Stanley Kubrick: Overated?

[nightfish]

I was reading a review of 2010, the sequel to the 1968 film 2001. A lot of the comments were relating to how 2010 doesn't compare to this 'masterpiece'.

This got me thinking; Stanley Kubrick wasn't all that good a director and his films show that; Only Barry Lyndon and Dr Strangelove really show his true potential. I wonder why then he has such a cult following.

Anyone else have thoughts on this?

 

[Baby Tea]

I thought Full Metal Jacket was incredible, and honestly it's the only Kubrick film I saw.
Wait, did he do 'Clockwork Orange'? Because then he's hit or miss for me.

 

[BonsaiK]

Well, not all his films were great, but it only takes one damn good film to give a director a good reputation. Two good films reasonably close together and you're practically rewriting film history. Hollywood is so medicore generally that even the smallest hint of quality over more than one film will do a director's reputation a world of good.

 

[Reverend Del]

2001, Full metal Jacket, Dr. Strangelove, three awesome movies from Kubrick, that's more than Michael Bay has managed. So no, not overrated, just slightly over hyped.

 

[Keava]

One hand you can say everything is overrated. Some might say Kurosawa is overrated. But for all that Kubrick did with his movies, he deserves the place in hall of fame. Movies like Full Metal Jacket, Clockwork Orange, The Shining are just brilliant works.

Keep in mind being a director is mostly about being able to create a feeling in the movie. Its not costumes, effects or other details that are responsibility of the crew. It is the overall emotion the movie is expected to provoke that is directors duty.

 

[nightfish]

Dr Strangelove was only Dr Strangelove because of Peter Sellers.

 

[Lem0nade Inlay]

I loved FMJ and I thought that A Clockwork Orange was a masterpiece. The shining was also fantastic. Yeah sure he made some bad ones (VERY FEW).

If you want a REAL overrated director...James Cameron, anyone?

 

[nightfish]

Why is FMJ that good? Yes it has a good opening but once boot camp is over, its seems dull compared to other films of the anti-war genre - Platoon, Deer Hunter, Iron Cross.

 

[Axolotl]

If you want a REAL overrated director...James Cameron, anyone?

You mean the guy who made Terminator and Aliens?

And to the OP, no Kunrick is not overrated.

 

[CK76]

I'd be very happy if there were more "overrated" directors in the vein of Kubrick.

 

[Mr Thin]

Not at all.

He's an incredibly talented writer and director, and has proven that he's not just a one-hit-wonder. Dr. Strangelove and 2001: A Space Odyssey aren't just good films, but cinematic landmarks. They truly are incredibly brilliant movies.

Add others like Full Metal Jacket, A Clockwork Orange - they are considered by many (including myself) to be absolutely fantastic, and it's rare for a director to make films of such high quality even once, let alone again and again throughout his career.

In the end, though, I suppose if you don't enjoy his films, then he will, to you, be overrated.

 

[Wadders]

Well I dont think he's over rated, but then I've only seen 3 of his films (FMJ, A Clockwork Orange and 2001) all of which I loved. Add to those the films that I've not en but yet are praised the world over, I'd say he deserves his reputation as a great film maker.

Sure he probably made some crap too, but who doesn't.

 

[Zukhramm]

If you want a REAL overrated director...James Cameron, anyone?

James Cameron made an action movie of the best horror film I've seen. I will never forgive him.

 

[SextusMaximus]

Because a lot of people liked his work in his time. Questions like these are infuriatingly simple, don't make a bloody thread about it, use your common sense!

 

[Lem0nade Inlay]

James Cameron made an action movie of the best horror film I've seen. I will never forgive him.

You mean the guy who made Terminator and Aliens?

I agree, terminator was good. But as Zukhram said, Aliens wasn't a bad movie, bad he made Alien into an action movie goddammit! I want suspense not macho men running around with guns as big as their upper torso. ><

Anyway, not to start a director war here, just stating an opinion.

 

[Cheesebob]

Kubrick, Eastwood, Ford-Coppola, Scorsese, Tarantino, Nolan, Spielberg and Leone

In no order. These are the people I consider brilliant directors.

On the subject of Kubrick making some crap? Tell that to Francis Ford Coppola a man who made The Godfather and Apocalypse Now and pretty much no other good films which stand up to those two.

 

[ace_of_something]

Why is FMJ that good? Yes it has a good opening but once boot camp is over, its seems dull compared to other films of the anti-war genre - Platoon, Deer Hunter, Iron Cross.

I loved FMJ, Platoon, and Iron Cross. Other than the escape from the PoW Camp I thought the Deer Hunter was incredibly dull the beginning HOUR with the wedding is especially agonizing. I mean I get the movie it's more about the damage done to those who were in the war than the war itself but it had no pacing.

edit: OT Kubrick has made many great films and was the first person to try a lot of different framing, photographic, and even acting techniques that are commonly used now. He deserves the praise he gets.
Also it seems like everyone here thinks he made like 5 movies.

 

[Klepa]

2001: A Space Odyssey is one of the most pretentious piles of garbage I've ever subjected myself to. I thought FMJ was alright, Can't say a thing about clockwork orange, it's been so long since I saw it..

I guess he is a bit overrated, but so are most Hollywood directors, if you ask me. BonsaiK pretty much nailed it here:

Hollywood is so medicore generally that even the smallest hint of quality over more than one film will do a director's reputation a world of good.

 

[blinkgun96]

Cult following does not always equal good.

 

[Jamieson 90]

I don't understand the cult following around 2001, I would say its good art but not a good film at all, in fact I wouldn't call it a film to begin with, there is no real script, narrative, characters, dialogue plot etc.

I know a lot of people will simply say I don't get it or that I need to look deeper and make my own interpretation etc but that?s just rubbish with me. I don't mind interpreting a film to a certain degree but when you have to do it for the whole film then the director has failed. If I wanted to imagine an entire film myself I would go and write it myself, when I watch a film I want to see the directors narrative and how they imagined it not me.