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Spartacus must be the worst Kubrick movie

posted 10 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.

[–] jngr1 8 years ago

After reading all of these posts, I'm surprised no one asked about this qualification: Are we including Kubrick's short films among this? If we are including his shorts, I have to say that The Seafarers would be his worst. If we are strictly talking about his features, it's Fear and Desire, though Killer's Kiss doesn't beat it by much.
Then again, "bad Kubrick" beats most filmographies any day.

[–] seahawk3133 8 years ago

Not even close

I would rank this one 3rd of his movies behind Lolita & Paths of Glory which are all great movies...

When he was good - his movies are good
But he had some stinkers and a few very over rated movies

His pieces of garbage are 2001 & Dr. Strangelove

Then some very over rated pieces that if a lesser known director made them, no one would care about these - Barry Lyndon, Clockwork Orange, Eyes Wide Shut & The Shining which is total garbage except for Nicholson's performance

[–] iadorepink 8 years ago

Totally agree! You're someone who actually makes sense, Most of the films he made were totally overrated. Paths of Glory, Lolita, Spartacus, They're his real masterpieces, But i actually think The Shining was pretty good.

[–] exferryguy 8 years ago

Almost 100k IMDB voters gave it a 7.9 rating, that's bad?

[–] SerDarioTaranFulci 8 years ago

2001 is not only the best Kubrick movie, it's arguably the greatest film of all time. Go watch a 70mm print in theaters and try to tell me different.

[–] aidankost 8 years ago

2001 is an excellent and beautiful film, purely for the sake of excellence and beauty. There are four possible reasons for Mr. Seahawk 3133's disliking of said film. 1) He watched the film over crappy circumstances (bad mood, et cetera). 2) He wasn't paying attention. 3) He has the attention span of an eight-year-old. 4) He has no taste at all.

My personal ranking of the films, Mr. Seahawk 3133 (as if you cared):

1. 2001: a Space Odyssey
2. A Clockwork Orange
3. Dr. Strangelove or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb
4. Barry Lyndon (like 2001, also a visually striking film)
5. (It gets harder from here) Lolita
6. Eyes Wide Shut
7. The Shining
8. Paths of Glory (I guess I should watch it again)
9. Full Metal Jacket
10. Spartacus

I have not yet seen The Killing, Killer's Kiss, and Fear and Desire, and would like to in that order.

[–] Jamal-Nazreddin 8 years ago

This movie is not a Kubrick movie.

He was only brought in to replace some misbehaving American hack.

[–] phillipsdan83 8 years ago

Anthony Mann was no hack. Go see THE NAKED SPUR or WINCHESTER 76.

[–] eddiehasskills 8 years ago

I personally vote for the Shinning. Perfectly casted. And the other overall premise. Spartacus is soooo melosappy. It's like a made for TV movie basically.