Stanley Kubrick: Seven Films Analyzed [Library Binding]

Randy Rasmussen (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0786408707 | ISBN-13: 978-0786408702 | Publication Date: February 2001

Stanley Kubrick had a great talent for creating memorable images-such as his famous jump cut from a bone tossed into the prehistoric sky to a spaceship orbiting the earth in 2001. Like the composer of a great symphony, Kubrick also had the ability to draw his memorable moments into a lyrical whole. Balancing harmony with discord, he kept viewers on edge by constantly shifting relationships among the dramatic elements in his movies. The results often confounded expectations and provoked controversy, right up through Eyes Wide Shut, the last film of his life. This book is an intensive, scene-by-scene analysis of Kubrick's most mature work-seven meticulously wrought films, from Dr. Strangelove to Eyes Wide Shut. In these films, Kubrick dramatized the complexity and mutability of the human struggle, in settings so diverse that some critics have failed to see the common threads. Rasmussen traces those threads and reveals the always shifting, always memorable, always passionately rendered pattern.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Randy Rasmussen is the author of Children of the Night: The Six Archetypal Characters of Classic Horror Films (1998, $38.50) He lives in Grand Forks, North Dakota.

Product Details

• Library Binding: 368 pages
• Publisher: McFarland & Company (February 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786408707
• ISBN-13: 978-0786408702
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 5.8 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,944,322 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Wonderfully Exhaustive Analysis, August 20, 2001

By 

robb0117 "robb0117" (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Stanley Kubrick: Seven Films Analyzed (Library Binding)

This is almost an academic text that examines every possible nook and cranny of Kubrick's last seven films (Strangelove, 2001, Clockwork, Lyndon, Shining, Full Metal and Eyes Wide Shut). Though certain technical and historical aspects are noted, Rasmussen focuses on the stories, themes and concepts of the films themselves. Each film is given its own chapter where an almost scene by scene analysis dissects their unique symbolic elements, psychological themes and aesthetic qualities. "Stanley Kubrick : 7 Films Analyzed" is either a great companion for admirers, or a 'skeleton key' for those that never fully understood what made Kubrick such a important figure in modern cinema.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lovers of Kubrick, This is the book for you!, March 5, 2008

By 

Kelley R. Barry (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Stanley Kubrick: Seven Films Analyzed (Paperback)

This book is meant to be a complete breakdown of the themes, styles and subject matter of some of Stanley Kubricks best films, and it succeeds on every level. For anyone who has been confused as to what messages Kubrick was trying to convey to his audience, this is the book for you. It describes in detail every message, every detail about how someone should go about viewing any and all of Stanley Kubrick's greatest films. This is a great reference for anyone who has ever questioned Kubrick's style as a director. It also bring into light the ideals Kubrick wanted his audience to see through his films, the main one being "humanity and the world that we live in." If anyone is a fan of Stanley Kubrick's films, his life or film in general than I suggest you get this book!

1.0 out of 5 stars I love Kubrick, but wouldn't recommend this book..., February 16, 2009

By 

Alan L. Wagoner "jugglemeister" (Apex, NC United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Stanley Kubrick: Seven Films Analyzed (Paperback)

My understanding is that this is book is a textbook. I feel sorry for the people who have to wade through it. It's painful. The author attributes a significant amount of thought to various themes/concepts, but I found it way overboard.

This is the first book I've read which analyzes films/books in this manner, but the over-analysis of everything sucks the life/joy out of the process of analysis.

If you're someone who enjoys thinking about/discussing movie thematics with friends/family, I don't see you enjoying this book. There are a few interesting nuggets here and there, but the tone of the book comes off as pretentious dribble.