Stanley Kubrick's Crazy Space Lawsuit - io9 Comments

Stanley Kubrick's Crazy Space Lawsuit

Zantor — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 11:56:04 PDT

Here I go shooting myself again.

I like Space:1999, well, at least the first season. The acting is a bit stiff but it was supposed to be dire and serious. Love the look of the technology, love the music, and most of the first season storylines were actually rather deep and thoughtful, bordering on the metaphysical. Having recently revisited the series, I was pleasantly surprised how good it really was.

To the critics: give it another chance, you may change you mind.

Yes, "Season Two" sucked, nice music though.

Zantor

Stanley Kubrick's Crazy Space Lawsuit

Jeff-Minor — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 04:47:33 PST

Dok, Moonbase Alpah didn't look much like Clavius to me. Most of Clavius was a painting. And, the moon bus was a logical design that could very easily have been applied to anyone's moon ship. No air makes little boxes the logical choice.

Jeff-Minor

Stanley Kubrick's Crazy Space Lawsuit

dOk — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 10:34:38 PST

Well you do know that Space 1999 actually stole some of the models used for 2001.. Moonbase Alpha was the same model as the Clavius Moonbase in 2001.
There are a couple of other stolen models that i would need to see the show again to point out. It used to be common practice to have models re-used a few years later in budget productions so Kubrick had most of the props destroyed except for a few that were missed.

dOk

Stanley Kubrick's Crazy Space Lawsuit

IHateWhatYouHaveOn — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 07:44:16 PST

@weazel: Thank you! I've always hated him. I thoughtthere was something wrong with me but after seeing Eyes Wide Shut (the last in a long line of Kubrick films I hated) I finally realized it was him-not me.

IHateWhatYouHaveOn

Stanley Kubrick's Crazy Space Lawsuit

ManchuCandidate — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 06:14:54 PST

@steeple:
Oh no, I wouldn't be so stupid as to request stuff. Babbit bad. Especially the "Can you look like Catwoman Julie Newmar tonight?" Something about that ticks them off. However, if they're in the mood, well, great success.

ManchuCandidate

Stanley Kubrick's Crazy Space Lawsuit

mattclary — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 05:16:58 PST

Catherine Schell was such a hottie! Funny, I never connected 2001 and 1999, but once you think about it, ti seems kind of obvious. I was only 10, so I guess it's understandable.

mattclary

Stanley Kubrick's Crazy Space Lawsuit

Moeskido — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 04:11:17 PST

@urukhaifive: And coots born 25 years before me had even worse things to say about my crowd. Just wait; your turn will come.

Moeskido

Stanley Kubrick's Crazy Space Lawsuit

PhelderCarb — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 22:05:14 PST

Strider_MT2k thought that a Lego Eagle would be cool. That is a good idea. Here is my suggestion: download the LEGO Digital Designer and create one. The software is free, will allow you to build a virtual Eagle, then provide you a parts list and estimated cost for the project.

PhelderCarb

Stanley Kubrick's Crazy Space Lawsuit

steeple — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 19:55:31 PST

@ManchuCandidate:
-i dunno, girls get funny about "doing requests", she could loose her temper, turn into a shaggy green monsterous, and try to pull y'er head off (in the bad way!)

steeple

Stanley Kubrick's Crazy Space Lawsuit

Burncrafter — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 19:43:18 PST

I always thought Space 1999 had that 2001 look to it, especially the human spaceships and the while-on-white decor of the moon base. Of course the show was ruined every time they brought out some guy in a rubber mask. Kubrick was wise enough to know that he'd blow the credibility if he showed aliens. They were believable so long as they remained unseen.

As for Spielberg's AI, it was the worst movie of the year. I was hoping at the end that instead of resurrecting the kid's mom the robots would come up with Kubrick himself, and he's start screaming "What have you done with my film?"

Burncrafter

Stanley Kubrick's Crazy Space Lawsuit

Benjo — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 19:37:37 PST

There's no doubt that Kubrick was bat sh@# crazy, but he still made one heck of a sci-fi movie.

Benjo

Stanley Kubrick's Crazy Space Lawsuit

ManchuCandidate — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 19:32:49 PST

@steeple:
Not really crazy about that alien mind frying habit of his. It would be a small but painful price to have a shapeshifter as a gf/wife.

ManchuCandidate

Stanley Kubrick's Crazy Space Lawsuit

steeple — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 19:26:34 PST

@ManchuCandidate:
heh, do you REALLY want brian blessed as a father in law?

steeple

Stanley Kubrick's Crazy Space Lawsuit

ManchuCandidate — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 19:16:05 PST

@steeple:
Cool, but $20K is a bit steep. If the model also came with Maya, then I'd think about it.

ManchuCandidate

Stanley Kubrick's Crazy Space Lawsuit

AmishJohn — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 19:14:29 PST

$850 USD + shipping (from Japan!)for a 1/35, signed plaque prop replica Eagle:
[www.hlj.com]

AmishJohn

Stanley Kubrick's Crazy Space Lawsuit

steeple — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 18:47:31 PST

martin bower will build you a studio replica eagle for about £10,000 (!) with a brass welded frame and turned steel exhaust bells (sfx guy worked on 1999,alien, outland etc).
he lives at [www.martinbowersmodelworld.com] it's got a huge gallery of his models including UFO mobiles.

steeple

Stanley Kubrick's Crazy Space Lawsuit

The Authority — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 18:41:36 PST

I am a Kubrick fan. Please, the blood of Christ compels you, take away this article. It burns. IT BURNS.

The Authority

Stanley Kubrick's Crazy Space Lawsuit

rojac — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 18:00:35 PST

People are anti-Kubrick because of a serious lack of brain-wattage. People resent what they don't understand. Sorry but that's the truth. People literally attacked Cezanne's paintings when they first came out. Attacked them with knives.

I didn't like Eyes Wide Shut when I first saw it. Now I think it's brilliant. Fucking brilliant. I know what you mean about the Kidman stoned scene-- but then Kubrick was famous for doing that with actors. Using their worst most over-the-top stuff. But when you look at EWS as a dream it makes more sense.

rojac

Stanley Kubrick's Crazy Space Lawsuit

Dug — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 17:44:25 PST

My first 2001 experience was incomprehensible, but I was only 4 years old. I think it's the first movie I ever remember seeing. (Thinking back, this explains a lot, my poor parents!)

If, like me, you did not get parts of 2001 on the first few goes, surf on over to Kubrick 2001 com for a fascinating tour of the movie. Like him, hate him, Kubrick was a genius who was exploring the central domain of science fiction: Human response to technological change.

And yes, me too. Loved those eagles, loved the Moonbase, but loved Space 1999's UFO predecessor more. Ahh the tastes of a 9 year old geek.

Dug

Stanley Kubrick's Crazy Space Lawsuit

92BuickLeSabre — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 17:23:26 PST

Looks likes some folks have come around after remembering the ones they really liked, but I'm still surprised at the gut-level kind-of-anti-Kubrick reactions!

The Shining? Clockwork Orange? Dr. Strangelove? Full Metal Jacket? Hell, Spartacus!

Maybe he gets the untouchable film-god treatment too often, but that's a list of pretty kick-ass movies right there.

92BuickLeSabre

Stanley Kubrick's Crazy Space Lawsuit

GunL — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 17:14:13 PST

Kubricks movies are probably the most imitated and
many scenes from many of his movies have become cliches...
Much industrial, dance, house music sample these movies.
Clockwork Orange, 2001, The Shining, FMJ, Dr. Strangelove
and Lolita are commonly accepted to be all-time great films. He was idolized by other directors.
Idiocracy generation cannot process this...

GunL

Stanley Kubrick's Crazy Space Lawsuit

bitgod — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 17:04:07 PST

Damn him, if only he'd won, maybe there would have been more UFO!

bitgod

Stanley Kubrick's Crazy Space Lawsuit

Kakapo — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 16:38:32 PST

@Seth L:

Ah, a friend....

Kakapo

Stanley Kubrick's Crazy Space Lawsuit

Seth L — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 16:33:47 PST

@kakapo:

Bad Ortega!

Seth L

Stanley Kubrick's Crazy Space Lawsuit

kathotdog — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 16:27:26 PST

I loved Space: 1999 when I was a kid, though I don't think I could sit through an episode now. However, the opening credits/music RAWKED!
[www.youtube.com]

kathotdog

Stanley Kubrick's Crazy Space Lawsuit

DanielBrenton — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 16:24:01 PST

I remember that somewhat heated discussion a couple of weeks back about Ellison, and separating the art from the artist. We could have that same discussion here. I find it hard to separate them with Ellison, but in the case of Kubrick and 2001 I don't have that issue.

I remember the founder of King Crimson, Robert Fripp, did a series of lectures after the band broke up the first time. He was influenced by the Gurdieff/Ouspensky school's methods and teachings, and whatever you think of their stuff this tells me he was willing to do some integrated spiritual work. Anyway, he made the statement that you had to consider four things as a musician -- the industry, the audience, yourself, and the music.

I think in the case of some art, the art itself has its own "life" or "energy" separate from the artist. Obviously I feel that way about this film, though I'm not sure I feel the same about some of Kubrick's other work.

DanielBrenton

Stanley Kubrick's Crazy Space Lawsuit

DanielBrenton — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 16:07:22 PST

@kakapo: Yeah ... that's pretty anal.

DanielBrenton

Stanley Kubrick's Crazy Space Lawsuit

Kakapo — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 16:03:04 PST

He also successfully sued Ray Dennis Steckler for naming a movie THE INCREDIBLY STRANGE CREATURES WHO STOPPED LIVING AND BECAME MIXED-UP ZOMBIES around the time of DR. STRANGELOVE. And he won. Silliness.

Kakapo

Stanley Kubrick's Crazy Space Lawsuit

weazel — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 15:59:34 PST

I will also admit that I didn't understand my ex-Marine father at all until I saw Full Metal Jacket. I insisted my brothers watch it too. G-d damn...

weazel

Stanley Kubrick's Crazy Space Lawsuit

Pwnieboy was BOCultist was Epaminondas — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 15:48:23 PST

@SonOfSlam: Yup, those Eagles still rank at the top of my list (Hey how about a top 10 greatest spaceships list or has it already been done? Of course the Eagles and the Millinium Falcon kick so much collective ass, I'm not sure there's much else worth mentioning.)

@Annalee: Speaking of influenced an entire generation, try and find a US Marine who never saw Full Metal Jacket!

Pwnieboy was BOCultist was Epaminondas

Stanley Kubrick's Crazy Space Lawsuit

hageesheart — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 15:45:11 PST

I like me some Kubrick; his shots are pretty much always wonderfully composed even if everything else is .. less so. I bought Eyes Wide Shut for like $7.99 at a grocery store a few months back, and I was watching it and I just couldn't get past how bad Nicole Kidman was at acting like she was stoned and/or drunk. But then I went and saw her in that Diane Arbus flick, and she didn't annoy me, which I fully expected her to; so I can only assume Kidman's crazy bad acting was somehow Kubrick's doing. Which is a long way of saying: this might explain why Hal is one of his most sympathetic characters. And, y'know, Strangelove. But Strangelove was more funny/scary than sympathetic.

hageesheart

Stanley Kubrick's Crazy Space Lawsuit

urukhaifive — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 15:43:56 PST

@Moeskido: Yeah, because all us people born in the past 20 years are ADD-riddled morons.

I'll get off your lawn now.

urukhaifive

Stanley Kubrick's Crazy Space Lawsuit

Inkymonkey — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 15:42:54 PST

@Annalee: Go ahead lady, I've been using TELEX (reg. # 0517386) in reference to my goods and services since 1937 and I will totally nerd it up in here, uh I mean COUNTERSUE.

Inkymonkey

Stanley Kubrick's Crazy Space Lawsuit

DanielBrenton — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 15:40:59 PST

@Moeskido: You're spot on with that one. I won't go on, but 2001 was a milestone, and further it made demands on the audience that wasn't used to having demands made on it. I recently bought the new DVD release, and one of the extra features was a documentary that mentioned that MGM nearly pulled it after a few weeks, but the young crowd -- most likely predominantly the drug crowd drawn to the intense imagery -- had just discovered it and was taking to it. I suspect this was partly the college crowd as well, willing and able to "think out of the box" a little.

Kubrick may have been sue-happy, but in this case I can't fault him -- not for the title, but the eventual content. Every episode of the entire first season (after the pilot) was a meager attempt to imitate 2001's tone. Fred Freiberger came in for the second season and revamped the thing in a more action-adventure mold, but it thankfully went belly-up at the end of that season anyway.

DanielBrenton

Stanley Kubrick's Crazy Space Lawsuit

SonOfSlam — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 15:36:28 PST

Space 1999 was painfully bad, but I think we can all agree that the ships were great.

SonOfSlam

Stanley Kubrick's Crazy Space Lawsuit

Annalee Newitz — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 15:32:56 PST

@inkymonkey: I just hope your references to telexes don't significantly replace my references to faxes or I WILL SUE YOUR ASS.

Annalee Newitz

Stanley Kubrick's Crazy Space Lawsuit

Inkymonkey — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 15:29:04 PST

I work in Intellectual Property law and it was cah-razy with all the teletexes today. I pray I can only learn to live again as an ordinary, decent human being.

Inkymonkey

Stanley Kubrick's Crazy Space Lawsuit

strider_mt2k — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 15:13:02 PST

As a boy I LOVED Space 1999.
(An Eagle Lego set would have been the coolest thing ever!)

As an adult, however I can't see what I liked in it.
I remember losing interest when the plot lines and cast went all wonky.

Bummer.

Still love the ships though.

strider_mt2k

Stanley Kubrick's Crazy Space Lawsuit

ManchuCandidate — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 15:10:21 PST

@steeple:
Or the brightly colored space suits?

ManchuCandidate

Stanley Kubrick's Crazy Space Lawsuit

Moeskido — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 15:10:14 PST

Kubrick's better work requires an attention span that no longer exists. I'm sure someone has done five-minute youtoob edits on his slower stuff for you nice kids out there. And I wish his last project had been better.

Space: 1999 was an embarrassment almost before it was released. I remember 1975 vividly, and hating Gerry Anderson for passing off crap writing like that.

Moeskido

Stanley Kubrick's Crazy Space Lawsuit

ManchuCandidate — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 15:09:59 PST

Actually, Kubrick was sue happy. He sued the producers of the less successful Fail Safe to prevent them from releasing it at the same time as Dr Strangelove.

If only Stanley actually read the Space 1999 scripts then he probably wouldn't have sued. I loved the show as a kid, but damn the writing sucked 1999 different ways.

ManchuCandidate

Stanley Kubrick's Crazy Space Lawsuit

steeple — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 15:07:49 PST

in fairness several designers and sfx guys worked on both 2001 and 1999.the circular spider like moonbase and the triangle windowed eagles are blatent "homages"

steeple

Stanley Kubrick's Crazy Space Lawsuit

weazel — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 15:01:42 PST

I actually like Barry Lyndon. I will admit it. But damn I could watch Chinatown THREE TIMES in the same span of time.

weazel

Stanley Kubrick's Crazy Space Lawsuit

Seth L — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 14:57:58 PST

@Annalee:

Crap, forgot about Strangelove. I really like that one.

"Gee, I wish we had one of them doomsday machines."

Seth L

Stanley Kubrick's Crazy Space Lawsuit

belltolls — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 14:57:45 PST

Love SK and all SK movies and sorry he spent time arguing with sci-fi movie people when he could've made Napoleon. AI was an honorable effort from Spielberg though.

belltolls

Stanley Kubrick's Crazy Space Lawsuit

Annalee Newitz — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 14:52:09 PST

@weazel: Never really liked him either, though Dr. Strangelove is good fun. And there's no getting around the fact that 2001 was one of those "influenced an entire generation" flicks. I think The Shining is my favorite Kubrick, but maybe that's because I saw it when I was a kid and it was so scary that I almost puked.

Annalee Newitz

Stanley Kubrick's Crazy Space Lawsuit

Jeff-Minor — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 14:51:10 PST

I liked parts of 2001. And I was such a space 1999 fan. I was so into those Eagles. I must have blown up a half dozen of the things.

Jeff-Minor

Stanley Kubrick's Crazy Space Lawsuit

antisocialite — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 14:49:31 PST

Wow, it's been years since I received a frenzied telex. Or a space-borne virus for that matter.

antisocialite

Stanley Kubrick's Crazy Space Lawsuit

Seth L — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 14:47:26 PST

@weazel:

Care tyo elaborate? I mean, I don't really like any of the Kubric movies I've seen either.

Seth L

Stanley Kubrick's Crazy Space Lawsuit

weazel — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 14:41:56 PST

HATE Kubrick. ALWAYS have. Suck it, fanboys.

weazel