Dr. Strangelove

I can't say that this way my first time viewing the film, but it was definitely a good refresher. In an odd way, I really enjoy this film. The first few times I watched it, it dragged on and I couldn't wait for it to be over. After advancing through college and understand some of the physics of films more, I am able to appreciate different aspects of the film.

First, Stanley Kubrick does a fantastic job of keeping the humor inclusive. Even with a subject such as nuclear war, he manages to push humorous situations throughout the film. With effects that make anyone in this decade giggle, I believe Kubrick likely used all of the available resources he had at the time.

When it came to set design, nothing was held back. From the cockpit of the B47 to the "War Room", nothing felt artificial and more like realistic places, shot on location. When the airmen were in the plane, they truly walked from one end of the aircraft to the other and it made me the viewer, feel as if everything was to scale, leaving out any illusion of disbelief. All the details in the War Room were greatly appreciated, specifically the consistencies of the radar screen on the wall. As time progressed, the blips representing planes actually progressed along with time and moved while on screen.

When covering audio, I was impressed with every shift that was included between shots. When the position of the camera shifted in the War Room, the audio reflected that. When up close with the General, the audio was clear and felt close. When the shot shifted to an overview of the room, the dialogue echoed and gave viewer a true sense of being at a distant seat in the room.

Overall, having the opportunity to watch this film years after my first time viewing it, I have many new appreciations that weren't comprehended the first times watching the film.