Comments on: The films Kubrick never made

By: Mike Harvkey

Mike Harvkey — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 01:14:59 +0000

Hey Lineagirl, sorry about the delay in getting back to you. I think you’re spot-on about humor, and time. I do think nostalgia plays a big part in how we react to something we’ve already seen. I’ve reacted myself in just the way you did in the Python screening, and I’ve witnessed that same reaction in plenty of other people. Someone here recently said that comedy “belongs” to its time (and echoed your comment about surprise). Once you take it out of that context it loses that impact. It’s all really interesting.

By: lineargirl

lineargirl — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 14:55:02 +0000

Much humor is funny because it’s unexpected. We see it again and it’s funny because we remember how funny it was the first time and we like the nostalgia or being in the know about it. If we see it a few more times the humor has gone flat for us. I wouldn’t say that it sours, though, because someone seeing it for the first time might find it as hilarious as we did.

Our local theater showed Monty Python’s Search for the Holy Grail on the big screen a while ago. I went with my neighbors who have a 14 year old boy who’d never seen it. I found it funnier than I had in years because I was anticipating how much he’d enjoy each new scene. I guess I’m arguing that the humor doesn’t sour, but that we do. What do you think?

By: Mike Harvkey

Mike Harvkey — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 03:14:57 +0000

That’s a very good question. I’d probably have to see it again right now to say for sure, but all I know is that on my last viewing I found that a lot of the humor felt kinda forced to me now. Maybe comedy does have an expiration date, after which point it starts to sour… what do you think?

By: lineargirl

lineargirl — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 19:29:13 +0000

Okay, what’s not holding up in Dr. Strangelove? I’m adding it to the current list right now (I haven’t seen it in 10 years or so) but I’m quite curious about how it’s fading for you.

By: Mike Harvkey

Mike Harvkey — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 18:56:42 +0000

Haha. Thanks, Josh. But personally, I find her too icy to be truly sexy. Beautiful, yes. Quite a specimen, in fact. But I bet she’d be too worried about getting her hair mussed to really throw down. Of course, it could just be me!

By: joshweil

joshweil — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 11:56:23 +0000

An interesting and fun meditation on the man and his movies. And I thought it led quite nicely up to the link at the end that takes us to the article on the movies Kubrick never made, as promised. It kind of serves as an introduction to that article — and a great way to bring me to it, which was cool. My only quibble: Oh, c’mon, Nicole Kidman’s not sexy? She might be unsexy with Tom Cruise’s tongue in her mouth (point conceded) but she’s pretty smokin’ sexy on her own.

By: Mike Harvkey

Mike Harvkey — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 03:52:18 +0000

If you follow the link at the bottom of the post it takes you to the Empire site wherein they do exactly what you hope they do.

By: davidlosangeles

davidlosangeles — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 00:03:38 +0000

Hello,

Your post was just over 800 words but just 36 had anything to do with the film(s) that Mr. Kubrick did not make, namely Napoleon (not counting the cite passage). Further, none of the post prior to discussion of Napoleon had anything to do with movies that Mr. Kubrick thought about making and did not. The majority of the post in no way leads up to the topic of any movies that might have been, the ending is a complete non-sequitur to the begining (rather like AI).

I say all of this because I am huge fan of exactly three of Mr. Kubrick’s movies (The Killing, Dr. Strangelove, and 2001). The rest are at best just pretty good (Paths of Glory, Spartacus) and at worst, awful (Full Metal Jacket, Eyes Wide Shut, Barry Lyndon). I would have been very interested to have read about the movies that Mr. Kubrick wanted to make but did not.

By: davidlosangeles

davidlosangeles — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 22:42:51 +0000

Mr. Harvkey,

What exactly are you trying to say? Kubrick was great director but you did not like any of his movies? Dr. Stranglove is not holding up and you don’t like AI, Eyes Wide Shut, Barry Lyndon, or Full Metal Jacket. Are you saying he was great director in spite of his films or are you saying that he only made a few great films and the rest were garbage or at best bits of great films mixed in otherwise mediocre movies? I cannot figure out what your point is.