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STANLEY KUBRICK Weapon of choice
Introduction Stanley Kubrick was an American film director, screenwriter, producer, cinematographer and editor. He is considered to be one of greatest directors in cinemas history. His images are incredibly imprinted on the pop-cultural unconscious: the crucified Spartacus; pedophile Humbert painting a little girl’s toes; the “cowboy” pilot joyously riding an atom bomb; an ape throwing a famur into the sky; Alex drinking milk with his gang and prepearing for a night of “ultra violence”; Barry Lyndon bravely standing off in a pistol duel; the “Here’s Johnny” quote and Sergeant Hartman’s cruel training before the Vietnam war. In Kubrick’s movies it is always a matter of power and the means to exercise it over the others. The weapons, as a way to inflict direct or indirect violence, play a major role under such circumstances, allowing the individual to impose himself over others. The sword in Spartacus, the lipstick in Lolita, the atom bomb in Dr Strangelove, the axe in The Shining, the flintlock in Barry Lyndon, the walking stick in A Clockwork Orange, the M16 rifle in Full Metal Jacket and the bone in 2001 A Space Odyssey. 1
Weapon of Choice Bone weapons have been documented from the advent of Homo Sapiens or even earlier. Any bone part can be utilized; however, long bones are ideal for this purpose.
The axe or ax is an implement that has been used for millennia to shape, and cut wood, to harvest timber, as a ceremonial or heraldic symbol and as an offensive weapon.
Walking stick is a device used by many people to facilitate balancing while walking. It has historically been known to be used as well as a defensive or offensive weapon.
The 5.56mm is an intermediate cartridge developed in the US and originally chambered in the M16 rifle. It was heavily used by the US Army during the Vietnam War.
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Lipstick is a cosmetic weapon typically used by women. It contains pigments, oils waxes emollients and other ingredients that apply color, texture and protection to the lips.
Flintlock pistol is the general term for any firearm based on the flintlock mechanism. It was introduced at the 17th century and it quickly replaced all other earlier technologies.
A nuclear bomb is an explosive device that derives its destructive force from nuclear reactions. It releases vast quantities of destructive energy from small amounts of matter.
A sword is an one or two handed, bladed weapon (edged sword) used primarily for cutting or thrusting. It consists of a straight blade with two edges and a wooden hilt. 3
“If it can be written, or thought, it can be filmed” 4
The Filmmaker Stanley Kubrick (July 26, 1928 -March 7, 1999) was an American film director, screenwriter, producer, cinematographer, and editor who did most of his work as an expatriate in the United Kingdom. He is regarded by many as one of the greatest filmmakers of all time. His films, typically adaptations of novels or short stories, are noted for their "dazzling" and unique cinematography, attention to detail in the service of realism, and the evocative use of music. Kubrick's films covered a variety of genres, including war, crime, romantic and black comedies, horror, epic and science fiction. Kubrick was also noted for being a perfectionist, using painstaking care with scene staging and working closely with his actors and technical stuff. Starting out as a photographer in New York City, he taught himself all aspects of film production and directing after graduating from high school. His earliest films were made on a shoestring budget, followed by one Hollywood blockbuster, Spartacus. The rest of his filmography was a series of artistic, genre defining films of unparalleled quality.
Filmography: Killer’s Kiss 1955
The Killing 1956
Paths of Glory 1957
Spartacus 1960
Lolita 1962
Dr Strangelove 1964
2001: A Space Odyssey 1968
A Clockwork Orange 1971
Barry Lyndon 1975
The Shining 1980
Full Metal Jacket 1987
Eyes Wide Shut 1999
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The Photographer On viewing any of director Stanley Kubrick's cinematic masterpieces, it becomes immediately apparent that each and every frame of his films has been subjected to extreme care and precision. This is just one of the many elements that make Kubrick unique as a director. Many commentators have speculated that this is the result of the origins of Kubrick's career: namely, his apprenticeship as a still photographer. On his thirteenth birthday, Kubrick's father presented him with his first camera. Kubrick immediately took to photography, and it soon became one of his favorite hobbies. At the age of 16 he sold his first photograph to Look, a well-known news and photo magazine, for $25. Over the next several years, Kubrick worked as a staff photographer for the magazine, working on both "grunt" assignments and his own inspirations. It is the latter in which his talents can most clearly be detected. 6
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2OO1: A Space Odyssey 1968
Genre: Adventure, Sci-Fi Writer: Arthur Clarke Actors: Keir Dullea Gary Lockwood William Sylvester Daniel Richter Duration: 160 mins 8
When the world is ruled by apes, one particular group discovers a mysterious rectangular monolith near their home, which imparts upon them the knowledge of tool use, and enables them to evolve into people. Thousands of years later, a similar monolith is discovered on the moon, and it is determined to have come from an area near Jupiter. Astronaut Dave Bowman, along with four companions, sets off on a mission for Jupiter in order to examine the monolith. Their spaceship is controlled by HAL 9000, a revolutionary computer system.
“Iʼm sorry Dave, Iʼm afraid I canʼt do that”
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A Clockwork Orange 1971
Genre: Crime, Sci-Fi Writer: Anthony Burgess Actors: Malc McDowell Patrick Magee Michael Bates Warren Clarke Duration: 136 mins 10
In a futuristic Britain, Alex and a gang of teenagers go on the rampage every night, raping, beating and stealing helpless victims. After one of the boys quells an uprising in the gang, they knock him out and leave him for the police to find and arrest. Alex agrees to try "aversion therapy", a new experimental method for violence constrain in order to shorten his jail sentence. The therapy ends up having consequences that Alex did not envision. The questions become how Alex will function and how others will react towards him.
“I was cured, all right!”
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The Shining 1980
Genre: Horror, Mystery Writer: Stephen King Actors: Jack Nicholson Shelley Duvall Danny Lloyd Scatman Crothers Duration: 144 mins 12
A man, his son and wife become the winter caretakers of an isolated hotel high in the mountains, where Danny, the son, sees disturbing visions of the hotel's past using a telepathic gift known as "The Shining". The father, Torrance Jack , is underway in a writing project when he slowly slips into insanity, as a result of cabin fever and former guests of the hotel's ghost. After being talked into by a waiter's ghost to "correct" the problems of the family, Jack goes completely out of control. The only thing that can save Danny and his mother is "The Shining".
“ All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy”
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Full Metal Jacket 1987
Genre: Drama, War Writer: Gustav Hasford Actors: Matthew Modine Lee Ermey Vincent Onofrio Adam Baldwin Duration: 116 mins 14
A pragmatic U.S. Marine observes the dehumanizing effects the Vietnam War has on his fellow recruits. A two-segment look at the effect of the military mindset and war on Marines. The first half follows a group of recruits in boot camp under the command of the punishing Gunnery Sergeant. The second half shows one of those recruits, named Joker, covering the war as a correspondent for Stripes and Stars, focusing on the Tet offensive. Joker faces threats such as ambush, booby traps, and Viet Cong snipers as they move through the city.
“In Vietnam the wind doesnʼt blow, it sucks”
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Lolita 1962
Genre: Drama, Romance Writer: Vladim Nabokov Actors: James Mason Shelley Winters Sue Lyon Gary Cockrell Duration: 152 mins 16
Humbert Humbert, a British professor of French literature has harboured a long-time obsession with young girls, or "nymphets". After an unsuccessful marriage Humbert travels to small-town America for a teaching position. He allows himself to be swept into a relationship with Charlotte Haze, his widowed and sexually famished landlady, whom he marries in order that he might pursue the woman's 14 year old flirtatious daughter, Lolita, with whom he has fallen hopelessly in love, but whose affections shall be thwarted by a devious trickster.
“You havenʼt even kissed me yet, have you?”
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Dr Strangelove 1964
Genre: Comedy, War Writer: Terry Southern Actors: Peter Sellers George Scott Sterling Hayden Keenan Wynn Duration: 95 mins 18
U.S. Air Force General Jack Ripper goes completely and utterly mad, and sends his bomber wing to destroy the U.S.S.R. He suspects that the communists are conspiring to pollute the "precious bodily fluids" of the American people. The U.S. president meets with his advisors, where the Soviet ambassador tells him that if the U.S.S.R. is hit by nuclear weapons, it will trigger a Doomsday Machine which will destroy all plant and animal life on Earth. Will the bombers be stopped in time, or will General Jack Ripper succeed in destroying the world ?
“Mein Führer! I can walk!”
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Barry Lyndon 1975
Genre: Drama Writer: Will Makepeace Actors: Ryan O’Neal Marisa Berenson Patrick Magee Hardy Krüger Duration: 184 mins 20
In the Eighteenth Century, in a small village in Ireland, Redmond Barry is a young farm boy in love of his cousin Nora Brady. When Nora engages to the British Captain John Quin, Barry challenges him for a duel of pistols. He wins and escapes to Dublin, but is robbed on the road. Without any other alternative, Barry joins the British Army to fight in the Seven Years War. He deserts and is forced to join the Prussian Army, saving the life of his captain and becoming his protégé and spy of the Irish gambler Chevalier de Balibari.
“... aim your pistols!”
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Spartacus 1960
Genre: Action, Biography Writer: Dalton Trumbo Actors: Kirk Douglas Laurence Olivier Jean Simmons Charles Laughton Duration: 197 mins 22
In 73 BCE, a Thracian slave leads a revolt at a gladiatorial school run by Lentulus Batiatus. The uprising soon spreads across the Italian Peninsula involving thousand of slaves. The plan is to acquire sufficient funds to acquire ships from Silesian pirates who could then transport them to other lands from Brandisium in the south. The Roman Senator Gracchus schemes to have Marcus Publius Glabrus, lead an army against the slaves. Spartacus successfully makes his way to Brandisium only to find that the Silesians have abandoned them.
“We must remain true to ourselves”
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19:00
22:00
Mon 5/4
2OO1 A Space Odyssey
A Clockwork Orange
Tue 6/4
The Shining
Full Metal Jacket
Wed 7/4
Lolita
Dr Strangelove
Thu 8/4
Schedule
Barry Lyndon
Spartacus
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