- Paperback: 320 pages
- Publisher: Virgin Books (8 Jun 2000)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0753512726
- ISBN-13: 978-0753512722
- Product Dimensions: 15.6 x 1.7 x 23.4 cm
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,114,033 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Amazon.co.uk Review
This is not a book about Kubrick; it is a book about Kubrick's films. Much has already been written about the director of The Clockwork Orange, The Shining and Eyes Wide Shut, and debate still rages about his controversial reputation and auteur style. The Complete Kubrick takes one step back from the fray. Taking each of the director's three short movies and 13 features in turn, David Hughes provides entertaining and easy-to-read companion studies for all. Conversational but still perfectly informed, the writing here is accessible and witty; certainly Kubrick beginners could sit back, learn and enjoy this after stumbling across 2001--A Space Odyssey during a visit to Blockbusters. Introductions to the themes and underlying sub-plots inherent in each movie will interest both these guys and general film buffs, as will Hughes' insight into the casting choices, production, influences and reviews of the time. Fanatics will appreciate the definitive cast lists and fact sections, while everyone else can take a lighter look at Kubrick's influences--learning each film's most quotable lines, or spotting The Simpsons' Kubrick references for ever more. Chapters can be read in order or according to preference, as each represents a complete entity in itself. By introducing each film then completing the reader's knowledge of it--placing it in the cultural context of the time of its release (paying particular attention to the outcry films like A Clockwork Orange and Lolita provoked) Hughes succeeds also in providing insight into a filmmaker's vision and drive. There is an eight page section of small-scale photos to illustrate, plus a substantial list of sources and impressive bibliography at the end. --Helen Lamont
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Empire
'The level of research is astonishing, the cornucopia of trivia original and the passion for the movies unstinting...'
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
16 of 16 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
A very readable and comprehensive account on Kubrick's films. Each entry gives the basic cast and crew credits before exploring aspects of the film in depth under general category headings.These begin by describing the title sequence and a plot summary before going into all the production history and even the marketing.Finally comes a more personal analysis by the author and a Kubrick on Kubrick final word. Also there is a lost Kubrick section which details films which were considered not made(including AI). Any 'gushing' by the author is avoided (unlike The Complete Spielberg which follows a similar format) by the factual but always readable style. Every film or especially Kubrick fan should have one.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
As the Amazon review states, this is a study of Kubrick’s films as opposed to Kubrick the myth. This is enough to immediately set it apart from other Kubrick books available... though this particular publication still has a lot more going for it that that. Hughes’s degree of research is formidable, with every film (from Fear and Desire right through to Eyes Wide Shut) coming under inspection from the wordy academic as he pours over the various technical aspects of the films, the narrative reoccurrences, the various trademarks, casting decisions and pop-culture reference points that have given Kubrick’s work an even more relevant force in motion pictures that any of his faceless contemporaries.
The most interesting chapters are the ones that deal with the key masterpieces (Strangelove, 2001, Clockwork Orange, Barry Lyndon and the Shinning), with Hughes demonstrating how each film ties into the one that preceded it both thematically and artistically. Here we can trace the evolution of Kubrick from the early post-war crime thrillers such as Killer’s Kiss through to the dabbles with Hollywood on Paths of Glory and the epic Spartacus, right up to his years of self imposed exile in Britain and the creation of his landmark works. Never does Hughes allow the book to becomes a study of the man and his eccentricities... keeping the book rooted in the academic evaluation of the great man’s extensive, often jaw dropping body of work.
Whether or not you’re a film studies student, a writer of academic literature or simply a Kubrick devotee, then this book will easily become required reading. The tone of the piece is consistently enjoyable and always interesting, whilst any work that takes the opportunity to list EVERY Kubrick reference in the episodes of the Simpson’s has to be worth a look.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
2 reviews
10 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Seriously flawed
12 July 2004
Format:Paperback
This book could have been an enjoyable and useful resource, but unfortunately it is riddled with factual errors. I can only recommend this to researchers who are able to verify the information within before using this book as a source. Anyone else will have to guess which information is correct and which is false. (Examples: on page 173, Hughes states that the 1.66:1 ratio, which SK adopted for A Clockwork Orange, was subsequently used on Barry Lyndon, The Shining, and Full Metal Jacket. This is completely wrong. Barry Lyndon was shot in 1.77:1, and The Shining and Full Metal Jacket were shot in 1.33:1 and projected in 1.85:1-though the DVD and video version of the latter 2 films preserved the original 1.33:1 format. Another mistake is a quote supposedly from The Film Director as Superstar by Michel Ciment. Since Joseph Gelmis was the author of this book, and Ciment the author of another, it will take some detective work to figure out which Hughes means.)
1 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Excellent, Entertaining book.
22 May 2005
Format:Paperback
This book talks about the complete filmography of the great director Stanley Kubrick, from his first short film to Eyes Wide Shut. This book is very entertaining and a good read to help you with your knowledge and interest on Stanley K. I recommend this book to any fan of his movies. Sure there may be some minor flaws in the book, but still picking it up is worth your time.
This book includes detailed summaries of each film he directed and many other fun facts.
My favorite Stanley K.
1. A Clockwork Orange - magnificent from the opening to the end
2. Paths of Glory - the greatest anti-war movie, ever.
3. Barry Lyndon - an INCREDIBLE look at a very interesting mans life.
4. Dr. Strangelove - an excellent satire.
5. The Killing - his first true classic
6. Full Metal Jacket - one of the greatest vietnam war films.
7. The Shining - an incredilbe adaptation to Stephen King's novel
8. Spartacus - a fairly good film looking at the life of an ancient roman gladiator, spartacus.
9. 2001: A Space Odyssey - incredible SCI-Fi film.
This book includes detailed summaries of each film he directed and many other fun facts.
My favorite Stanley K.
1. A Clockwork Orange - magnificent from the opening to the end
2. Paths of Glory - the greatest anti-war movie, ever.
3. Barry Lyndon - an INCREDIBLE look at a very interesting mans life.
4. Dr. Strangelove - an excellent satire.
5. The Killing - his first true classic
6. Full Metal Jacket - one of the greatest vietnam war films.
7. The Shining - an incredilbe adaptation to Stephen King's novel
8. Spartacus - a fairly good film looking at the life of an ancient roman gladiator, spartacus.
9. 2001: A Space Odyssey - incredible SCI-Fi film.
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