Review of Lolita (1962) by Jose P — 02 Apr 2008

Given he gave us such classics as "2001: A Space Odessey," "A Clockwork Orange," "Dr. Strangelove," "Paths of Glory," and "Full Metal Jacket," one has a certain expectation going into a Stanley Kubrik film.

Unfortunately, "Lolita" completely fails in reaching the bar set by those other films. It's kind of humorous in a sick sort of way, and it has some really strange scenes, but all in all, it's a pretty simple tale about obsession with a completely cop-out ending.

Neither of the two stars are any good in their parts, though Sheely Winters and Peter Sellers offer great support. The film is overly long and, honestly, given the subject matter, not nearly sexual enough.

I don't think I've ever thought a film needed more sex in it before, but Lolita is a strange case because the audience is completely imagining what the hell is going on between the professor and the girl.

Perhaps if it were made in a more modern age when that kind of thing could at least be openly discussed, the film would have some extra power to it, but as it stands, it's simply a movie about obsession and there are far better films that deal with that subject ("Treasure of the Sierra Madre," anyone?).

I guess I should go see Kubrik's other film about sexual deviancy, the much more recent "Eyes Wide Shut" to get an idea of what "Lolita" might have turned out had it not been made in such a prudish time.