MovieChat Forums > Spartacus (1960) Discussion > Spartacus must be the worst Kubrick movi...

Spartacus must be the worst Kubrick movie

posted 9 years ago by Der_Blaue_Reiter
42 replies | jump to latest

This is the only time that he didn't have total control over the filming. This film was basically an attempt from Douglas to recover from the blow of not getting the main role in Ben-Hur. Never seen an actor so full of himself (since John Wayne perhaps) .
The Spartacus character was so perfect and so noble and so compassionate and righteousness that in the end I really thought that he would ascend to the skies and be immortalized in some fictional book.

[–] prairie_doggie 9 years ago

Ich habe nicht jeden film von Kubrick gesehen, aber ich habe gehort es gibt ein paar mehr fruhere filme, die echt schlecht sind. Ich habe Spartacus gesehen und finde es nicht so schlimm ^^

"To act is not to act" - Me

[–] fotomatt-2 9 years ago

Mein Freund, hat wirklich nichts mit Stanley Kubrick zu tun. "Der Blaue Reiter"
ist ein Narr, der immer schreibt, dass er hasst Filme, dass alle anderen mag.
Bitte Ignorier ihn einfach.

[–] prairie_doggie 9 years ago

aach so, alles klar dann. Prost!

"To act is not to act" - Me

[–] Degree7 9 years ago

Eyes Wide Shut, Full Metal Jacket, and Fear And Desire are all worse than this.

~ I'm a 21st century man and I don't wanna be here.

[–] yankeefan0312 8 years ago

You're an idiot if you think eyes wide shut was bad. One of the best films of the 90s.

[–] KobiyashiMauru 8 years ago

Full Metal Jacket is an 80's icon and one of Kubricks favourite movies that he made. 🚁

Nobody goes there anymore. It's too crowded. Yogi Berra

[–] Degree7 8 years ago

Whatevs Mr Snobby McSnobbypants. Def one of the worst of the 90s.... Okay, it wasn't that bad, but wasn't all that great either.

~ I'm a 21st century man and I don't wanna be here.

[–] keithcozz-329-738173 8 years ago

Then I must be the dumbest S.O.B. that ever lived, as I despise "Eyes Wide Shut" and do, indeed, think it's terrible.

[–] vjbehm 8 years ago

its a horrible movie for general entertainment, but as with most kubrick films there is always the hidden messages and nuance to consider...but movie sucked

[–] callumnorris 8 years ago

Full metal jacket is my favourite war movie and widely considered one of the best war films ever made

[–] Degree7 8 years ago

It's only considered one of the "best war movies" by people who have never been to war. The common criticism is it's a film of two halves, with the first being better than the last. I talked to a Vietnam veteran and he called the movie a bunch of ridiculous nonsense, and I'd be inclined to agree with him. Substituting England for Vietnam is just ludicrous.

~ I'm a 21st century man and I don't wanna be here.

[–] residentgrigo 8 years ago

I was in the military and Full Metal Jacket is a perfect 10/10 and my favorite of his. The 2 films before The Killing are Kubricks worst.

[–] Degree7 8 years ago

You weren't there maaaan.

~ I'm a 21st century man and I don't wanna be here.

[–] PussyCrusher_Principal 8 years ago

I must have missed something...Why do we care what random veterans think about Full Metal Jacket, again? "He was there" is no answer. Is he an actual film critic, or someone with an actual understanding of film? FMJ isn't a documentary, so the opinion of guys who " were there" goes out the window.

[–] Degree7 8 years ago

Well seeing as prominent film critics agree with these "random veterans," I'd say your argument goes right out the window.

~ I'm a 21st century man and I don't wanna be here.

[–] brucedgo 8 years ago

I do remember liking the first half a lot -- perhaps disappointed with its ending (I don't remember for sure). Second half seemed like a different, and more ordinary, war film. I don't mean ordinary in any way of mediocrity, just not innovative/original/whatever as the first half.

Thinking back and speculating, it seems like the two main characters were killed off before the second half. Hard to overcome that in maintaining interest perhaps.

…Edit…
LOL. Just posted this and then noticed I'm on the Spartacus board. Oh well. 

Timmie, if you don't bring that rocketship back this instant, you'll get the spanking of your life!

[–] dgraymond-46284 8 years ago

There is no worst Kubrick film. Once hit his stride with paths of glory, they were all top notch. I don't expect every film to be liked, but the sheer perfection of his craft is unquestionable. I personally didn't like eyes wide shut as much, but that does not reduce the significance and artistry of it. I did not enjoy 2001 as much as others personally, but it is as close to a perfect film as anyone has gotten.

[–] 8 years ago

[deleted]

[–] thebigmouth 8 years ago

Eyes Wide Shut, Full Metal Jacket, and Fear And Desire are all worse than this.

Oh, hell no.

TV: http://ihatemydvr.blogspot.com
LOST:http://eyemsick.blogspot.com

[–] Degree7 8 years ago

Oh hell yes!

~ I'm a 21st century man and I don't wanna be here.

[–] thebigmouth 8 years ago

Meh.

TV: http://ihatemydvr.blogspot.com
LOST:http://eyemsick.blogspot.com

[–] Degree7 8 years ago

Doesn't mean they're bad movies.

~ I'm a 21st century man and I don't wanna be here.

[–] thebigmouth 8 years ago

Fair enough.

TV: http://ihatemydvr.blogspot.com
LOST:http://eyemsick.blogspot.com

[–] Liam-Walters 8 years ago

A Clockwork Orange is his best film imo.

[–] muf-mur52 8 years ago

Are you kidding? A Clockwork Orange is my best Kubrick film. It is the film which got me interested in Kubrick. Eyes Wide Shut is his weakest film IMO.

[–] Liam-Walters 8 years ago

I dunno, I really dig Eyes Wide Shut too.

Fear and Desire, though, is clearly a film that came before he really developed any kind of mastery of form, and although I enjoy it, it's probably his technically worst. Killer's Kiss was more professional, but imo, despite moments of brilliance, he made a lot of mistakes. He didn't really start making masterpieces until The Killing and Paths of Glory.

I'm not great fan of Spartacus, though. It's good, but it lacks all of the things that I like about Kubrick, and I can't help but feel like it would have been better if he had complete control.

[–] IHateJakeGyllenhaal 8 years ago

Yeah, I just watched it yesterday and I don't think it's his best, not a bad movie though.

[–] PatFilm 8 years ago

I used to think it was okay, now I consider it a great movie with some splendid
characterizations.

Clearly more of a Douglas controlled movie and Kubrick who had a tough time
handling everyone BUT he later got much more agreeable about that experience and
almost reconciled with his work :-))

[–] joeann_21 8 years ago

I think it is a very good movie, and overall I do not go for these type of pictures.

I thought what helped immensely was the chemistry between Jean Simmons and Kirk Douglas.

[–] tlee222 8 years ago

Full Metal Jacket is like Stripes; the first half is great, and the second half is meh . . .

I think Paths of Glory is the best film he made.

[–] 8 years ago

[deleted]

[–] purplish-1 8 years ago

This is the only time that he didn't have total control over the filming. This film was basically an attempt from Douglas to recover from the blow of not getting the main role in Ben-Hur. Never seen an actor so full of himself

Yeah it was a total revenge film. Seems like they even rushed it so it would come out right after Ben Hur too.

The only thing that saves it is that the story itself is better than fiction. It really is a remarkable piece of history.

[–] dla_one 8 years ago

I'm a big Kubrick fan. This movie is clearly missing some of the Kubrick style, particularly the script which is what Kubrick had most contention with, however it is still an excellent movie. Laughton, Ustinov, and especially Olivier were all fantastic. The final battle scene is just awesome. The thousands of soldiers marching over the hill is very very impressive (especially when seen in a theater with a really big screen). A very good job was done to give the impression of the Romans as the evil empire with a lot of help from Olivier's Crassus. You can see the influence of this movie on a lot of later big blockbusters like Braveheart, Gladiator, and Conan The Barbarian.