This is a magnificent purchase, because it's so impressive in size (much like Taschen's G.O.A.T. on Muhammed Ali), craftsmanship, presentation and material -- if Kubrick was alive, he'd be impressed at the compilation of his life's work.



I was hoping something like this would come out, because about a year ago there was an article in The UK's Gaurdian newspaper (I read it online) about a guy who was invited into the Kubrick estate and was shown ALL of the archives by Kubrick's assistant -- and the information discussed in that article will blow your mind. And apparently this book gives you the chance to jump into the world of a extraordinary visual artist.



The scans from Kubrick's IPs are FANTASTIC. I don't think their should another way a looking at a film (in book or electronic form), but you're seeing the EXACT frames -- not those production stills that are slight off, or are alternate takes. Looking at the 2001 and Spartacus filmframes do just to those films in ways that you rarely, rarely get a chance to experience.



Happily, the edition I bought is part of that early print run that has 12 70mm frames from 2001. Stunning. You'll Be Like Alex in ACO, wanting to keep your eyes open for far longer than you'll be able to in any four or five sittings.



I don't think you need to be a Kubrick to enjoy this book, just a fan of cinema - because a comprehensive examination is what you want. Unlike the other critical assessments, this book enpowers the reader to make up his own mind about what Kubrick's images meant. If you're a fan of Kubrick as director, you'll be proudly showing this off for years to come.



The only think that would have been "more" would have been the inclusion of a DVD with any behind-the-scenes footage; i.e. all the footage from "The Making of the Shining" and there was some footage I saw during the production of 2001 at the beginning of an Oscar broadcast in the mid90s, which I've never seen anywhere else.



Overall, you'd not be disappointed -- on any level. It'll just whet your appetite for more, and to see the films again.