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Stanley Kubrick Collection

Stanley Kubrick Collection

List Price: $149.92
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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Best films of all time
Review: I saw this collection recently and in my opinion they are 7 of the best films of all time. Don't worry about the mediocre quality of the discs because the excellent films outweigh the problems. My personel favourite is A Clockwork Orange but although it has more taegs than any of the other films they are all well worth watching.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: It has the classics but it should have his all around work.
Review: Ok first of all this is worth buying and has Kubrick's classics. Kubrick is my favorite director. I have watched every one of his films and have studied his films since I first got into film. This collection is all of his mainstream and most famous work. From "A Clockwork Orange" to "Full Metal Jacket".

However I would have loved to see his other works on this collection. Not a complete works collection but a variety of everything. They should have added his first full-length feature "Killer's Kiss" to show how the master went from a simple film-noir thriller to an epic like "2001". This also should've had Kubrick's early war classic "Paths Of Glory" which is underrated and overseen on Kubrick's films and War films. It has a powerful message and is as glorius as the films in this collection. "Eyes Wide Shut" could've been added but its not an essential( anyways the snobs would've complained and wouldn't buy it).

Anyways I'm not going to give this collection a bad rating and scream and shout forever about it because simply this collection still has some of the best films ever made on it and is worth buying anyday. Try to get it on DVD if you can.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Ignore flames, this is a great set just as Kubrick intended.
Review: I suppose it's a shame in a way that technology has made us expect to be wowed with a widescreen digital TV and 17 speakers around their lounge chair. The fact is that these movies are presented as Kubrick intended. Just like an old classic film, all the "wow" is in the script, music, and acting. For example, is the "Clockword Orange" early synthesizer soundtrack by Wendy Carlos any less an awesome landmark because some third-rate engineer (thankfully) didn't remix it for 6 speakers? No way! By the set and enjoy it as Kubrick intended; and don't be sidetracked by techno-homeboys that didn't like it because it didn't push the envelope of their latest home entertainment system from. My only complaint would be that it would be nice to put some more DVD-extra features such as included in the Kubrick behind-the-scenes film on "The Shining." But perhaps the other films didn't have such documentary material available.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Mixed Bag
Review: Many reviews here have covered the disappointing quality of some of the transfers, the lack of supplemental material, etc. True, the set is a mixed bag. But I would like to point out a couple of things worth mentioning:

1. Aspect ratios of "The Shining" and "Full Metal Jacket": to the best of my knowledge, these films were shot full frame (meaning the whole film gate was unobstructed). When projected in theaters, masks were used to chop off the top and bottom of the frame and give us a "wide screen" effect. This is very common practice these days, and it allows the release of full-frame video versions that DON'T chop off anything. In fact, on video you see the whole camera negative area (or very close) - something you actually don't see in the theater.

2. The Mono thing: I have read that Kubrick believed that Stereo was haphazardly implemented in theaters and was therefore unreliable. Mixing in mono insured a more uniform experience no matter where you saw the film - even on television, which used to be mono only. "Eyes Wide Shut" benefitted from recent industry initiatives to provide a higher-quality and more consistent stereo experience for theater goers. "2001: A Space Odessey" was initially released in a six-track magnetic stereo format fairly similar to Dolby 5:1, so the Dolby 5:1 remix is probably very close to (and somewhat better than) what audiences heard at Hollywood's Cinerama theater during its first or second run (where I first saw it).

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: pretty damn good
Review: Excellent movies, worth buying. But don't be lulled into thinking this is a "special edition box set" like what Lucas did with Phantom Menace. It is a box, with mediocre copies of 7 great movies in it. Two of my favorites (Full Metal Jacket & The Shining) are NOT widescreen, which is quite disappointing as I didn't notice that detail in the descriptions before I ordered the set.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Why is everyone complaining?
Review: I recently bought this box set and I cant quite understand all the criticism it has received here. I have fairly good TV with s-video and a barely one month old dvd player. After reading the reviews here I was afraid to put these movies into my player, from fear that it may explode or something! I have watched all of the videos, some of which while viewing I asked my girlfriend, "whats so terrible about this?" She couldnt figure it out either! The picture is a hundred times better than VHS. Keep in mind that only Full Metal Jacket was filmed in the 80's...of course the rest are not going to be up to the standards of today's films. Kubrick films never were good money makers (unfortunately) so of course youre not going to see WB shelling out money for THX re-masters. Another thing people complained about was sound. Kubrick only filmed one movie (eyes wide shut) in stereo. 2001 and Spartacus were re-mastered for stereo years later. He wanted the movies in mono, why cant people understand that? Just because you own a $3000 sound system , that doesnt necissarily mean that we should alter a director's vision just so you can here a few extra bullets and music. I would not want these films in anything BUT mono. Anyone familiar with the remixing of the Beach Boys Pet Sounds album into stereo is witness to how awful the results of stereo remixing can be. Unless you have HDTV or some space age technology that can expose flaws in anything, dont be afraid to buy this set. I am not disappointed at all. And come on folks, the transfer on Barry Lyndon isnt THAT bad (you really think this movie that bombed in the US will ever get a THX remaster? No way...though it may deserve it, it all comes down to $). Only complaint with the set is that Dr. Strangelove is advertised on the back of the box as a multi-aspect widescreen edition, when in fact it is pan and scan. If that bothers you, buy them seperate, but they are not as horrible as everyone says...and I am a VERY fussy viewer and life long Kubrick fan.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: I can't believe Peter Sellers hasn't been mentioned
Review: Please stop complaining about the bad-quality DVD versions, because there are already too many. This is a review section, not a complaint desk.

I can not believe not one person has mentioned the suburb acting talents of Peter Sellers in Lolita. His character brings great comedy to this movie while being a drama. Even though he is the 'bad guy' in this movie, he is still so likeable. Peter Sellers is also wonderful in Dr. Strangelove. All 3 parts he plays are different characters but are all deliciously funny. It is anazing that anyone could actually portray so many different characters, and portray them excellently at that.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Great Movies on Terrible DVDs
Review: Stanley Kubrick is arguably one of the greatest film makers ever. It is a crying shame that soon after his death, those who would try to capitalize on his talent, would do a rush job on releasing these DVDs. The video quality on most of the movies is poor at best. The audio quality is terrible on most of them. It is just a shame that the engineers of these DVDs didn't take just a bit more time and do them right. If you like these movies then get this collection since the chances of ever seeing any better engineered versions of this set aren't very likely.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Nothing compares to you
Review: What can I say? There's nothing to argue, review or talk about. This is it and there's nothing to it. This is an outstanding contribution to modern filmmaking without competition whatsoever from any other living or dead person. I'm talking about Stanley not the quality of this DVD. Cheers!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Nice Collection
Review: This refer to the DVD Edition: I will write about each title in the separate review of each movie. I want to simply rate the collection as a whole in here. This is a good collection of some of Kubrik best movies. It is a must for any cinema fan. The quality of the DVD was above average, and I am sure it could have been done better. I also think some additional extra features should have been added, and more important a booklet about Kubrik should have been included. My overall summary is that it is an excellent collection in a good packaging, worth buying.


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