Very overrated

Rating: 5/10 (19 December 2013)

As a teen I used to love this film (Kubrick+King+Nicholson is an irresistible combination for a young man born in the early '70s) but now I believe this is one of the most overrated 'classics' of all time. The film is overlong (for the little it has to say), very slow (for no reason, that's the problem) and poorly narrated; the characters are shallow, underdeveloped (Nicholson looks like a maniac since the very beginning) and uninteresting — all actors clearly do their best but they are way too over the top to be convincing. Only a couple of great scenes, the usual good photography and some beautiful settings save Kubrick's worst effort from disaster. I believe most people who adore this mediocre piece of cinematography just can't admit also a legend like Kubrick could make mistakes.