not spoilers, but very light scene discussion

Rating: 8/10 (15 March 2005)

i have seen this movie many times, and i must say thought it awful the first couple of times. mainly because of certain parts, which contained atrocious acting, false and unbelievable scenery, (and if i didn't know Kubrick's style, i would say lack of development). it is a great film, for the scenery, the shots, the underlying Kubrick kind of stuff. but it could have been better with just a few more minutes of development.
although this is one of kidman's best acting jobs, i didn't appreciate her drunk or stoned scenes, having been in college, i experienced all there is in the ways of self medicating, and no one behaves that way, the drunk party scene for lack of a better word sucked, and Sandor's accent was far from Hungarian. attention to detail is what makes a movie, and Kubrick has always been one to do just that. i am sad that this was his last film, and i can't believe those scenes passed inspection. but never mind, not really important.
i grew up in NYC, and their portraying of it was bad, they tried for that mythical 1980's mayor dinkins era where it really wasn't that safe, but more than that painted a picture which some out of towner who had never been there might describe to a friend. where was the sketchy 42 st and 8th ave they were aiming for? as i watched the movie more times, i started to not pay attention to this tidbit, because it really just made me angry, but more-so i found myself watching it only for the interaction with the sect in the beautiful mansion, (which is also not NYC or out lying territory style. i believe it is in england somewhere)and later in the film the conversation with Ziegler at his apartment. this is Kubrick at his finest: pure eye candy, the house, the robes and masks, the women, the music, the chanting, i've been trying to find out whether the chanting is taken from some other work? (if anyone that reads this knows anything about the music from the ceremony starting the orgy, particularly the chanting of the man in red, please tell me, my email is listed above.) people's fascination with sects, call them what you want, Illuminati, masons, weirdos whatever, this keeps people watching, wondering, hoping that one day the may be redeemed amidst a group of robe and mask clad fornicators.