Saw "Barry Lyndon" yesterday , and I'm still in shock ..

[UndertheOcean]

The film affected me so deeply but inexplicably , I can't even pinpoint any single reason for its greatness , but nevertheless it is great....

If only I can analytically understand why.

[xchrom]

1. lighting is one reason.

kubrick used technology from space exploration to film using natural light in some of the scenes -- for example night scenes with candles.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

5. Another "natural light" film about the past is

"All the Mornings of the World" ("Tous les Matins du Mond"), about the French composer Marin Marais.

It makes you realize how much the electric light bulb changed the world.

[leeroysphitz]

2. Glad you dug it UndertheOcean

But even as big a fan of Kubrick as I am I never really liked it all that much.
Maybe it was just Ryan O'Neil. He's always rubbed me the wrong way.

[LouisianaLiberal]

6. I agree about O'Neil.

I remember looking forward to this movie when I first heard Kubrick was making it. It is one of the most beautifully filmed movies ever - but O'Neil's lackluster performance almost ruined it for me.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

3. Historical accuracy?

My college kid took a course in History of Warfare from the 1800s to WW I,and the prof had his own show on the History Channel. She said that the prof said that "Barry Lyndon" was quite accurate in its war scenes.

I haven't seen it.

[The Traveler]

4. It really is superb

Haven't seen it in years.

[driver8]

7. I love that movie. I work at Warner Bros. and have seen that

movie four or five times (including Spanish and Portugese versions).

I don't know what it is I like either -- I guess it's the combination of story, characters, setting...I just know I like it!

[edbermac]

8. Love Kubrick, this is one of his best.

Made 30 years ago and I think you could count on one hand the number of films whose cinematography has come close to this. O'Neal is a little jarring playing a young man at first, but as his character gets older he's much better.

If you want an analysis of SK's films, see if you can get a book called Kubrick: Inside a film artists maze by Thomas Allen Nelson; a little esoteric but pretty good reading.