Sadly overlooked Kubrick masterpiece

Rating: 10/10 (29 April 2008)

I can't believe how underrated this movie is.. for years I didn't watch this movie because I thought it was just a standard "period film"... but recently I got around to see it and I think this film is a masterpiece.. it totally redefines what a period movie should be for me.. no other film of this kind brought me back in time the way this movie did... Kubrick produced a piece of sheer movie magic with this one and I can't believe how often this film gets overlooked in lists of people's favorite Kubrick films.
The cinematography in this film is truly something to behold, it really looked like those great Rembrandt and Vermeer paintings came alive.. plus the dialog, the costumes, the pacing, the beauty of the countryside make this film a feast for the senses.. for nearly 3 hours I felt like I was THERE..
I think the reason this film gets overlooked is because Kubrick was known for breaking new ground, which you could say he didn't do with this movie, but I think this should be seen as the definitive period film against which all others should be measured.. movies like 2001, Strangelove, and Clockwork were perhaps more daring and original but Barry Lyndon is not inferior to any of them in terms of craftsmanship.. and I think this one stands out as Kubrick's most emotional and involving film from the human point of view..
The dry, ironic narration, the dialog, the visual wonders make this possibly his most entertaining film as well.. how anyone could find this boring I don't understand... there's always something going on, and the beauty is that sometimes Kubrick isn't afraid to linger on visually dazzling shots..
In conclusion, if you are one of those ardent Kubrick fans who always skipped this film thinking it's just another "period piece" then I advise you to see it now!