Scott said:
x-pack said:
I haven't got round to a second viewing but will do soon. Eyes Wide Shut had me gripped. It was kind of hypnotic, like a dream. On the surface you've got a hot couple having relationship struggles, she either intentionally or not makes him jealous, then he goes on a two night bender of bizarre sexual encounters during which he doesn't actually have sex with anyone, which is quite funny. That in itself was brilliant but I have a feeling there's more to it.
Just got myself a copy of Barry Lyndon so don't tell me anything. I have an idea what it's about. Even if the film sucked and I hated the story I know it will be visually stunning with such an amazing director. The reason I picked this up is because it's referred to in The Shining documentary Room 237 as "the work of a bored genius". in fact that's also the reason I picked up Eyes WIde Shut, because it's constantly referred to in that documentary.
Have you seen Barry Lyndon yet? I'll keep mum if not. A good pub quiz question is "What was the film Stanley Kubrick made after 'A Clockwork Orange' but before 'The Shining' ?". I've seen self proclaimed "film buffs" baffled by this :lol:
I saw Room 237 for the first time recently on Film 4. I thought the theory about the genocide of the Native Indians very convincing, the Holocaust theory less so and the Moon Landings conspiracy I took with a barrel of salt :!:
Right so i've seen Barry Lyndon now. Loved it. All three hours of it!
Firstly it is a slow moving film that I wouldn't recommend to everyone. The actual period setting with lords and ladies might not be to everyone's taste. My wife didn't enjoy it and moaned twice saying "has it not finished yet?!" (which annoyed me). That's pretty much the only minus point.
Barry Lyndon is the most beautiful and well acted film i've ever seen. That's it. Some of the scenes I was just staring at gobsmacked thinking 'how on earth did they manage to shoot this?' Some scenes are just so well lit and composed. You really see the genius of Stanley Kubrick. The Shining and Eyes Wide Shut had visually stunning scenes, but not like this. AND you have to consider this film was shot in about 1975. You see other films and TV from that period and they look like dog turd in comparison.
Even though the film is three hours long the the story and characters keep you invested all the way through. But like I said, that might not be for everyone. It's funny, it's heartbreaking . Because it's so long and in depth I changed opinion on some of the characters during the course of the film. Whereas you normally get the bad guy and the protagonist I thought those roles kind of changed around a bit. By the end I felt sorry for his step-son and not at all for Barry Lyndon.
There are some sliding doors moments where if Barry had made a different decision, or if fortune had gone his way (or not), things would have been different for him and others.
I think there are some deeper themes going on but to me it was just a good tale well told and well shot.
Fans of Kubrick should see this and you may wonder how he ended making it in the first place! Think The Shining, Full Metal Jacket, Clockwork Orange and Eyes Wide Shut ...it's nothing like those! :wink:
