Mmm. Wife soup. I must've done good.

Wash ,'War Stories'


Buffista Movies 6: lies and videotape  

A place to talk about movies--old and new, good and bad, high art and high cheese. It's the place to place your kittens on the award winners, gossip about upcoming fims and discuss DVD releases and extras. Spoiler policy: White font all plot-related discussion until a movie's been in wide release two weeks, and keep the major HSQ in white font until two weeks after the video/DVD release.


Strega - Apr 25, 2008 10:59:55 pm PDT #5308 of 10000

I had to go dig this up because I read it a while ago. I don't agree with all of it, but I do think there's something to this analysis of The Shining:

The Shining is not really about the murders at the Overlook Hotel. It is about the murder of a race -- the race of Native Americans -- and the consequences of that murder.
If you are skeptical about this, consider the Calumet baking powder cans with their Indian chief logo that Kubrick placed carefully in the two food-locker scenes. (A calumet is a peace pipe.) Consider the Indian motifs that decorate the hotel, and the way they serve as background in many of the key scenes. Consider the insertion of two lines, early in the film, describing how the hotel was built on an Indian burial ground.

[link]

It's not my favorite of his, but I heart Kubrick in general.


Sean K - Apr 25, 2008 11:09:28 pm PDT #5309 of 10000
You can't leave me to my own devices; my devices are Nap and Eat. -Zenkitty

There's exactly one moment when R. Lee Eremey drops his facade and tries to defuse Vincent D'Onofrio, but when that doesn't work, he resorts to the drill sergant playbook and gets himself fragged for it.

I know exactly the moment you speak of, Frank. I can replay the scene in my head with ease. 'Tis burned into my brain.

Shining is not my favorite of Kubrick's either, but I have a fondness for it. I've never read the novel, so I have nothing to compare it to, save other Kubrick films.

Which, you know, works in its own way.


§ ita § - Apr 26, 2008 1:47:42 am PDT #5310 of 10000
Well not canonically, no, but this is transformative fiction.

I heart Kubrick in general.

It's funny--my extreme love of A Clockwork Orange left me thinking I loved Kubrick, but on looking at his cv I am always reminded I'm untouched by most of the rest of what I've seen. I have not seen Spartacus, and consider doing so, but I'm not sure which way it will tip my affection.


Nutty - Apr 26, 2008 3:40:21 am PDT #5311 of 10000
"Mister Spock is on his fanny, sir. Reports heavy damage."

It is about the murder of a race -- the race of Native Americans -- and the consequences of that murder.

Really? That needed to be a jillion times more obvious.


Sean K - Apr 26, 2008 7:07:08 am PDT #5312 of 10000
You can't leave me to my own devices; my devices are Nap and Eat. -Zenkitty

Was that a critic's opinion, or did Kubrick say that?


Laga - Apr 26, 2008 8:55:30 am PDT #5313 of 10000
You should know I'm a big deal in the Resistance.

In general I find Kubrick tedious and boring but I liked Clockwork Orange and Spartacus. Barry Lyndon was only made worth it when I watched Love & Death a few days later. My hatred of Barry Lyndon made Love & Death so very funny.

In new release news- I screened A Plumm Summer yesterday and though I haven't seen the ending I think this is a good bet if you need to take a kid to the movies. Very evocative of an earlier era with a sweet relationship between a boy and his older brother & a blossoming first love set against the backdrop of a mysteriously kidnapped frog.


DavidS - Apr 26, 2008 9:13:24 am PDT #5314 of 10000
"Look, son, if it's good enough for Shirley Bassey, it's good enough for you."

In general I find Kubrick tedious and boring

So you haven't seen The Killing? Because it's not that.


Laga - Apr 26, 2008 9:17:18 am PDT #5315 of 10000
You should know I'm a big deal in the Resistance.

So you haven't seen The Killing?

I think I took it off the list after Barry Lyndon. Is it really worth it?


Jessica - Apr 26, 2008 10:04:42 am PDT #5316 of 10000
And then Ortus came and said "It's Ortin' time" and they all Orted off into the sunset

hatred of Barry Lyndon

I'm sure I know what each of these words mean individually, but in this order they make no sense.


Laga - Apr 26, 2008 10:44:15 am PDT #5317 of 10000
You should know I'm a big deal in the Resistance.

ugh I found it tortuous. It was like Candide but without all the light-hearted funny bits.