Thank God Kubrick didn't direct this

Exorcist would have been ruined, just like Clockwork Orange. Fuck that idiot

I think what we have today is nearly perfect but I would be interested in the direction he'd take with it. I can't imagine it being better but I wonder what "notes" he would have hit differently.

Recently on The Shining board there was a discussion on whether the ghosts were objectively real or subjective hallucinations of the characters. Kubrick probably would have followed Blatty's book more closely which actually had Father Karras debating the scientific rationale behind Regan's case. He hesitates before ascribing a supernatural and spiritual cause to the proceedings. Friedkin's movie leaves no doubt: this girl is definitely possessed by a demon, and this isn't a form of acute mental illness. Kubrick would have been far less inclined to depict the possession as objective truth but rather a form of madness.

Vey overrated.

But a major accomplishment is Kubrick made a movie where watching James Mason is unbearable.

He was offered the film and declined. I don't know that he was ever seriously considering it. Kubrick wouldn't have done The Shining if he had done this. Personally, I'm glad both The Shining and The Exorcist exist in their current forms... and no Kubrick isn't over-rated. That's ridiculous.

Well, I love The Exorcist as it is. Still, Kubrick was a brilliant filmmaker and his approach could had been interesting.

He was also supposed to make the adaptation of Perfume: Story of a Murderer after Eyes Wide Shut. As much as I absolutely love the movie as it is now, Kubrick's approach would had definitely been interesting.

Open the pod bay doors Satan. I'm sorry Father, I'm afraid I can't do that.

Kubrick is pretty good, his strength is his visuals and attention to detail and serious approach. He really has a unique look to his movies due to the wide lens he likes to use and composition probably. That being said I can see how someone would find his style boring. Kubrick rarely has an appealing Character in his movies and they are often movies with a depressing conclusion so in short not much fun to watch casually.