Paths of Glory 4K 1957

Walking into the only more or less complete DVD store in our town, I took a long time looking for something to buy. At first I thought, "Here, 'Boogie Nights' by Paul Thomas Andersen, heard a lot, gotta get it."

But an overly bright box of the movie "Paths of Glory" caught my eye. Stanley Kubrick...

First of all, I was surprised at how crisp the picture was for 1957. Technically, Kubrick is always on top of his game. Although I guess the film is digitally restored. But, nevertheless, the movie is easy to watch, fresh, without physical strain.

Secondly, Kirk Douglas. In my opinion, he played just delightfully. Although this is the only movie with his participation, which I have seen. But still, it is noticeable that it was the director who reached such a game of his actor, and Douglas just clearly fulfilled the wishes of the Maestro.

And in general, the acting of this war drama succeeded so well that the modern masks are absolutely inanimate, not all, of course. Learn, young actors.

Third, as has been correctly noted, the fight scenes are brilliant. Again the Kubrick technique. Explosions, gunfire, soldier progression, camera, sound.

Fourth, the theme. The perennial injustice of the army, of any kind. The ranks that know no pity. Soldiers who go forward for the motherland and the country. But life, the only life, in such moments is nothing, emptiness. A man must always remain human, in any, even the most formidable of times. On the whole, of course, this work of art is directed against war in any of its manifestations.

Fifth. Stanley Kubrick poses a personal question. My opinion. What should we be? An idealist? Is it that simple? The great director understands that people like Colonel Dax find it very difficult, not so much in the military as in life. So how should we be? In words it's simple, everyone has a conscience, an honor, a sense of compassion. But still, who do we think of first? About ourselves. Only. There are very few like Colonel Dax, very few. And yet they exist.

Conclusion. What I want to say in my short review is that Kubrick made a powerful anti-war film. His first film where we saw that this is the new Master of Cinema. And such a movie you can, without fear, watch in any year, at any time. Because the themes touched upon here will never disappear.