both versions Alex is stripped of all of his power and made into a victim. Kubrick would have us believe that Alex is completely unchanged by this and is, in fact, irredeemable. I suppose that's a valid point as well, but it doesn't ring true with me at all.

Of course, as you mentioned, this is simply my opinion.

 

[HeyZeus_Ezekiel_Jesus]

7.62mm Full Metal Jacket

 

[Dr Spaceman]

Though I voted for A Clockwork Orange, (only Kubrick could make you feel sorry for a murderer/rapist), I want to step in and defend The Shining a bit.

Hands down, The Shining is the best horror movie I have ever seen. I felt uneasy and a bit freaked out the entire time. There were very few "jump" moments, and very minimal gore/blood/violence. These last two qualities I don't believe make good horror. Watching Jack Nicholson transform from everyday husband to maniacal killer is ten times scarier than Jigsaw killing his umpteenth victim in Saw XII.

 

[Larenxis]

I have noted it, Purps, and I will boycott this poll. I shall find the other people who don't like Kubrick, and we shall rise together, just you see.

 

[PurpleRain]

I have noted it, Purps, and I will boycott this poll. I shall find the other people who don't like Kubrick, and we shall rise together, just you see.

And like you could topple the massive golden flying train that is the fanbase of Kubrick? I'd like to see you try.

Two years later...

 

[unholy vagrant]

Dr. Strangelove was his best movie. While I liked both 2001 and Full Metal Jacket, 2001 wasn't interesting for the whole movie and the second half of Full Metal Jacket wasn't that great.

 

[SmugFrog]

I like the first half of Full Metal Jacket - the boot camp part was awesome. I think the 2nd half kind of flopped though. It would have been better as a short with the just the boot camp section or expanding on that.

I heard a lot about Clockwork Orange, but I really didn't like that movie. I forced myself to finish it.

Dr Strangelove is one of my favorite movies, and I rank that as his best.

 

[haruvister]

all but disowned Spartacus

Why did he do that? I quite like Spartacus...

It was a matter of creative control. After Anthony Mann was sacked from Spartacus (he filmed the opening scene), uber-powerful Kirk Douglas brought in Kubrick as a replacement, having worked with him on Paths of Glory. So Kubrick was effectively a hired hand - not really his style. By all accounts without Spartacus Kubrick would not have been able to finance many of the films in this poll, but I guess he resented working under studio terms.

 

[poleboy]

One of these days I really need to watch a Clockwork orange. I can just never really stomach things with rape in them.

You might want to turn off the sound. Singing in the Rain will never be the same again after watching it.

 

[runtheplacered]

One of these days I really need to watch a Clockwork orange. I can just never really stomach things with rape in them.

You might want to turn off the sound. Singing in the Rain will never be the same again after watching it.

quoted for truth

 

[The Wooster]

One thing I thought clockwork orange didn't capture is Alex's youth. McDowell, despite being a great actor, looked at least 20 in the film. In the book one of the most effective moments is when you finally find out Alex's age during the prison scene. It's quite the shocker.

I'm personally torn between Orange and 2001. While I loved the actual film segments of 2001 some of the extended scenes seemed more like masturbation than anything else. I recall seeing an edited down version (called 201 minutes, I believe) and actually finding it more exciting than the original film.

Link here [http://swith.gazaxian.com/2001seconds.htm]

 

[sunami88]

I had to say 2001, but Clockwork Orange was oooooh so close!

Damn, good poll.