2x Blu-Ray Full Metal Jacket, The Shining + DOCU DVD's

Stanley Kubrick - Full Metal Jacket [Blu-ray]

SPECIAL FEATURES AND EXTRAS

There are two primary supplements on this disc: a documentary and a feature commentary track with Adam Baldwin (Animal Mother), Vincent D'onofrio (Private Pyle), Lee Ermey (Gunnery Sergeant Hartman), and Screenwriter/Author Jay Cocks. This commentary track is rather incongruous. Each participant recorded alone and it never really flows. There is some good information here, but I must admit I was disappointed by the flow. Vincent D'Onofrio is the best participant of the bunch. He hangs around even after his character is no longer in the movie. He offers impressive insights into acting and the doors this film opened for him as an actor, the mind of Kubrick and his approach to the making of the film, and reaction to the film and his character from family, friends, critics, and the public at large.

Full Metal Jacket: Between Good and Evil (30:49) is a look into Stanley Kubrick and his film. This feature delves into the inspiration for the film (namely the book Short Timers by Gustav Hasford) and the effect of other Vietnam movies (namely Apocalypse Now) coming out as Kubrick was deciding to make the film. The casting of Matthew Modine, Vincent D'onofrio, and Lee Ermey is discussed at leangth. Vincent D'onofrio is genuinely grateful to Kubrick and this role, crediting him with advancing his film career. Also discussed is filming in East London, and the challenge of making London look like Hue City in Vietnam, and an alternate ending that was discussed but never filmed. This is a solid documentary and is not to be missed by fans of this film.

Finally, Warner Brothers has included a theatrical trailer for this film.

Stanley Kubrick - The Shining [Blu-ray]

SPECIAL FEATURES AND EXTRAS

Borrowing from the 2001 DVD reissue as well as including new content, the supplementary features of the BD delivers interesting material that fans of The Shining should definitely not miss. Even the audio commentary track is good, featuring steadicam operator, Garrett Brown and Kubrick biographer John Baxter.

The Making of "The Shining" is actually a BBC special produced by Kubrick's daughter, Vivian, for the film's original release. With full access to her father's set, Vivian delivers greater insight into tensions during filming, as well as a behind-the-scenes look at a couple of the most famous scenes. Stanley Kubrick had a reputation for secrecy and he shied away from publicity, so the footage of his work is both interesting and rare. For even greater insight, listen to Vivian Kubrick's Of course, the documentary is in standard definition in a 4:3 aspect ratio.

View from the Overlook: Crafting "The Shining" covers the development, production and release of the film in more than 25 minutes. The highlights include Nicholson and screenwriter Diane Johnson, who do some heavy lifting in discussing Kubrick's vision. The aspect ratio of this and the next two featurettes is 16:9.

Wendy Carlos, Composer is a much shorter interview with the lady who penned the film's score. Considered a pioneer in electronic music for her work with synthesizers, Carlos discusses her conception of the music and her interactions with Kubrick.

The Visions of Stanley Kubrick, clocking in at about 15 minutes, focuses on all Kubrick's work as a whole. It includes important insights from other directors and Kubrick's biographer and is actually not a bad little documentary.

The bonus material also includes an original theatrical trailer in 4:3.

Rob Ager - Kubrick Decoded: Volume One [DVD]
Collative Learning

This DVD contains documentaries analysing three classic Kubrick films.

The Shining
Eyes Wide Shut
A Clockwork Orange

Dream logic, subliminal repetition, doublee-speak dialogue, colour coding, character switching, painted mirrors, historical references, intentional continuity errors ... these are just some of the methods Kubrick used to addlayer upon layer of complex meaning to each of his masterpieces. He is the unrivalled master of cinematic communication.

These documentary styled videos present Rob Ager's unique analysis of the subliminal depths and visually encoded language in Kubrick's work. Excellent viewing for the serious Kubrick fans, film buffs, script writers and film students.

Running time: approx 1hour 30mins.

Rob Ager - Kubrick Decoded: Volume Two [DVD]
Collative Learning

This DVD contains documentaries analysing two classic Kubrick films.

2001: A Space Odyssey
The Meaning of the Monolith Revealed
Updated 2011

Full Metal Jacket
The Hidden Hand
2008