"What's it gonna be then, eh?"

I am not going to try to talk about this one very much. I really did this poll just to read the good Uncle's commentary because I know he is a big Stan fan and will hopefully write a dissertation on the results.

Several people have asked me recently what I thought of "Eyes Wide Shut". I think people are starting to watch it more now that it is on video for the same reason they watched "Showgirls" on its VHS release. Everyone was scared to go to the movies to see it because of its supposed perversity or strong sexual content. Well they needn't have been scared. I have seen much worse in a Friday night special presentation on Skinemax.

The Gist and I went to see "Eyes Wide Shut" together because as you know, he is a huge Kidman fan. I mean huge. I had to hear about this movie for at least a year before its release. And no one in the country was more disappointed when it was continually delayed. I think he liked it but I know he was disappointed with the rather tame sex. I guess he really wanted to see a porn movie starring Kidman but it could have been worse I suppose.

Kubrick is a strange bird. His movies are more like novels, at least in my opinion. Everything is there for a reason. Now if you or I were a director, we may think a shot looked good or a scene between two actors was dragging, but Kubrick is beyond us all. I have stated before that a film professor of mine said that you know cinematography is well done when you would like to have a freeze frame from a movie as a piece of art on your wall. Well Kubrick's movies are art in motion. If you had a video display on your wall in the shape of a frame, you could play a few of his movies with the sound off and it would look like art.

Take "2001: A Space Odyssey" for example. I saw it for the first time about seven years ago. When I first watched it, I thought, "What the fuck? Was the script for this movie like three pages long?" My reaction was due to the fact that there is, shall we say, sparse dialogue in the movie. But the movie is not about good dialogue. It's a visual masterpiece if there ever was one and it takes multiple viewings to appreciate Kubrick's talent. Like all great novels, this movie means one thing and one thing only...and that is whatever it means to you personally. I have heard several theories about the ending and what it means but I don't believe any of them. My personal opinion will remain just that, personal. I have always had a feeling that I will get to the afterlife and sit down with Melville or Hawthorne and they will say "Are you stupid? I wasn't saying that at all! Ahab's revenge was the best thing for him and Hester Prynne was a slut who deserved her fate!" Along those same lines, maybe e.e. cummings will just tell me that the shift key on his typewriter was broken.

"Spartacus" is the most commercial-like Kubrick movie in my opinion. My first reaction when I saw that movie was "Wow! Jean Simmons is a babe!" The two actresses before my generation that hold "hottie" status in my mind are Simmons and Vivian Leigh. Whew! Scarlett was a gorgeous lady. Anyway, I digress.

Kubrick was a true artist and if you don't like his movies, give him another chance. I gave this same advice to everyone who told me "Eyes Wide Shut" sucked. You have to think about his movies. If you watch them carefully a few times and think about them while you do, they will eventually open up to you and you will be glad you gave him another shot.

Poll Topic: Best Stanley Kubrick Movie
A Clockwork Orange	21.6% - (86 Votes)
Full Metal Jacket	21.1% - (84 Votes)
Dr Strangelove	19.3% - (77 Votes)
2001: A Space Odyssey	18.5% - (74 Votes)
Spartacus	7.5% - (30 Votes)
The Shining	7% - (28 Votes)
Paths of Glory	2% - (8 Votes)
Lolita	1.2% - (5 Votes)
Eyes Wide Shut	1% - (4 Votes)
Barry Lyndon	0.5% - (2 Votes)
Killer's Kiss	0% - (0 Votes)
The Killing	0% - (0 Votes)
Total Votes: 398