Stanley Kubrick Collection

Rating:
Summary: This is it
Review: This Stanley Kubrick DVD collection is, to say the least, impressive. Although this is not as complete as it could have been (Kubrick made 13 movies in all, 8 are represented here), there is still so much to delve into here.

These are not the kinds of movies you can passively watch. They take a lot out of you and sometimes rob you of your sleep. As Martin Scorcese said 'I defy anyone to turn a Kubrick movie off in the middle.'

Each movie has been beautifully restored. Sound and picture mesh perfectly in a dazzling effect that would surely suit the director's taste for aesthetics. There is not much bonus material, but you almost don't really need it. There are interviews with Cruise, Kidman, and Spielberg on the Eyes Wide Shut DVD and Vivian Kubrick's The Making Of The Shining shows up on The Shining DVD.

But the real treat lies in the 9th DVD: the Kubrick bio. The man was a hermit. His mysterious reputation stemmed from his desire to stay at home with his family and avoid the public eye at all costs. So until now, the general public never really knew who Stanley Kubrick really was, other than he was some director-guy. In this two hour documentary, the life of the legendary director unravels but never smothers you. You really do come to admire the man because not only was he treated like a god in the film industry, but he was praised as human being and simple husband/father.

This is well worth the cost. Save your dimes and go for it.

Rating:
Summary: A collection of milestones
Review: While not every movie presented in this box is "5-star caliber", the collector's set a whole is a masterpiece. The synergy between the movies results in an unbeatable package. It is amazing to note that Kubrick never repeated himself; he never made the same movie twice. What a diverse collection of cinematic milestones! Best: 'Eyes Wide Shut', 'Full Metal Jacket', 'Dr. Strangelove' (who knew nuclear bombs could be so funny?), and 'The Shining'. Brilliant and amazing. Not-so-good: 'Lolita' (a little bumby), and 'A Clockwork Orange' (don't flip your wig, it's just my opinion). Other points worth noting: 'Barry Lyndon' has to be the most beautiful movie ever shot; '2001' has something really profound to say about technology and human progress. All in all, a great collection.
(...)

Rating:
Summary: Could Also Be Called:The Greatest Movies of the 20th Century
Review: This is the difinative collection of Kubrick's best known works. Forget the technical mumbo-jumbo, these are the most moving, provocative and well made motion pictures of the 20th century! Plus you get a bonus documentary on the underrated film maker. And yes, some of you will complain about The Shining,
Full Metal Jacket and Eyes Wide Shut being presented in full screen format only, but remember: Stanley Kubrick, Rest In Peace,
wanted those films in full screen only. And before I leave, don't you dare complain about slim pickin's in the Bunus Materials, the films are treasures even without them.

Rating:
Summary: A Complete Collection
Review: Kubrick is by far the greatest director of all time. With his photography background he has managed to give the audience an experience no other director has been able to replicate. This collection gives the purchaser the opportunity to witness Kubrick's more well known works. While not including Paths of Glory and The Killing, these movies can be purchased at a later date if Kubrick really does interest you to a deeper level. Of course with amazing films like 2001, Clockwork, Full Metal Jacket, The Shining and Dr.Strangelove you will have many hours of amazing viewing still to come. I highly recommend this Collection for anyone who appreciates a Kubrick movie

Rating:
Summary: Sure, there could be more, but the glass is half FULL.
Review: I won't concentrate on the films themselves because anyone reading this review already knows that Kubrick, though sluglike in turnout, produced the most consistent opus possibly of any director. Watching landmarks like 2001 or A Clockwork Orange proves to us that he took his time for a reason.

As far as the collection itself goes, it could have included more extras (indeed, any at all on some of the discs), but we should be glad to have a collector's set at all, and I would argue that the exclusion of some of his earliest films strengthens it considerably. As for the extras (or lack thereof), I would like to say that we should be glad there are even chapter selections. Mulholland Dr. doesn't even have that. Then there's the documentary, "A Life in Pictures." Clocking in at over 2 hours, it is the extra to beat all extras, covering his entire career, dispelling any notions of Kubrick as some drug-addicted maniac with a camera, and even addressing ideas he had for future pictures. It is a shame that having lost him, we cannot look forward to any running commentaries, but this is a drawback that true fans shouldn't take too badly. We have the films, and that's what matters.

Sure, an unedited version of Eyes Wide Shut would have been nice, but I don't think a cloak here and there subtracts from the picture very noticably. And it would have been nice to see A.I. directed by the man who conceived it, instead of the overly sentimental studio guru who landed it. (We started off with a story by Phillip K. Dick, and we got Pinocchio.) On a personal note, I would like to express my surprise at the fact that, after paying full price to see A.I. during its early run, Spielberg included NO dedication or any mention at all of the man who gave him the project (not to mention immeasurable artistic insight) to begin with. I guess someone guaranteed to make a huge profit can afford to overlook a genius or two on his way up the ladder.

Rating:
Summary: The Definitive Kubrick Collection
Review: The great thing about Kubrick is that even if you don't like one of his films, you can't say it isn't beautiful. I'm not a particularly big fan of either Barry Lyndon or Clockwork Orange, but they have such incredible visual flair that I don't mind watching them.

The best thing about this collection, moreso than the films even, is the inclusion of the documentary Kubrick: A Life in Pictures, which is unavailable elsewhere. Some potential buyers might think "I don't particularly like a couple of the movies in the set, but I want the documentary. Is it worth it?" The answer is: definitely. The documentary is quite lengthy, fairly in-depth (to the point where it covers several Kubrick projects which never made it to fruition), and very well put-together.

My one complaint about the collection isn't about the collection as such, but about the fact that the extra features from the earlier version of the 2001 DVD are not included on the remastered version. Aside from that, I wouldn't change a thing.

Rating:
Summary: Over-hyped re-mastering
Review: A lot has been said about the differences between the original set and this the so-called "New"Stanley Kubrick Collection. Having shelled out a small fortune to replace my original set with this one based on rave reviews, I must say I don't consider it worth it. The films are mostly great for sure, but the documentary "A Life In Pictures" is really quite poor. If you want to learn about Kubrick and his work, try buying one of the excellent biographies available. This documentary (which incidentally has been shown a few times on BBC TV in Britain) didn't teach me anything I didn't already know and typically skips over some of the more controversial aspects of Kubrick's work.

The re re-mastering by the way is not as significant as some would have you believe....the original set was not that bad considering the age of the films and whilst this version does improve the picture slightly, it is a small gain to be made.

Regarding the 5.1 sound, I can only say it was Kubrick's wishes to have mono sound and not anyone elses!

Rating:
Summary: Read The Invidual Reviews For The Reviews On The Films
Review: Lolita
****1\2

Dr. Strangelove
*****

2001: A Space Odyssey
*****

A Clockwork Orange
*****

Barry Lyndon
****1\2

The Shining
****1\2

Full Metal Jacket
*****

Eyes Wide Shut
*****

A Life In Pictures
*****

Is it worth it?
Yes.

Stanley Kubrick is by far the greatest director of all time. Is work as inspird countless amounts of films and film-maker. He was born in New York to a small family. He did have a sister, however. He was never very good in school, but was very smart. He then became a photographer and then a film-maker. He died at age 70 when he had a heartattack in the night. He did not really complete Eyes Wide Shut. Steven Speilberg's A.I. was Kubrick's last project which was created by him.

Rating:
Summary: Understanding the Man Behind the Camera
Review: I find it interesting how so many viewers have failed to comprehend Kubrick's cinematic works. He's views of human nature (accurately to my mind) were bleak. Many people find his observations on mankind offensive and disturbing. While I agree the latter is true the former undoubtably exists in the minds of many due to their own inability to accept any condemnation of themselves. Inside our inward capabilites are readily apparent and exposed on screen for the viewer to contemplate. Stanley Kubrick does not cater to any type of fantasy-related confort zone we emerse ourselves in every day but his films stand as a warning to all mankind to be careful of our hedonistic and many times outright sinful appetites for they can devour us before realizing their are consequences to such actions.

Having said this many viewers cannot an experience that exposes the sad (and many times frightening) trueth about our potential selves. However, his way of conveying stories onscreen is many time antithetical to our conception of a story. Many themes and messages that exist within the celluliod are inherently missed due to our programmed minds in recieving a story (i. e. viewing a film with the same basic story telling fundementals). We must delve (albeit deeply) into the man himself to fully comprehend his cinematic works as not only art but as a cynical (but accurate) understanding of human nature.

I'd also like to elaberate on the pan & scan debate. Every film one sees in hte collection is in the correct ascpect ratio. Example: The Shining was shot in 1:33 but formatted for 1:85 on the big screen. Essentially what he did was shoot the film for both aspect ratios. You can see achival photos of Kubirck with his viewfinder as he is prepaaring a shot in The Shining. The viewfinder was "full frame" (1:33) but also lines were drawn on the viewfinder to indicate where the 1:85 ratio was; thus enabling exact and working compositions for both formats.

After seeing his masterpiece "2001: A Space Odyssey" destroyed when shows on televisions all those years ago he vowed to film in 1:33 or 1:66 so as to not lose any picture when shown for television. Nevertheless htere were very theaters left that were designed for 1:33 and thus simply added black bars to the top and bottoms of the projector lens to create 1:85. So we are not losing any detail of the film.

Lastly Kubrick's works are nothing less than breathtaking. His story-telling, camera work, use of lighting, and image-score combinations create a total enviornmental experience that carries the viewer into his films as no other filmaker can create. Sometimes his films are accussed of of being "shallow" and "overlong". Understandable when you consider some viewers fail to comprehend the meanings in his films. But frankly others do not enjoy Kubrick's way of telling a story.

[It was tempting to keep this from recieving 5 stars due to the absense of pre-Lolita films but Warner does not have rights to the films of Kubrick's early period.

Rating:
Summary: A Must for the Serious Film Library
Review: An indispensable collection of indispensable films. The DVD transfers look and sound great- these films are works of a genius filmmaker and the added features, particularly the two and a half documentary on SK (unavailable anywhere else), make this purchase a no-brainer, What else do you need to know?
Get it!