jeffreyreeser
19May12
epic shmepic, theyre movies...
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Displaying wall posts 1 - 30 of 32 in total
Rock Streams Leper
25Feb13
I love that the picture suggests that even though the Revolt is the privileged narrative, the really important historical event is the ascendancy of the First Triumvirate of Crassus, Pompei, and Caesar. Peter Ustinov steals the show. There's one really major flaw with this film and it's the same one identified by Kubrick himself: the character of Spartacus has no flaws whatsoever.
Cromm Crúaich
23Feb13
Aside from the two oth Kubrick films I am still yet too see, this I believe is his worst. I don't even call it a Kubrick film I just call it the Kirk Douglas Spartacus film.
joey Noodles
27Oct12
This film could easily have been 7 hours long and I still would have watched it with glee, such a wonderful film.
ramosbarajas
5Aug12
Representative of a studio sword and sandal epic of the 60s. I mean when a genre that specific still includes a huge amount of films, you'd have to do something incredible to have it stick out. And it sort of does. Some great performances and recreation of an epoch, and it's not a bad film, entertaining even, but nothing more.
TheArshMan
29Jun12
I loved it. Lolita is still Kubrick's worst in my books, as far as The Killing onward.
Brent Schaus
26May12
The bits with the Brits were my favourite bits. The Criterion Collection edition, on the second disc, contains fascinating info on "The Hollywood Ten," blacklisting and excellent interviews with Peter Ustinov. Worth a look.
LoverofLeCinema
4May12
Call me a crazy bastard, but I think this is a superior epic than Barry Lyndon
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Graeme Higginson
13Jul12
As an epic, sure-- its scale is bigger and its story has a greater breadth-- but as a film, no.
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Ulrich Jarløv.dk
22Apr12
Kubrick didn't consider it "a Kubrick film", thus I don't consider it a Kubrick film. It's just too slick, too "old Hollywood" somehow. He didn't get to put his stamp on the sword and sandal genre the way he did with the period film (Barry Lyndon), the black comedy (Dr. Strangelove), the horror film (The Shining), the war film (Paths Of Glory), the science fiction film (2001), or the heist film (the Killing).
ramosbarajas and Graeme Higginson like this
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jeffreyreeser
19May12
Kubrick himself said he thought it was fairly "dull." He just did it so he could be skyrocketed into LaserVille and then he made masterpieces until he died.
Mitch Fillion and 4 others like this
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David Grillo
20Mar12
Kubrick was brought on by Kirk Douglas after Douglas had gotten Anthony Mann fired. The first hour of the film wasn't even Kubrick. So I guess you can say it's only half his worst with zero of his intention. Still a pretty good film with an excellent cast and script and a very frustrated Kubrick at the helm.
Stu Witmer
5Dec11
Ustinov is marvelous! He may be improvising much of his part: "On second thought, I'll deliver her myself."
Zachary George Najarian-Najafi
6Nov11
Spartacus is more Douglas' film than Kubrick's, but it's a great historical epic; one that was made at the peak of the genre's popularity. Kubrick did bring a maturity to the genre, and transformed it from bombast into great art. Spartacus paved the way for masterpieces like Lawrence of Arabia. Not great Kubrick, but great entertainment of high order. I'll take this over Gladiator anyday. A roller coaster ride.
Tony Smith
18May10
Enjoyed the film despite it's shitty home video transfers. The VHS i first saw it on in high school , to the HD-DVD which was drab and noisy. I hope the new Blu-ray version fares better.
Ben Rochin
7May10
A compelling soundtrack, absolutely stunning cinematography, and Kirk Douglas; this film is remarkable all around.
Daniel S.
3Dec09
I watch SPARTACUS every five years or so and I still consider it, on a par with Joseph L. Mankiewicz’s CLEOPATRA, as the best American peplum ever produced. Dalton Trumbo’s screenplay is exemplary in telling the Roman political intrigues between the Senate and the future members of the triumvirat (Crassus, Caesar and Pompeius). The cinematography is gorgeous, Charles Laughton admirable and the battle scenes perfect. Masterpiece. A DVD zone your library.
like2sleep
12Oct09
the story of a slave called spartacus with incredible desire and spirit in a time of sadness he goes through an amazing journey that is physically enduring and full of passion and what a film!
Jye Sherwell
21Sep09
I'm not sure I expected to like this as much as I did. I liked the performances, the fight scenes and it seems I'm in the minority but I also liked the score. Also the story is far more touching and powerful than I expected. Really good film.