Kevin's Watch

There was me, that is Effaeldm, and my droogs, and we sat in the Tank trying to make up our rassoodocks what to do about all the content on the net, govoreeting and attempting to pony each other, real horrorshow.

Suddenly, Hashi brought in a film as an illustration, and I knew what he said, it was a bit from one of the glorious masterpieces by Stanley. And it was like inspiration that came to my aid, and I viddied at once what to do, it was my rabbit to start govoreeting about this gorgeousness and georgeosity made flesh, clashes of words and weapons, reaching to the stars and grasping a mystery of mind instead, failed attempts to flay into shape - and music above all.

What in the hell are you talking about?

A Clockwork Orange, perhaps?
Nadsat, most certainly.

Menolly, I just have to say that's one awesome pumpkin. I want to go out right now and buy a carving kit and do that immediately!

I am not one that likes violence in films, generally.
But A Clockwork Orange has always resonated with me.
As always, the novel, while a challenge to read in Nadsat, is even better.

Zarathustra wrote:Menolly, I just have to say that's one awesome pumpkin. I want to go out right now and buy a carving kit and do that immediately!

Thanks, Z.

Wish I could take credit, but it was an image posted to George Takei's Facebook wall by a fan.

Vraith wrote:Seriously...though can't quite make out the script....
Is that the one gourd to rule them all and to the Great Pumpkin bind them?
{or would that be Ussi's job??}

Ahh, Clockwork Orange. Of course. The only thing I think of when I see Kubrick's name, however, is Dr. Strangelove.

Kubrik's an interesting one. Dr. Strangelove is arguably one of the best-realized films ever made. 2001, for all its flaws, was a visual masterpiece. Spartacus? Nothing more needs to be said.

But then there's A Clockwork Orange. Visually stunning, and Malcolm McDowell's performance is amazing. But the film......eh....I've got a long wish list of things that should have been done differently, starting with using the book's ending.

I'm probably the only person in the world that thought Full Metal Jacket sucked.

I'm not a fan of Barry Lyndon.

And the less said about Eyes Wide Shut the better.

Cail wrote:
I'm probably the only person in the world that thought Full Metal Jacket sucked.

I half agree. I thought the training part was great, then there was a psychotic break and it committed an ugly suicide.
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Coincidentally, on Strangelove, I just finished a re-read of several P.K. Dick works one of which is connected to Dr. S. "Dr. Bloodmoney or How We Got Along After the Bomb."

Menolly wrote:I am not one that likes violence in films, generally.
But A Clockwork Orange has always resonated with me.
...

A very fitting word - with how much sound is tied in and crucial. And right, cool pumpkin

Menolly wrote:...
a challenge to read in Nadsat
...

Just in case:

Effaeldm translated from Nadsat wrote:There was me, that is Effaeldm, and my friends, and we sat in the Tank trying to make up our minds what to do about all the content on the net, talking and attempting to understand each other, really good.

Suddenly, Hashi brought in a film as an illustration, and I knew what he said, it was a bit from one of the glorious masterpieces by Stanley. And it was like inspiration that came to my aid, and I saw at once what to do, it was my job to start talking about this gorgeousness and georgeosity made flesh, clashes of words and weapons, reaching to the stars and grasping a mystery of mind instead, failed attempts to flay into shape - and music above all.

Cail wrote:...
But then there's A Clockwork Orange. Visually stunning, and Malcolm McDowell's performance is amazing. But the film......eh....I've got a long wish list of things that should have been done differently, starting with using the book's ending.
...

Whatever any personal opinion may be, it was definitely done for own reasons - and reasons I can see really well. Basically, the ending the book has makes it have a very different tone altogether - and teach quite a different lesson (well, at least one of them, there are definitely several in both). It's more of a question of which you agree with more - or find more believable.

Vraith wrote:...
I half agree. I thought the training part was great, then there was a psychotic break and it committed an ugly suicide.
...

Hashi Lebwohl wrote:...
I agree--the second half of Full Metal Jacket was not as compelling as the first half. The second half didn't tell us anything that we didn't already know.
...

It was meant to be a full depiction of war - with all the guts whatever. Well, that includes both the ones not pleasant for some to see - and the ones boring for many and seen much.

Hashi Lebwohl wrote:My love for Dr. Strangelove should be immediately recognized any time you read one of my posts, even if only briefly or you disagree with me. *nudge* *wink*
...

Love for Strangelove is hard not to mention

Hashi Lebwohl wrote:...
Now...let me begin a long-winded lecture of the cinematography and legacy of Kubrick films. Just kidding. All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. Lloyd, fix me one of my usual drinks, please. Thanks.

Scary! I've definitely seen an axe somewhere here - in the Gen Disc role-play topic I guess.

the first half of Full Metal Jacket is an amazing film. Donofrio gives one of the greatest performances i've ever seen in film. and Sarge is stunning...

the second half has it's moments, but can not compete.

sgt.null wrote:the first half of Full Metal Jacket is an amazing film. Donofrio gives one of the greatest performances i've ever seen in film. and Sarge is stunning...

the second half has it's moments, but can not compete.

It's more like it feels different I think - it had to be there for the purpose of the film.

And right, if I'm going to re-watch only a part of the film, which I actually tend to do, that's going to be from the first half, and most likely the very first scene and the shooting scene. It's stunning to see such a transformation.

In "Men In Black" D'Onofrio plays an alien who wears human skin. There's a scene in which he removes that skin - and I caught myself thinking of the similarity and difference of that and the scene in "Full Metal Jacket" - a change much more than an alien removing a human disguise - it's like he sheds all humanity off. @-->-->---

Hashi Lebwohl wrote:Gunny Ermey was hired only as a consultant for the actor who was originally cast as Sgt. Hartman (I think I spelled that correctly) but when he gave an impromptu demonstration of how a drill sergeant should look and sound it make Kubrick get up out of his director's chair and stand at attention. Ermey was then immediately recast as the drill sergeant.

Thanks for posting this story here. That's some recasting I find it admirable how Kubrick could pick the very incredibly perfect actors for the crucial roles that hold what is most important in the film.