The Stanley Kubrick Archives by Christiane Kubrick

The Stanley Kubrick Archives Reviews

• 
  Bill

  Here is a book that is truly worthy of the legendary film director Stanley Kubrick. It's an incredibly informative, yet straightforward, piece of work. You get over 800 pages full interviews & essays on Kubrick's films & plenty of information from the man himself. There are also a huge amount of wonderful photographs, many of them rare, that give even more insight into his films. If you are a fan of Kubrick then this is, quite simply, a must read.
• 
  Sarah

  The edition I bought is not as luxurious as the first edition, which included a film strip from 2001 and a CD with interviews with Kubrick. I was disappointed not to have the interviews because that was my main reason for buying it, and although there are a lot of interviews in the book, they are not all printed in full. Aside from that, it's a really lovely book and full of information. The first section is just photos from the films in chronological order. At first it seemed a bit pointless, I thought I might as well just watch the films if I want to look at it, but when I took my time with it, I realised that the photos can give you a much greater appreciation of the films. In the pictures you can see the stories develop visually, and you are reminded of Kubrick's foremost talent as a photographer. With no words, the still photos brought out ideas and themes in his films that I hadn't really thought about before. The second part of the book is all kinds of info about the making of the films, the writing, casting, making of props, lighting, everything. I learned a lot about the films and it gave me a better understanding of them, which is invaluable if you are a fan of his work. It doesn't spoil them at all by knowing how things were done, it just makes them more impressive. I won't go into any more details and spoil it, but I will that it is an indispensable guide, and well worth the price. There's no comparison between this and Michael Ciment's book, which is also nice. I would try to get the first edition because that looks particularly good.
• 
  Ioana

  This book is exceptional if you are into Kubrick films. Going into this, I didn't know much about Kubrick as a person, but only about his creations. I knew I was a huge fan of his films and that I appreciated the artistry behind them but about the man - nothing.
  
  This book gave me a lot of insight into the processes he was using, it goes into quite a lot of technical detail when it comes to image placement, lighting setup and features of different cameras available at the time. I also liked that they were honest and open when it came to on set relationships and approaches, and how Kubrick was developing the actors and bringing the best out of them. Moreover, I had no idea about some of the projects he was considering, such as 'AI' or 'Napoleon'! It is humbling to see that someone as talented and as iconic as Kubrick also had his ambitions that he ultimately couldn't reach, even after substantial emotional investment.
  
  
• 
  Marc

  '' To make an entirely film by yourself, which initially I did, you may not have to know very much about anything else, but you must know photography''
  Stanley Kubrick
  
  This book It is part biography, part cinematography with a great deal of archives. Kubrick was known for not being very opened about his art. Yet, the editor manages to put together everything relevant that was said by Kubrick and his colleagues about his body of work.
  
  Each part is divided by movies from his amateurish ''Fear and Desire''(1953) to his masterful ''Eyes Wide Shut'' (1999). I guess what makes Kubrick a category of filmmakers of his own is his total control of almost every aspect of his movies from pre production to theatrical release (at least from Lolita in 62' onward as far as one can tell).
  
  He lived a life in full and his legacy is well displayed in this glossy volume.
  
  Valuable book.
• 
  Samuel Andrade

  the definitive guide to Stanley Kubrick's dreams and ambition.
• 
  Anton Klink

  This book is massive, thorough and superb. So why do I rate it only 4 stars out of 5? This book will mainly appeal to fans of Kubrick movies and I can't count myself among them. I only borrowed the book from the library since I enjoy movies in general and I am a fan of "Spacey Odyssey", the background of which I found fascinating to read. However I don't care much for Kubrick's other movies so the appeal was only limited for me. Nevertheless, having leafed through the rest of the book, I appreciate the quality and work behind the book, so for anyone with even slight interest in Kubrick the man, movie maker and artist, this is highly recommended.
• 
  Michael Wheeler

  a book that has so much detail and care put into it that stanley kubrick himself would be proud of
  
  not only did this book cement the idea to me that kubrick was a great filmmaker, but also that he was a human. before reading i had an idea that he was a bit of a strange fellow, and in a way, he wasn't exactly normal, but he definitely wasn't the person people made him out to be. as he put himself 'I have a wife, three children, three dogs, seven cats. I'm not Franz Kafka, sitting alone and suffering.'
  
  
• 
  Ben De Bono

  This is a really wonderful companion to Kubrick's filmography. The essays and interviews are good, albeit with little information not found elsewhere, but the real draw are the photos. About half of the material in the nearly 900 pages are full color photos. They capture behind the scenes moments, various shots from Kubrick's life, notes he left about different projects, and more. If you're a Kubrick fan, this collection is a must own
• 
  Trey

  I have two books in my collection that can be properlly be refered to as Tomes. Recording the Beatles is one. This is the other. To say that this book thoroughly covers, in excruciating detail and beautiful prints, the career of Stanley Kubrick is a massive understatement.
• 
  Evan

  Was a great read-along with Blank Check's Kubrick series, even though it covered a lot of the same material JJ's dossier ended up providing on the podcast. Pretty spectacular stuff. I'd love to look at a lot of these photos and archival material again, though I'm not sure I see myself revisiting these essays (which are fine but far too rudimentary in terms of plot and context).
• 
  Kyle Staubs

  Stanley Kubrick was a true artists and unfortunately was only appreciated after his death. This book was awesome to drive into all his films and projects he never got off the ground. Definitely a most read if your a movie buff and love his films.
• 
  Aditya Watts

  Rip-Off.
  Nothing of worth here if you're a film maker already familiar with Kubrick's work. Half of the book is fuckin' screenshots from his movies. As I said. Rip-Off.
• 
  sean

  Besides a few pictures and a couple interviews with Kubrick, this is a pretty awful book.
  
  The people that were assigned to write about each film injected their own thoughts into their respective sections. Thoughts I could not have cared less to hear about, thoughts which are stated as fact that I flat out disagree with. The writing style of a Wikipedia article would be much preferred over what this ended up being.
  If you’re looking for some real insight into the making of these films there are documentaries on the blu rays for them that are barely even 10 minutes long which go into far more depth than this book does.
  
  50% of the writing in this book is dedicated to describing the story of each of his films scene-by-scene. I’m not sure who this is for as the only two categories of people who could possibly be reading this book have A) already seen the films or B) not seen the films.
  Category A) doesn’t need the description because they’ve seen the fucking film.
  And Category B) is clearly interested in watching it if they’re reading about behind the scenes of a film they’ve never seen, so they could really do without your shitty overlong summary spoiling it for them.
  
  A summary of the film can be fine, but this no-joke consisted of half this book. The other half wasn’t too interesting either.
• 
  Robin

  An interesting compendium of reviews, interviews, synopses, and copious photographs that works as the perfect companion for watching the great master's films. The interviews are the most fruitful component, as they shed light on the inner workings of Kubrick's mind. The many and varied photos are disconnected from the text, so one could take or leave those (behind-the-scenes footage is more informative and engaging anyway). So if you're interested in tracking through Kubrick's filmography, and want something a bit more lavish and deeply researched than Wikipedia, this is the ideal tome for you. Note that most of the information can be had free on the internet now though, which somewhat dents this book's value.
• 
  Rick Zinn

  I have admit this was more of a read long while going through Kubrick’s 16 movies. Watch the movie and read the chapter of the book dedicated to the movie. I knew very little about Stanley Kubrick other than he let the movie speak for itself and was rarely interviewed. He Comes across as a curious man, a heavy reader who turned books into often masterpieces.
  
  I don’t what to review Kubrick’s movies here, find me on letterboxd for that. The BTS pictures and analysis of his films contained in this book are wonderful. I you like movies,read this. If you like Kubrick, read this. If you like photography, read this.
  
  I had so much fun rewatching his movies and reading about them afterwards.
• 
  Stefanos

  I would love to own the original big & super pricy version of this book, but I enjoyed this smaller version nevertheless. There are a ton of previously unpublished pictures in there, along with detailed plot summaries filled with production details, behind the scenes facts, bits and pieces about Kubrick and an SK interview on every chapter(movie).
  
  I will not complain about the small form factor of this version because it keeps the price low, but I will complain about its small page count. 860 pages are not enough to cover a detailed analysis of the 13 masterpieces. Really, they aren’t.
  
  
• 
  Ryan Splenda

  This carefully collated compilation of writings, interviews, essays, photographs, and artifacts on Stanley Kubrick's illustrious career is the perfect reference for any fan. Each movie is thoroughly covered, including behind-the-scenes information and plenty of supplemental visuals that give more context about the making of each film. The interviews (with Kubrick) that often accommodate each movie/chapter provide the most value and give the reader a glimpse into the mind of this movie genius. A highly recommended read for all movie fans.
• 
  Jonathan

  A mammoth tome covering the career of one of the greatest directors ever. Lots of illustrations accompany a general essay for each film with excerpts from interviews conducted with Kubrick around the time of each one. There is something for every type of film buff, whether you like a bit of insider gossip or the effect of a certain type of camera lens on a shot, and even analysis of the films he started researching but never made. One for fans really.
• 
  Serdar

  Artists, especially those who deal in something other than words, tend not to be articulate about their own work. They don't know why they do things, or when they do, their reasons come off more as justifications after the fact than, well, reasons. None of this makes them any less the artist; it just highlights the difference between creating art and thinking critically about it.
  
  Stanley Kubrick had two gifts in this respect: he was a brilliant and original artist, and he understood deeply the implications and significance of the creative choices he made in his work. "He had good taste" seems like such a thin way to put it, but it seems the most succinct way, too: his instincts about his work, his tastes in terms of what to do with it and why, were as refined as they come.
  
  I mention all this as prelude to "The Stanley Kubrick Archives" because the book serves two functions, parallels to his gifts. It documents Kubrick's creativity, and it lays out how he had great insight into his own work and understood how to make the best of it. Even when I disliked his work ("Full Metal Jacket") or disagreed with its aesthetics ("The Shining") or just couldn't connect with it ("Eyes Wide Shut"), I couldn't say he was in the dark about what he was doing, or misguided.
  
  The nicest surprise about this book is how I went in expecting nothing more than a coffee-table compendium of Kubrick's life and work, which by itself would have been fine, and came away with something else: a documentation of how his creative mind worked. The only thing better is the entire separate volume Taschen has devoted to his "Napoleon" project, here discussed in miniature. Would that any of the rest of us could be so in tune with what makes us tick, but maybe that's the reason for this document: to see how it was done, and perhaps to find a way to emulate that impulse on our own.
• 
  Dillon Harris

  Filled with so much fascinating and detailed information that by the end of it you will feel like you know Stanley. This book has everything a fan of Kubrick’s work, as well as film buffs in general, would want; a analysis of the pre-production, filming and post of all of his wonderfully unique pieces of work.
  
  Recommendation; watch each movie before reading the chapter on it, makes the experience all the more wonderful.
• 
  Jaime Fernández Garrido

  Ver las películas de Stanley Kubrick es uno de los grandes placeres de esta vida, al igual que es leerse estos archivos que las repasan todas en detalle, así como sus proyectos jamás realizados. Con artículos exhaustivos, entrevistas al propio Kubrick y cientos de fotografías, este libro es una maravilla para todos aquellos que quieran adentrarse en los increíbles métodos de trabajo del siempre perfeccionista y magistral director.
• 
  Mathilde Fomsgaard

  As a gigantic Kubrick fan, this book was everything I hoped it would be. Filled with photographs, stills, interviews and facts about the man: Stanley Kubrick and his films.
  You really like you’re going on a journey through the Kubrickian library. It was a great read as I learned more about the man and the films, that I have loved and inspired me so much.
• 
  Bruno Costa

  Really comprehensive encyclopedia on Kubrick's work, methods and filmography. Essencial for any fan of the director's work, "The Stanley Kubrick Archives" immerses you into the artist's oeuvre.
  Also extremely inspiring if you are an artist yourself.
• 
  Paulo Mota

  Insightful and illustrative archives. What attracted me the most was the interviews, the way Kubrick manipulates the interviewer in thinking he's giving him an answer is sometimes very funny. A good book to have if you know his work.
• 
  Javi

  He aprendido más de cine con este libro que con todos los años que he estudiado. Maravilloso, recoge perfectamente la filmografía y la figura de uno de los mayores genios de la historia. Gracias Stanley.
• 
  Juraj Holub

  All about the Master in one place.