Spartacus (1960) - ''The Thinking Man's Epic''

[Groggy]

Funny, I thought the political stuff was the best part.

There should have been more battle scenes though.

[Dust Devil]

Funny, I thought the political stuff was the best part.

It is pretty good in concept, at the time it was probably revolutional, today it can pass but it's all seen before. With all the other elements already mentioned it doesn't do any favors to the movie, unfortunately.

[Groggy]

Upon further reflection and a number of rewatches since my OP, the awful, sloppy plotting is a major drawback. Especially the last hour or so. Don't know whether to blame Kubrick, Trumbo or that meddling studio but it really doesn't flow well or even logically progress in spots.

[dave jenkins]

I blame the true auteur of the film, Douglas.

[Dust Devil]

I'm disappointed Groggy, you praise the movie yet you do not mention him?

Ah, my mistake, only now I read your entire first post.

[Dust Devil]

I think this is a movie hard to rate, it's a pity it didn't turn out to be what the creators supposed. There just isn't enough synergy between the political stuff and the rest, yet you can sense there's something greater cooking in the back. Maybe the poor plotting is the reason for this, or vice versa, can't tell. (For once) Groggy's overall analysis is good, I can't find anything missing that I myself didn't think while watching it.

[stanton]

Wasn't it Kubrick himself who said about Spartacus he won a few battles but lost the war?

Yes, maybe the best of those type of monumental films, easily better than Ben Hur, but Quo Vadis is more entertaining thanks to Ustinov.

And also Kubrick's weakest film. 6/10

[Dust Devil]

I almost gave it a 7/10.

[Groggy]

And also Kubrick's weakest film. 6/10

Worse than Fear and Desire? Come on now.

Of course I rate it above many of Kubrick's alleged "classics" but I realize I'm in the minority on Lolita and Barry Lyndon.

[Cusser]

I like Spartacus, even have the soundtrack record.

In my opinion:
   Needs less minutes of politics
   Needs Mrs. Spartacus without her clothes (in the cell and in the lake) 

[dave jenkins]

I like Spartacus, even have the soundtrack record.

Well, yeah, an Alex North score is worthwhile, even when hung around the neck of a turkey.

[stanton]

Worse than Fear and Desire? Come on now.

I can't, cause that's the only one I have never seen.
Which reminds me that I have read it is somewhere available meanwhile.

[moviesceleton]

I can't, cause that's the only one I have never seen.
Which reminds me that I have read it is somewhere available meanwhile.

At least on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKZhzpBl5g4

[dave jenkins]

This is interesting. You can move the line back and forth across the images; I could do it for hours: http://www.mubis.es/articulos/comparativa-de-espartaco-en-blu-ray-50-aniversario-vs-55-aniversario