NationStates

I don't watch a lot of movies, but that's only because most movies leave me with a bad after taste when it's over. Some times even making me feel paranoid and anxious. However, Stanley Kubrick films have never made me feel negative in any way even when there's gross things in the film. So I will dedicate this poll to this wonderful man and his work.

Unlisted films:

1. Lolita
2. Fear and Desire
3. Day of the Fight
4. Flying Padre
5. Seafarers
6. Killer's Kiss
7. Paths of Glory (doh! I can't believe I forgot this during the final draft)

I enjoyed all of these as well but they are not as iconic as what is listed on the poll; Besides Paths of Glory.

I'll tell you what I picked after enough people vote.

Actually - if you manage to guess the two films I like I'll just admit to it.

The Shining-9/10. It is a tense and creepy movie filled with memorable scenes and great acting and visuals. However, 'Paths of Glory' and 'Full Metal Jacket' are excellent anti-war movies and deserve 8.5/10. Close call for these three.

I watched The Shining last week. I thought it was going to be a bore fest but ended up really enjoying it. That bathtub lady scene is the scariest part in the movie for me.

Barry Lyndon is just so damn beautiful. I like his films more for the way they look than his story telling.

An Alan Smithee Nation wrote:Barry Lyndon is just so damn beautiful. I like his films more for the way they look than his story telling.

I agree the cinematography was excellent but the movie was slow and boring. I also hated 2001 Space Odyssey which was technically excellent but moved at a snail's pace.

Freiheit Reich wrote:

An Alan Smithee Nation wrote:Barry Lyndon is just so damn beautiful. I like his films more for the way they look than his story telling.

I agree the cinematography was excellent but the movie was slow and boring. I also hated 2001 Space Odyssey which was technically excellent but moved at a snail's pace.

That's what I mean about his story telling, he doesn't keep me gripped wondering what will happen next, like Hitchcock does at his best.

Huh, I've only seen half of his work. I haven't even heard of five of the six unlisted films. So much for being a fan.

But I've loved the things I have seen. 2001 is a special one to me, and Dr Strangelove is brilliant. If I could have picked three Spartacus would have rounded me out.

An Alan Smithee Nation wrote:

Freiheit Reich wrote:
I agree the cinematography was excellent but the movie was slow and boring. I also hated 2001 Space Odyssey which was technically excellent but moved at a snail's pace.

That's what I mean about his story telling, he doesn't keep me gripped wondering what will happen next, like Hitchcock does at his best.

I like the space and atmosphere he gives the stories.

Elsa De Arendelle wrote:Unlisted films:

1. Lolita
2. Fear and Desire
3. Day of the Fight
4. Flying Padre
5. Seafarers
6. Killer's Kiss

<Ahem>

Paths of Glory also isn't on your poll.

<Ahem>

Pedantry aside, Paths of Glory is genuinely one of my favourite Kubrick films.

2001, Barry Lyndon, and Full Metal Jacket are my top three, but I'd place Paths of Glory over, say, A Clockwork Orange (which hasn't aged well), Lolita (which has aged even more badly) or Spartacus (often brilliant, but ultimately flawed).

Dr Strangelove is such an excellent bit of cinematography, you are glued to it from start to finish. Isn't that the movie also where the studio managed to recreate the interior of a bomber so accurately that the US military scrambled to see if they had either any spies or broken into an airbase?

Such a hard choice but for me it's between 2001 and Dr. Strangelove, with the Shining being a close second or third.

I watched all of his movies in order of their creation and The Killing was like his 5th or 6th film and it stayed as my favorite until Barry Lyndon overpowered it.

I said I was going to tell people what I voted for and I never did.
I think 20 is a good number to begin.

I voted for Eyes Wide Shut as my number one favorite Kubrick film and The Shining as my second favorite.

I chose Eyes Wide Shut because it managed to be the most visually stunning film I've ever seen with mysteries that are still left unsolved today that rivals even the mysteries of The Shining.
It was a great film despite not being at 100% complete strength. I think they removed like 20% of contents, so can you imagine what power it would have over audiences and critics if it was left untouched as Kubrick envisioned for it? Remember, it only had bad reviews when it came out because it was botched by outsiders. So we only got a partial Kubrick movie which still ended up becoming one of the best movies ever made and will be talked about in the future. It saddens me that there will never be a movie like this ever again nor will we ever hear from Kubrick about what his thoughts are on it. I seriously believe the man worked his entire life mastering everything to get to this point.

The Shining.... Barry Lyndon was my second favorite, defeating The Killing until I saw The Shining a few weeks ago. I've heard about The Shining for years and I thought it was just a corny, bland, overblown movie by fans. Perhaps excellent for its time - the 80's - but no match up against any other good horror films you can personally name in the last 20 years. The overratedness it has received is more than rightfully deserved. Every bit of it. In fact, I think it is required viewing by everyone. It's that good. I'm still obsessed with it weeks later and I don't know when it will end. And I don't find it that scary. The Ring is scarier than this movie. And that's what makes The Shining so great. It's horror without it being horror. No torture, blood, gross things, cheap jumpscares. It's safe for the whole family to watch.

I'm gonna change one of my votes.