MovieChat Forums > The Shining (1980) Discussion > Kubrick's most intelligent film?

Kubrick's most intelligent film?

posted 8 years ago by sean42787
27 replies | jump to latest

I know Kubrick is a legend, but are any of his films considered to be such brilliant displays of film making as The Shining. Every scene, every shadow, every painting, so much thought put into everything about this film. My English professor in college spent an entire class analyzing the brilliance of this film, and how it has remained a favorite for college students to analyze ever since it's release.

I honestly can't say that I've watched most of Kubrick's films. Are all of his movies filled with the depth and intelligence as The Shining?

[–] Barbed_Wire_Strawberry 8 years ago

Yes, all of his films are amazing. They are the most layered and intelligent and moving films of all time. Starting from The Killing, he never made a film that wasn't 10/10 for mine.

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[–] Kojiro_Vance 8 years ago

Many people will tell you that 2001 is Kubrick's most intelligent film. Maybe it's true, maybe it's not.

But The Shining is Kubrick's most Kubrickian (fùck i hate that word) film. It's hard to explain, but The Shining feels like no other film I know of. The attention to detail in The Shining is incredible

I'm just on my way up to Clavius.

[–] eweland 8 years ago

Agreed, I can't find another film made before 1980 that had this much detail throughout the entire film. Kubrick/Johnson were inventing a puzzle, and they knew it. Which explains the script being changed daily, as they found new clever theories to add to THE SHINING. There's just so much obvious detail in the designs that Stanley choose himself for his own film. Unlike many other earlier films, he was really the main production designer because EVERYTHING had to be approved by him. He knew how everything was going to appear in his films.

Now go over the the IMDb ROOM 237 board http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2085910/board/?ref_=tt_ql_op_7
and read the incredibly asinine comments from people who don't think the film is unique at all and "a crazy person can find tons of hidden symbolism in any film."

So I asked several people there to give me examples of these "other films."
I'm still waiting for even just one response.
Many like to bitch about this film because they know there's something about it they cannot understand. And they're just too stupid to actually research it, or study it over and over again.

It's much more fun to be ignorant, and make fun of things you don't understand.
Stanley Kubrick was not ignorant.

There are some outrageous "discoveries" in that 237 documentary like the desk erection when Jack shakes Ullman's hand. I don't agree with the entire film by any means. But Bill Blakemore's comments are what revolutionized my appreciation of this masterpiece of horror, and made it all click. His theories break down the film I couldn't understand before, that was hidden inside of non-stop Native American imagery. Even some Native American peace-pipes were designed to also be used as a hatchet.
As a weapon.
So an axe is really the perfect weapon in a film about how mankind's history of violence is overlooked, and ignored.

All chosen by the director.

It's all there, in "Torrance" of blood pouring out of a bright red elevator door. And it is so very wonderful that your professor is continuing to teach and explain why this film really should be understood by all.
_

Kubrick's film - will always be the definitive version of The Shining.

[–] Chi-Town-2 8 years ago

During your search, be sure to check out Eyes Wide Shut. Underrated. And realize that much of its hate was actually just backlash against Tom Cruise, who was at the top of the world at the time, and many wanted to tear him down.

It's got the same dark vibe. Some great tension. And it is definitely not a movie for kids.

[–] Line-of-Flight 7 years ago

Don't forget Eyes Wide Shut is a movie about sexuality, featuring nudity. Americans can't handle that well. Eyes Wide Shut was much better received in Europe for as far as I know.

[–] Kompressor_Fan 7 years ago

If Americans "can't handle" movies about sexuality that feature nudity, then why do we make so many of them?

You know nothing about Americans if you honestly believe that.

[–] Barbed_Wire_Strawberry 7 years ago

Notice that sexuality is somehow 'less acceptable' than violence in american films? Thus the rating system. Young people can't be exposed to movies featuring naked people (unless they get killed) - that might lead to f!ckin'.

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[–] Kompressor_Fan 7 years ago

Ratings don't affect adults' choices of what films we choose to see for ourselves. So....again....if we are so uptight about sex and nudity, then why do we make so many movies filled with sex and nudity?

[–] Barbed_Wire_Strawberry 7 years ago

Why is sex and nudity classified the same as violence? Why is it that it's 90 percent naked females..how often do you see a cock on screen? Not often. Tits? all the time.

It's called double standards and selling sh!t.

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[–] Kompressor_Fan 7 years ago

Now you're trying to change the subject because your prior "point" was almost as pointless as this new "point" you are attempting to point out.

Goodbye.

[–] Barbed_Wire_Strawberry 7 years ago

Not changing the subject, the point is clear.

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[–] framptonhollis 8 years ago

What about "A Clockwork Orange"?
If it isn't necessarily Kubrick's most intelligent film, I'd definitely say it's up there, since it's filled with satire and social commentary, which is at times much more obvious than it is at others.

[–] joekiddlouischama 7 years ago

What about "A Clockwork Orange"?
If it isn't necessarily Kubrick's most intelligent film, I'd definitely say it's up there, since it's filled with satire and social commentary, which is at times much more obvious than it is at others.

A Clockwork Orange constitutes a good choice, but I would be inclined to say Dr. Strangelove because of how perfectly it encapsulates the illogical logic of the Cold War and the Nuclear Age. Kubrick masterfully translates geopolitics into black comedy in crafting the era's definitive satire.

[–] Line-of-Flight 7 years ago

If only because a lot of what's in A Clockwork Orange is also in the book. But with Dr. Strangelove the book was changed so much that the movie is far more Kubrick's genius than ACO.

[–] Boner_Xmas 7 years ago

no, his dumbest film by a longshot

[–] Degree7 7 years ago

The ghosts opening the pantry door is a poor plot device (or did Jack open it himself?), and Halloran is a wasted character. So no.

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[–] eweland 7 years ago

Kubrick was too advanced for some people who post here.
That changes nothing, regarding the quality of his films.
_

THE SHiNiNG

[–] Degree7 7 years ago

Not even Kubrick was without error. He was only human after all.

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

[–] cayuck 7 years ago

Watch the movie again. Danny (or Tony to be more precise) opened the pantry door.

Amid all the room 237 theories people lose sight of the simple Oedipal story that is taking place. The son is trying to destroy his father (even though it appears to be the reverse). Tony is much more intelligent and possibly sinister than we all realize. Did he write Redrum on the wall predicting Jack's murder of Halloran or did it predict Danny/Tony's murder of Jack in the maze?

Deep freaking movie.

[–] Barbed_Wire_Strawberry 7 years ago

Amid all the room 237 theories people lose sight of the simple Oedipal story that is taking place

We've actually covered that a fair bit and offered some theories linking 237 to the Oedipal themes of the film.

Very much agree.

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[–] Sequentialist 7 years ago

It really isn't.

And he isn't that good.

[–] katholiday1962 7 years ago

Dr. Strangelove (1964)

There's no depth & no intelligence in this film! But it sure is a whole lot of fun!
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[–] Boner_Xmas 7 years ago

yes, strangelove by far, best political satire of the 60s

[–] zappalover 7 years ago

Agree on Strangelove; best dark comedy ever made in the history of film. People forget or are unaware of how close to the end of days we were at the time and he forced us to confront the madness with tears, of laughter. Kubrick at the top of his game. Also, brought out the genius of Sellers, Hayden and Scott with their work here. Absolutely brilliant.

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