Rating: 
Summary: The best of Kubrick's wildly diverse canon of 13.
Review: Some people criticize this as being a somewhat plodding, blunderous affair; so why is this my favorite Kubrick film of all time? Well, aside from the exhilarating, epic qualities of Spartacus, the hilarious but gloomy atmosphere of Dr. Strangelove, the delightfully frightening and campy personality of The Shining, and the breathtakingly original production of 2001, this meticulously crafted and entertainingly told story seems to me to embody everything Kubrick stood for--his eccentricities, his artistic traits, his ability to entertain--and, therefore, seems to me to be the ideal film from the master. Watch it again, and see how 2001, the Shining, and even Spartacus pale in comparison to this masterpiece, their flaws revealed.
Rating: 
Summary: great movie; poor transfer to dvd
Review: One of my favorite films, however the transfer to dvd is the worst I've ever seen. It is obvious this dvd was rushed out without any remastering. You don't have to be a pro to see all the defects. If you want a great story and backdrop watch it, but beware of spending your money on something that is not even vhs quality
Rating:
Summary: GOOD FOR THE EARS , TOO
Review: I saw Stanley Kubrick's BARRY LYNDON some 25 years ago at a local theatre and, yesterday, before placing the DVD into my player, I've tried to remember scenes from the movie. And the only thing that came across my mind was the music, the Haendel suite accompanying the english soldiers while marching against the french army.No need for me to glorify once again the sumptuous images nor Kubrick's meticulosity in the recreation of the european XVIIIth century. Other customers have done it a lot better than I ever could. What I would like to point out here is the extreme accuracy of BARRY LYNDON's musical score. Just think that Stanley Kubrick, during the first scene involving Ryan O'Neal and Marisa Berenson, around a game table, has given us one of the first video-clips ever filmed. The images fit so well with the Franz Schubert's trio that one is led to believe that Kubrick wanted to illustrate here a piece of music he liked and that what we see on the screen was inspired by Schubert's music. And not the contrary. A DVD for your library.
Rating: 
Summary: All of Fancy Western Culture in only three hours.
Review: Kubrick dares to risk pretension here by taking the obscure Thackeray novel at face value. Eschewing a modern sensibility which almost always mars period movies (the very recent "Mansfield Park", with its wacky feminist sensibilities, comes glaringly to mind), the director makes the people in this world move like the marionettes we always imagined them to be. They stand like portraits of themselves; they glide across rooms beautifully. The score behind these painted dolls consists of the archest classical composers, i.e., Handel and Bach, along with others slightly less arch. Further, most of the movie looks like a Gainsborough or a Watteau landscape. And in case that's not enough high-art for you, Kubrick uses a narrator (a great old Shakespearean actor named Michael Hordern) who, for all we know, IS Thackeray himself -- he certainly sounds archly Victorian enough. Perhaps only Kubrick was egomaniacal enough to attempt all this. The movie has moments of intense beauty, and you have to admire Kubrick's determination in realizing those moments. On the other hand, what works is also what occasionally hampers the movie: the scenic composition can get too static (to say nothing of the dialog!). One ends up wishing that Kubrick wasn't so convinced that his film was so lovely. The only actor Kubrick apparently respected was Peter Sellers, which is a roundabout way of saying that it hardly matters which actor portrays the titular hero of this movie. Ryan O'Neal suffices. In fact, his bland good looks and roughneck frame suit the character perfectly, which is undoubtedly why Kubrick cast him in the role. (O'Neal was also a star in 1975 -- indeed, he was 1975's Matthew McConaughey.) Not a Method Actor, he simply speaks the lines and looks handsome, which is all that's required. If you imagine De Niro in this role, you'll soon agree with me, I think, that O'Neal is great casting. All in all, a (mostly) absorbing rise-and-fall story, executed with much more attention to detail than you're probably accustomed to. I recommend it.
Rating:
Summary: Barry Lyndon is a masterpiece.
Review: Visually stunning, deliberately paced story of a man who, despite his rise to riches and success, finds himself rejected by the highest strata of society. I suspect Kubrick was attracted to the story because of the parallels to his own life. Redmond Barry's story is much Kubrick's story. After a initially brutal slap by the real world, the formally idealistic young man becomes cynical and self serving, turning briefly to his own tribe so far as he is 'helped' by them, but quickly rejecting them as soon as becomes feasible to do so. Taking a trophy wife from what he perceives as the superior ruling class, he seeks acceptance in it, but soon realizes the hopelessness of his ambition, and instead settles willingly to the terms life offers. He maintains his individual sense of honor in the face of brutal bigotry and hollow hypocrisy, suspecting in himself a justified self-worth, but always and forever doubting, seeing that his natural tendencies are, in the end, inescapable. The sets, costumes and cast are excellent, but the real star is the film itself. The film is long, but not over long. The viewer should give himself the time to absorb it; not only does the film richly deserve it, but the viewer will be richly rewarded.
Rating:
Summary: Satisfaction.
Review: One of those perfect films. I think this movie, along with Clockwork Orange, best capture Kubrick's love of visualizing stories and music.
Rating:
Summary: Gorgeously Filmed, Expertly Crafted!
Review: This film is simply beautiful, a feast for the eyes. It has astark realism from the period; the actors did not use costumes, butactual antique clothes and Kubrick did not use any lighting other than natural light. Gorgeous cinematography captures the beauty of the English landscapes, beautiful sets and a nice score and screenplay (by Kubrick). The story follows the adventures of an Irish rogue who is prepared to do anything to build his way up in life. Kubricks' film seems like a painting; Kubrick found inspiration in the era's painters. While long it is never boring and the actors shine, but the genius behind it is Kubrick. From a scale of 1-10 I give this film a 9!
Rating:
Summary: Challenging, daring work from the master.....
Review: Arguably the least accessible of Kubrick's major releases, this film still remains the single greatest example of his recurring themes, ideas, and overall style. In addition to the revolutionary (and still, 25 years later, never surpassed) use of camera and lighting, Kubrick reinvents a genre often bloated with inaccuracy. Because he insists on a deliberate pace and stifled emotions, Kubrick captures the lifestyle of the 18th century better than any previous filmmaker. In other words, this is a film literally taking place in a specific era rather than remaining a typically modern interpretation of past events. And the story itself? A deceptively simple tale of an opportunistic cad who seeks (and loses) fortune and distinction. Yet, Kubrick is after much more here. As he examines dehumanization and the ritualization of human behavior, he subverts the genre by presenting unattractive, aloof, self-serving characters, most prominently in the lead role. Using narration, he mocks the ambitions of his characters, revealing information that would remain hidden if not for the omniscient voice. There is little doubt that the film is slow, but the glacial pace allows for contemplation and involvement in ways few films do. Underrated, underappreciated, and ripe for revisiting.
Rating:
Summary: Grossly Misunderstood
Review: I noticed that one reviewer felt Barry Lyndon was unsuccessful as a film because he thought Kubrick should have chosen a more regal personna for the lead character. He felt Napolean would have made a better subject for the drama! This is ludicrous, it goes against both the intention of the film and of Kubrick himself. The very drama that makes the film interesting-- and compelling-- is based upon the concept of a humble and not-too- worldly Irishman who rises to extraodinary heights by taking advantage of a series of unusual circumstances that place themselves before him. In turn, his eventual fall from grace provides the film with the kind of intense emotion that transcends his humble origins. Replacing Barry Lyndon with Napolean or any other historical figure would not in itself make Barry Lyndon a better film, I believe the fim's success lies in the extraordinary events that take place in a rather ordinary man's life. With the superb camera work, marvelous period settings, breathtaking scenery and costumes, and music of the period, the viewer is transfixed, given a glimpse into the excesses of the 18th century in a way that no film since has been able to do. Who needs Napolean?
Rating:
Summary: One of my favorite
Review: I had always heard that this movie was great but never got around to watching. Well, I rented it and watched it probably 10 times. This movie has such a great story and it captures your mind. I think this movie shows how human nature is. I love this movie and recommend it to people of any age.
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