EYES WIDE SHUT and the illusion of Xmas rituals

[@jokesonyoumyguy5086]

What I got from this film is that Stanley was making a statement of that we are all living with our eyes wide shut. There are many layers to this film; way too many to ever break down in a comment, but I think the main focus is to show us the party in the beginning and the mask party are practically the same party. The first party represents the matrix we all live in. Everyone’s smiling and well dressed and everything is so beautiful.. The second party is just representing all the stuff that’s actually going on that we most are too blind to see because we are either too stuck in the matrix too see it, or we choose to turn ignore the truth and just play along in a fantasy. People only see the facade and they don’t see the reality we live in, hence the title being “Eyes Wide Shut”. I hope that makes sense.

[@michelepost693]

So True 👍💯

[@StephanieJackson-zu7lw]

I agree.

[@Matt-zp1jn]

Yep, I feel this way too. The illusion or dream state on the surface for the movie shows the superficial “mask” the upper social class elites an society portray outwardly as a cover up disguise of their true hidden motivations, desires, feelings, agendas etc. On the darker side of the holiday party, the secret society occultic sacrifice/orgy reveals their actual “true natures”, the depraved, the perverse, the evils of the human/child sacrifice/orgy of the elites playing out their desires for real. The illusion or dream state under the surface, delves deeper into the real intentions of the elite aristocrats. Their dark natures shows the physical party mask worn on their face by the upper class elites acting as a protection of sorts for their psychological identity/self-perception which then inwardly acts as a cover up disguise of their true ego of the actions,behaviours,rituals,sacrifices that they outwardly physically carry out. At the ceremony everyone is wearing physical masks now, maybe so they are not recognized and can’t see themselves in a mirror doing their depraved acts which would shatter their personal ego ,narcissistic an high up self-perception of their identity. The mask distances their psyche, conscience somewhat from accepting responsibility or accountability themselves (cognitive dissonance) for their immoral, criminal, occultic actions/behaviours. The sex orgies,drugs,secret rituals,money,fame,status all dim the mind, morals, ethics and relax the dark base temptations as well.

[@betterd9160]

I agree. I think the theme is the multiple sides of self. The whole thing was a representation of internal conflict between fantasy and reality and drives being subjugated or released. The masked ball was a next level, intense release of secret self but it still remained hidden. Shame and punishment is prominent. One thing I noticed was how many characters resembled the husband and wife. Kubrick seems to be very influenced by Freud and Jung. I don’t think Kubrick was attempting to expose a secret society in the world but rather we are all members of our own personal secret society. Sorry for the disjointed ideas.

[@stampedetrail2003]

The Jungian thing, for sure. The Mask party is the physical expression of the subconscious wishes of the surface party. Also, it's impossible to see without a high res copy, but the news article and Ziggler's description are the same verbatim. He controls the press.

[@lizclegg7556]

All the women who are used for sex have red hair, or maybe a reddish glow about them. Nicole Kidman, Domino, Domino's friend, Mandy, Ziegler's wife (maybe even Bill's naked patient) have similar colouring. The two girls who hit on Bill and the costume shop owner's underage daughter have a slightly reddish glow to their hair. Women who have no sexual purpose - the waitress and Bill's secretary - have dark hair. Worryingly, Helena has similar red hair.

[@fromgreattobrilliant922]

I always figured that it was symbolizing Cruise's characters struggle to cheat in the film. He tries to stray away from his wife, but he keeps going after women with similar features that his wife has.

[@watermelonlalala]

The two models at the party have dark hair. Same as Bill.

[@watermelonlalala]

@@fromgreattobrilliant922 I thought it meant his wife is better looking than all the other women, he should be home with her.

[@Jones-d8q]

There is a general theme regarding hair color and the womens' social roles in the film that interestingly mirrors Hollywood; however, Helena and Mandy are the only two women in the film who are actual redheads (you're right that Kidman, Domino, and the others are strawberry blonde redheads. If anything, I think maybe they are all blondes and the blondes are used for "looking good" first and foremost? Whereas the two redheads proper are the only two characters with names who we actually see being trafficked. In fact, Domino is the closest and she gets the closest to the act of being trafficked without actually going through with it. I dunno!).

[@horizon92lee]

The details Kubrick put in his films is done so well

[@DefWorlds]

The balls on the pool table are kind of like anti-christmas lights

[@carsondouglas8600]

The devil is in the details.

[@JazDickinson1]

The 2 candles in a sort of horns on the restaurant when he read the News and the one in the house of Ziegler

[@sunnydlite-t8b]

Almost good as his work on the apollo missions.

[@ChubbyChecker182]

If you go with the theory of their daughter going off with the two guys at the end, she could be seen as a Xmas present to them.

[@couchpotato3197]

Jesus Christ that's horrifying

[@carmensmithaguirre3049]

Good point

[@misterbobby8913]

I was about to mention that aspect in a comment, hopefully Rob sees this. The girl definitely was taken by the 2 men. Nicole Kidman's character even subtly pushed her to that location. Nicole Kidman's character definitely *knew*. I believe Bill Actually didn't. Notice in the poster of Eyes Wide shit, Tom's eyes are closed while Nicole's eyes are wide open, and looking to the side.... conveying she's holding a secret. Remember how her character had "horrible nightmares". Yeah... she's been inside that mansion herself.

[@davidlean1060]

@@misterbobby8913 She is not 'definitely' taken by anyone. We don't see her leave with the men, we just don't see her in the final moments. It's a far from conclusive theory, so it's not 'definite'. Not to call you out on anything, but of course Alice was dreaming...so is Bill. The Orgy is Blll rehashing the Zeigler party in a dream. The original title of the novella is, after all, 'Dream Story'.

[@craigsimpson3901]

Yea good one,i was thinking red cloak is santa for adults

[@bryanmckinney1098]

The daughter: (13 letters in her name/this is Kubrick's 13th film) The movie is about the daughter. "We're going where the Rainbow ends." In the costume shop the owner sells his underage daughter for the right price. At the end the daughter goes off with Occultists. Right after handling a teddy bear. Manaquin heads are in the child abuse scene of the costume shop owner. "No dream is ever just a dream." Meaning it has basis in reality. This movie is about child abuse imo. Even the kneeling adults around the ritual circle at first look like kids. Also why would the cultists want to silence Bill? For seeing a consensual adult orgy? That's not even illegal... No this is about child abuse. And does that have basis in reality? Well, just ask Epstein. Whoops you can't. He got Mandy'd.

[@lrkpotter]

Did you notice that Ziegler calls Mandy a “kiddo” when they are in the bathroom? That was super sketch

[@mitchelleroberson]

@@lrkpotter yeah your comment and OP’s comment are really good notice

[@proybankins709]

From what I've read in comments a lot of people theorize the 23 minutes that were cut out by the studio after Kubricks death depicted child abuse at the party and possibly sacrificial content.

[@dyrewinterfrost]

I think you're right, Kubrick wanted to bring light to some that was dark. I think he were a witch, that's plenty of few magick symbols. And using the most powerful couple in Hollyweird of the 90s. Was to make not such a good impact, but also bring some Xtra lights to some disturbing religion...

[@stevowilliams8279]

@@proybankins709 I would love to find any evidence of this being the case, but unfortunately it seems like a myth at this point.

[@mk-ultramags1107]

The lighting in 'EWS' is without a doubt at the top of my list. While its mostly all very surreal and dream-like, it still does have a naturalistic feel to it. Kubrick was so good at that type of a balancing act.

[@esyphillis101]

Perhaps that has to do with his mostly matter-of-fact cinematography that feels very observational.

[@mk-ultramags1107]

@@esyphillis101 Absolutely. A friend of mine always brings up Dario Argento and his technique in films like 'Susperia', which I love in it's own right. But to me, I prefer films like 'The Shining', where the lighting and color scheme are still prominent in telling the story, just in a more subtle and realistic way. An example I like is when Jack is in the hallway after backing out of Room 237... Its dark and ominous but realistic and not overdone. I can remember being at my Grandmother's house as a kid and she had dark, almost blood red carpets(Which were popular at the time) and at night when I slept over, naturally I'd use the bathroom. The light lit up only a portion of the hallway and it always reminds me of that scene. To me, that is more powerful and terrifying than anything else because it feels real. The light coming in thru the windows of The Overlook with Jack staring into the white, snowy abyss... His work continues to be the gold standard IMO. Like you said, Kubrick was amongst many things, very naturalistic in his approach to lighting a set. 'ACO', 'EWS', 'FMJ' and especially 'Barry Lyndon' ... Each has moments of Kubrick being big and bold, yet they never lose that grip of realism that makes his work so unique. 'EWS' is more surreal of course, but not to the point where it's too much. My Aunt married a rich man and they had a multi-million dollar Brownstone on Comm Ave in Boston... During Xmas, their apartment looked just like Bill's in 'EWS.' Kubrick lived in a similar apartment(Which I believe was the basis for the film) and you can see he was careful to make sure it looked real, even though the story is most likely nothing but a dream and/or fantasy. With 99% of films being shot digitally, it's becoming a lost art.

[@joejohn.]

it's cozy

[@onewhitepony]

Reminded me alot of The Shining

[@darthsyphilis8528]

‘EWS’ … the original title was going to be Jaded Eyes Wide Shut

[@maestroadam]

The amount of detail in this movie is staggering. I've had to watch it several times over several years, and I still feel like I haven't gotten it all! It is like a great symphony or opera. Fantastic.

[@JazDickinson1]

Fidelio exactly an opera

[@joegideon8461]

Rob Ager and Kubrick - this made my day!

[@jakobdueck7491]

agree!

[@mroctober3657]

Like Riggs & Murtaugh, Laverne & Shirley, Bogie & Bacall, Fred & Ginger, Fishburne & Baldwin (Fled)

[@interqward1]

I didn't even want to press a 'like' on your comment, because that would take it away from '69...'

[@ronmackinnon9374]

@@interqward1 It's at 89 now, so 'like' away.

[@interqward1]

@@ronmackinnon9374 Don't worry, I like I like! LOL

[@Dehzee]

Yeah, you didn't mention that two of the old farts that were at Zeigler's party were also in the toy store at the movie's end. A screamingly disturbing part was Helena walking towards the men and then being haloed in Christmas lights, and the mom (Kidman) looks abruptly in the opposite direction of her child, even though her last look at the child saw the two men from party appearing to usher her who knows where. And neither Bill nor his his wife glance for the wherabouts of the child again. It is extremely disturbing. There is more going on with this movie than meets the eye.

[@NoHandle_23]

It’s a subliminal message exposing the rituals of what goes down behind doors in Hollywood, which is probably why they killed him after and still showed it just to warn others what happens if you don’t listen. Like the whole pizza gate situation and Epstein he knew what exactly went down he was gone sing like a canary but they took him out before he did just listen to Kat Williams he tells it all too

[@darrelletownsend9602]

I wonder if, what you describe could be a nod to Nicole Kidman's father being a pedo and a Freemason to boot, the scene with the man in the cape and naked women reminds me of some of the descriptions of Freemason ceremonies. Supposedly, Nicole was privy to one young girl who was at their house and witnessed her father doing something, like tie her up. I can't remember exactly what happened but remember that Nicole was there. I kept thinking surely Nicole wouldn't know about what her father was accused of, whilst reading about what he was like, but then my illusions were shattered.

[@Dehzee]

@@darrelletownsend9602 Yes, I know about claims she is involved, via family. It would certainly explain her fame and connections. It seems an interesting art imitating life, that she is not truly in love with the husband, but rather, she is the husband's handler. Tom Cruise has about as much freedom as Britney did/does, he is just so handled/brainwashed, he has no clue, his mind is locked down. Although the ritual was presented much more scenically than it is in real life, it is mos def what Kubrick was trying to show. The elites are loyal to one another not through any sense of camaraderie or familiarity, but rather, they are tied in loyalty, bound, by their secrets. This is why we know Jeff Epstein and Ghislane Maxwell. but no clients have been charged. They have been compromised, video taped being compromised, and will now promote any agenda they are told to promote by the cabalists, because of a fear of being exposed through black mail.

[@pauliedibbs9028]

Yep... Pretty much symbolizes how/why so many children disappear from right under their parents' eyes....

[@hanakonecci5939]

If you really pay attention you can see Nicole Kidmans character nudging Helena towards the men. Just once, before she looks back at Bill to talk about there relationship. The film ended strangely and an entire 24 minutes was cut after Kubrick died. I think Nicole kidman’s character was involved with trashing her daughter for either being involved or something of that nature. It’s all about CA, and trafficking. But no one saw it back then and some still don’t see it or want to. They would prefer to keep there eyes wide shut.

[@wanace]

The contrast between Domino’s tree when Bill first goes and then the wilted, broken branches that appear on it before he hears she has HIV is interesting. Always love your videos.

[@pauliedibbs9028]

@Creepy Crust Nah... more so a corrupted (or diseased) tree of life.

[@elee286]

Wow I just noticed the lack of christmas lights in the toy store until the scene with the 2 older gents and the Hartford's daughter. Chills.

[@DFSLJC]

And she’s illuminated by lights in the couch in the earlier scene. No mistake.

[@izzyk1998]

The use of Christmas lights in shots with Bill in him to represent his 'desirable aura' is such a cool theory, I think you're absolutely right I can't unseen it now!

[@vipy4309]

I brought most of your eyes wide shut analysis, and you really know what you are talking about when you talk about this film. Lights are the key to this film follow the lights and you will seek the awnsers to the secrets of the film... That's what I learned from your videos. Kubrick really put a lot of love and warmth into his last film.

[@watermelonlalala]

I look for messages in the lights every time I watch this movie. Many pink and blue and white lights. The only message I got was pink is for girls and blue is for boys when Domino is kissing Bill, but Domino has both lights on her side. Bill is just about to say, "I'm queer!" when the phone rings.

[@martine.l.9415]

It’s like there’s a parallel when it comes to the illusion / fantasy of Christmas and also the illusion/fantasy of sexual escapades as an adult and what we are left with as a means of escape and indulgence Also brings to mind the phrase “ignorance is bliss” with the Christmas lights symbolism in the film Sometimes once you learn something a new frame of mind like Santa claus isn’t real or that the adult male contemplates sex every 10 seconds there is no going back lol

[@watermelonlalala]

The movie has nothing to do with the illusion or fantasy of Christmas. Many other movies, do, though.

[@HeatherHolt]

I doubt Kubrick would have set the movie at Christmas time if it didn’t have some meaning so I can see your point ❤

[@augustgreig9420]

I saw the Christmas thing first as showing the separation between dream world and reality, that the opening Christmas party, everyone shows their face openly, yet are more clandestine with their real intentions for being there, like it's well known that Seigler throws the best parties. The second was that their absence represented the pagan occult.

[@goldiefatale]

I'm watching all these analysis now as Kidman is in the Balenciaga ads. Wow is my brain exploding.

[@nosoupforyou89]

What makes most people "hate" christmas ritual is that buying gifts in that time of the year is so in your face from everywhere, specially since these days stores start forcing christmas decoration and presents so early. Many are doing it in early november and some even earlier. Interesting thing, I don't have a single happy memory from my childhood that involves christmas presents. Actually, one memory that stucked with me involving them is actually a sad one, when my mom bought me a really nice clothing, but obviusly I was expecting something else then, so I really hated the present on the christmas day. The thought of her finding that nice clothes to make me happy and then seeing me being so unhappy when I got it haunts me still for some reason. Luckily, it took me a matter of few days to fall in love with theclothes and I remember it being my favorite clothes for years. Positive memories of christmas that I have always involved family dinner and decorations, never the presents.

[@myrtle1234]

Kubrick appears to have carefully cleansed the holiday imagery in the film of every Christian element, reducing it to an orgy of wearying commercial consumerism. It juxtaposes nicely with the cheap consumption of anonymous bodies in the sexual orgies. Christmas devoid of Christ, sex devoid of love, marriage devoid of fidelity, all pointless and tedious. I like many observant Christians, do not celebrate Christmas, which is NOT even observed during the real season of His birth nor was it kept by the early Church. I keep it to please my German husband who has fond childhood memories of the German Christmas markets.

[@nignamedmutt7270]

If you go to most major retail stores ON Halloween, you'll see Christmas decorations(if not already set up, they'll be putting them up around you as you shop) Hell, I worked in a hardware store and we'd get our Christmas stuff in June, and basically hide it in various spots around the store. Haven't worked there for like 6 years, but ever since I see the Christmas decorations start poking out from behind corners right as summer starts. It's a bit fucking ridiculous.

[@teddratch_owner_signature_4920]

As much as I enjoy the presents and celebrating, the marketing is definitely not the true meaning of Christmas. Santa Claus has no place in the story. People will still ask what it means, so it's not awful in that respect but...🤷‍♂️

[@brendancoburn427]

A quote from 'A Course in Miracles'..... 'Christmas is not a date, it's a state of mind'.

[@DennisMHenderson]

@@myrtle1234 Christianity & it’s conduit of liars are the well known irony & flagship doubt against the source of life. As long as you traitors continue with this charade of hijack, so will your reflection manifest. It is a joke of torture perpetuated by a planet of apes that believe they are righteous through the biggest lie of this 2000 year era. (The imaginary false christ vs the self evident truth of the only covenant that exists) Perversion in a sheep skin.

[@carljames4862]

Good point about Alice and Bill putting their troubles on hold to take Helena Xmas shopping. Playing into that illusion of fun and happiness for their daughter. I loved that scene where Helena is happily bouncing from one toy to the next but then looks back at her parents and senses how serious they are. Helena's change in demeanour from excited to one of sadness always gets me when i watch this movie back. So well acted and directed.

[@ronmackinnon9374]

Worse than that, she goes off with two old men, seen earlier at the Christmas party (and possibly among the attendees at the mansion as well), and Bill and Alice don't seem to care.

[@JT-hi1cs]

Throughout the movie, non of the lights blink. Except in two moments: when they leave their daughter alone in the toy store and when Cruise is walking (in that trippy scene) when he is pissed, there’s a single store that blinks a lot, mixing both colored and gold lights.

[@shmalts1]

2 things: The Christmas cards blew my mind, especially the drawing of red clock on Bills fridge. Second, it’s so interesting to me about the movie being originally released in July. That’s so weird and interesting! Why would Kubrick release a film so centered on Christmas imagery, in the middle of summer? Was it even up to him?

[@tomsnowden6201]

Ever hear of Christmas in July?

[@memo6588]

It all depends on the meaning behind the activity/ritual. I say the movie speaks a lot about how we lose the meaning in our lives by getting wrapped up in what else we could have instead. There's always another rung on the ladder to success but we lose focus on what success means or could mean. As a family man, I suspect Kubrick may have been bothered by modern cultures growing selfishness replacing the selflessness needed to be a successful parent. This has occurred in all cultures at the top of the food chain so to speak. The cult group wasn't a dream but an ultra reality. It's the depraved sinful nature of man that occurs when purpose and meaning has left your life.

[@The-Seventies]

That’s some insight. Thanks!

[@HeatherHolt]

I like this take.

[@esyphillis101]

Perhaps the association of the daughter with the Christmas tree foreshadows the 2 men following her in the final scene whom will likely groom her.

[@Killernaut16]

I never even noticed this. Kubrick never ceases to amaze.

[@kremesauce]

Rob and cinemaTyler both putting out a video today...it’s Christmas.

[@TravisGriffinTron]

That's just an illusion

[@hasanal-mashhadani8112]

They're the 2 best movie channels. Although Tyler is all about the production aspect.

[@TBM1121]

Red Cloak / Santa connection: Both deliver "gifts" to who he judges "good" and threats / coal for those who disobey or dont belong are "bad" boys and girls. Ho....Ho....Ho.......

[@IvanPolyansky]

Santa = S A T A N

[@esyphillis101]

One question I’ve always had about Kubrick: did he have Aspergers? Given what we know of his personality and how meticulous he certainly strikes me as someone who would.

[@Onmysheet]

It was confirmed he had a form of autism.

[@ricardoandrade7810]

Like Elon Musk

[@jesustovar2549]

This is coming too late, but as an Asperger myself, yes, I think Kubrick had it, I think is the only way to explain his manias (like repeating takes), and fixation on subjetcs such as Napoleon and other obsessions.

[@bev9708]

Sorry Rob, that is not a Cupid depicted on the Christmas card, that is one of Raphael's putti from The Sistine Madonna (in the Old Masters Gallery in Dresden). The 2 putti from the painting are extremely famous, more famous than the painting itself, and are reproduced on endless decorative items and souvenirs.

[@explosivetwist]

that's even better symbolism. the putti attend directly to God himself. they are devoid of human feelings and of superhuman power.

[@bev9708]

@@explosivetwist AH interesting indeed!! Perhaps even their commercial success with people being largely unaware of what they actually are is also kinda symbolic ... with Kubrick we are endlessly reading into everything!!🤷🏻‍♀

[@TeatroGrotesco]

Kidman is such a beautiful woman and Kubrick knew how to show it. She almost has a Hitchcock Love of the Leading Lady treatment in this. Also, I think Kidman being shown in such a light is a point, because Cruise's character's pursuit of other women could NOT be due to disappointment in his wife he is clearly motivated by other reasons.

[@watermelonlalala]

That's one of the points. He has better at home. Although she is getting older, Alice still looks like a flat chested Barbie doll. I think Mandy is his soul mate, though, hence the long good bye in the morgue.

[@pentelegomenon1175]

I was once watching that 2007 movie The Invasion with my brother, I mentioned that Nicole Kidman was still very sexy despite her age, he disagreed at first but changed his mind before the movie was over.

[@kylieeeramirez7838]

Kidman is a he … reverso like most in Hollyweird

[@SuperSlimshady1]

@@kylieeeramirez7838 wait what?! plz explain!

[@kylieeeramirez7838]

@@SuperSlimshady1 lol yup… all A list actors are…. They have to be in order to get that far in Hellywood

[@funckyjunky]

Oh, I have just realized that its a Christmas movie ! Cant wait to watch it with whole family 😭

[@watermelonlalala]

It's a Happy Holiday movie.

[@GamerWordDotNet]

Your Eyes Wide Shut content is always fantastic.

[@Shrubbs]

Did you all notice the shooting pentagrams and the two large stars with a different colored Christmas light at each pointed tip? This is a nod to the Order of the Eastern Star

[@SuperSlimshady1]

Time stamp?

[@SuperSlimshady1]

In what scene were the shooting pentagrams?

[@proybankins709]

Turns out there's a Masonic branch called order of the Girls.. I wonder if thats related to rainbows depicted in the movie.

[@Zion_1010]

​@@proybankins709 You know what!! That may be true. My grandfather's friend asked my mom if she wanted to be in a special group and my mom asked what it was. She said "It had something to do with rainbows and she couldn't remember the name completely, but my grandfather shut that down immediately!" That's crazy you brought this up. Wow!

[@brendanduffy2367]

I watched this for the first time only recently and it blew my mind.

[@juliannfloress3490]

so, what do u think about the movie? did u like it?...

[@thomasreilly4749]

Rainbows are not illusions, they are atmospheric phenomena.

[@bonedog5130]

My Rob Ager Spidey Senses randomly fired today and I realized I hadn't seen a video of yours in a long time. Lo and behold, a new EWS video released a mere 50 minutes ago! Nice!

[@SuzanneKowalski]

Wow, you stirred up some memories in my head with your last couple of sentences. When I was 16, I attended to an optional literature course at my school. The attendants were from several different classes, most of them were completely unfamiliar to me, actually I've had never ever seen some of them before that course, despite the fact that we were all going to the same high school. Christmas was around and the teacher found it a good idea if we all gave presents to one another after drawing names from a jar - the usual silly stuff. As I didn't know most of the others and I didn't give a flying f... about this anyway, not to mention that I was brought up in a far from wealthy family and I didn't want to put another burden on my own parents, I simply stood up and told everybody politely not to count me in this ritual. You should have seen that sheer hatred and all that eye-rolling they gave me in the next one and a half hour or so. After a long argument they did what the teacher proposed and I managed to talk myself out of it, but I felt so frustrated about this incident that I never returned to that literature course in the next semester.

[@jamesr5741]

Just goes to show how superficial they all were.

[@xBINARYGODx]

@@jamesr5741 no, you dont know that about any of them, more do you even know if the story you read is true - I bet if you spoke to everyone these years later, the stories would not all match - and it might be HOW he said it and not WHAT he said, But also - that grab bag things are for cheap gift giving, so the "oh I am oh so poor, going to a school that has optional lit classe (not a poor district)" is rather teliing, btw.

[@jamesr5741]

@@xBINARYGODx Well he might have been scraping by, just like some are given a scholarship when they wouldn't have been able to afford it. Christmas has become way too superficial and it is ridiculous what was proposed by the teacher. There obviously wasn't much feeling of community in that class and a cheap, thoughtless present wouldn't change anything.

[@HeatherHolt]

@@jamesr5741i assume it was meant more as a bonding experience than actually gift giving. And to right off the bat say “count me out” prob came across like they were above it all, bc I doubt they said “count me out bc I’m poor.” They could have gifted a book they had read and liked since it was a lit class, and that wouldn’t have cost a thing. But instead of even trying to be inventive they instead immediately refused. Regardless of reason we have to empathize with how the other students must have felt without the context of the OPs feelings being stated to them. So I can see both sides however I do believe OP came across as stuck up in high school terminology due to immediately being so dismissive of something that was meant to be fun and for bonding with essentially strangers from other classes.

[@TravisGriffinTron]

You had me at Eyes Wide Shut

[@basehead617]

The waitress who Bill asks about Nick Nightingale.. ‘i don’t know if he’d want me to give out his address’ - there’s no way she would even know his address unless they were involved

[@mitchelleroberson]

There was also an angel like on that Christmas card inside the room where he and Alice meet Ziegler and his wife, there’s a similar angel statue behind them in front of the staircase. You did a great job explaining Christmas. It doesn’t say in the Bible to celebrate Christmas

[@PatriciaAShelton-no6cq]

Says completely the opposite

[@j.bradley]

I told my “Christian” wife that I was not going to participate in the Satanic Christmas rituals anymore, and she was VERY upset because she LOVES Christmas! I celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ EVERY DAY!!!

[@daboos6353]

You sound like a joyless nerd, send your wife my way

[@justjay8186]

I know I’m late here but this is brilliant and I have a thought about the Xmas themes in EWS. Jon Benet Ramseys parents were having a Xmas party the night she died suspiciously. Apparently the ritual involving the rich Ramseys and other Elites was called “Last Light On The Xmas Tree” I’d love to know more on this alleged ritual practice and I think then we can draw comparisons to Kubricks masterpiece. Can’t believe I’ve only just found this page. Subbed 👍🏾

[@nickimillennium]

Wow. Sources?

[@kylieeeramirez7838]

Mengele came up with that ritual … also called “ last bulb on the tree”

[@Leopoldus7]

Almost the only person on youtube who actually brings plausible and well researched ideas to the table. Thanks! Starting a research on EWS myself to find an answer to a coincidence that parallels the movie.

[@Peepholecircus]

Two videos in one day? monsieur you are really spoiling us

[@elcross77]

Christmas is the perfect backdrop for displaying that passion we all crave amidst a superficial ritual grounded on lies and hypocrisy. To go where the rainbow ends is just a trap when you give into temptation and desire. For Bill this is the lesson he learned yet his wife seemed to be the wiser one in the end. In the beginning of the movie, Bill had such a naive perspective on sexual desires and gender roles, which led him down the rabbit hole of forbidden and repressed emotions. I think this exhibits the existential crisis that most men and couples experience at some point in their lives.

[@ReeTM]

Over the rainbow and the Christmas lights: unbelievable, there in plain sight.

[@DemoDick1]

Kubrick *really* knew what he was doing. What a master.

[@charlesroyal5125]

Eyes wide open

[@IvanPolyansky]

If you want to hide something put it in plain sight.

[@SuperSlimshady1]

What does it mean?

[@brundlefly262]

What do they mean?

[@pauliedibbs9028]

I believe the x-mas lights during the scenes with sexual undertones symbolizes _the rainbow_ often referenced. The scenes with Santa also symbolize something else, nefarious, and if you pay close attention to Red Cloak's sleeves, it almost looks like a Santa outfit. Perhaps it is he in the Santa outfit at the end, with the mysterious figures and potential disappearance of the daughter? lol

[@lizclegg7556]

I think Red Cloak is meant to echo Santa Claus, especially as its a "Christmas" film. Santa Claus gives presents to children. Red Cloak gives the sex slave women to the party guests as presents. Or is there an inversion where children are given as presents to Red Cloak? (It could recall the story of Little Red Riding Hood as well, where a young girl is threatened by the wolf, and in some versions raped by the wolf, although this would of course be inverted as Red Cloak would be the predator rather than the innocent.)

[@pauliedibbs9028]

@@lizclegg7556 Yes, I believe so too... however the colors I now realize are the pertinent detail "Gold & Red"

[@aliensoup2420]

13:32 ... boycotting Xmas. I did it years ago. I regularly traveled to visit family on Xmas. At some point after the nieces and nephews grew up, I determined there was no point to buying presents, and I was tired of collecting things I did not want. I stopped buying gifts and requested nobody buy any for me. But you can't stop other people from doing what they believe they want to do, so I reluctantly accepted their gifts. Eventually they stopped. I am still welcome to visit and partake of festivities, and quite frankly, nobody misses my presents because they receive more than enough from everyone else.

[@StephenPoe-q7b]

I've always been convinced that the Hungarian hitter on Bill's gosh dang wife, was the mofo in red talking in the wierd sounding voice he's fuckin got

[@mikebarnettstuff]

This may have already been brought up and it may sound cliche but this film now feels very much like a parallel to the Jeffrey Epstein situation. Older men, younger women, secret parties in secret locations, mysterious deaths. Not that there’s any evidence of a connection but it makes the film feel more grounded, with that in mind.

[@watermelonlalala]

Notice how no one video maker wants to touch that and they come up with nutty red herrings to lead people away from that.

[@esyphillis101]

@@watermelonlalala KZbin censorship is why.

[@Wallnuts]

I’ve also heard hypotheses on the intentional use of white vs colored lights and the duality they represent between fantasy and reality

[@watermelonlalala]

When white lights first showed up (you can see them in Rosemary's Baby, 1968) they were called fairy lights. Probably came from show biz, I am guessing. Stage decorations.

[@McLir]

I've been bowing out of Christmas for several years. I still gather with the family (when it's safe) but I don't do the gift exchange. I don't soapbox about it, but the basic reason is that compulsory consumption is wasteful. And my large family was fine with this. To my surprise, a few years ago, the rest of the fam came to the same conclusion. So now,, there's gifts for the kids, but we can skip the rest. The family gatherings are the point now. My family was cool, but they don't represent all families.

[@watermelonlalala]

The movie is about how Christmas is not what it used to be and won't be around much longer. One of the themes,anyway.

[@softbatch1]

This movie is why I look forward to Christmas. I stopped celebrating xmas many years ago. I'm not a scrooge. I just don't like how wasteful xmas is. I chill, make gourmet pizza and watch Eyes Wide Shut amongst a couple others.

[@Westhomasmusic]

Love your videos mate, and totally agree with your points. me myself, I have stopped christmas for the last 7 years and i dont regret my choice. Keep the video coming

[@gs032009]

The first part concerning lights everywhere does not hold as evidence for a semiotic story behind the bland appearance of a standard hollywood production. The second part, however, about Christmas as social enslavement of adults devoid of religion context or meaning, read marketing grand scheme, or read, compulsory social cult of Christmas, is spot on.

[@jacksonkelley1740]

I’d like to say that this video was done insanely well. I feel most videos on this movie tend to try and sum up everything going on in the movie to one video, which is really not doing it justice.

[@tonitsi78]

Since this is a Kubrick film analysis by Rob Ager, I can confidently hit Like button even before I have seen it.

[@LEG0B0Y]

Brilliant analysis of Christmas With the Kranks, Rob! I always knew it was about cult rituals.

[@Malumultimus]

Wherever it snows, people celebrate something for the winter solstice, because people didn't used to have heated homes and electronics to keep them occupied, they needed festivities to keep them from killing themselves. You mentioned something I've tried explaining to others but have always gotten severely negative reactions to. Whether it's a birthday or Christmas or something else, it seems like most people are resolved to give each other things like gift cards. Gift cards have to be one of the silliest inventions ever. They're just money, except it's money you can only spend in one place. In other words, it's a kind of shitty money; but there's no point in everyone just exchanging real money, so what else could they exchange? People can't exchange real gifts with most of their acquaintances, because the sad reality is they don't actually know them well enough to buy them something they'd enjoy but don't already have. So truthfully, when someone gives you a gift card, it's like they're saying, "No, please, I really do know you! I swear," except they don't really, because if they did, they would've given you a real gift. For half my life now, whenever my family would ask me what I wanted for my birthday or Christmas, I'd tell them, "Nothing." When they'd scoff and assert they must get me something, I'd say, "Having to ask someone what you should get them for a gift is pretty much evidence that you shouldn't be buying them a gift to begin with, isn't it?" They don't like that. It really is a kind of social ritual, but honestly, I think it just makes people feel good to reaffirm they have bonds with someone - even if it isn't true.

[@GraceKirk-k8y]

I agree with some of what you say. Where gifts are concerned I hate the 'having to' part of it. The forced nature of the gift buying at Christmas because that isn't sincere to me. Neither are the Christmas cards I used to receive from people I hadn't seen or heard from for decades and had no relationship with any more. I've been given gifts that were more what the buyer wanted for themselves than for me and I pass them to charity shops because I don't want a houseful of shit I don't need just to salve someone's Christmas conscience. And those I do want to give to are given money to buy what they want with for themselves. Much better than a wasted, unwanted, unsuitable gift.

[@w13d0w]

Hey Rob, you may want to watch "Christmas with the kranks" it's a Tim Allen comedy movie about a older couple trying to skip Christmas and being pressured back into it by their neighbors. It's a mediocre movie but may be interesting to you under the Christmas ritual angle

[@CharlesVanNoland]

I never noticed that Tom Cruise is wearing a ring on his ring finger on his right hand in that poster. I wonder if that was on purpose or they decided to reverse the photo for the poster after taking it. EDIT: After looking at it more closely I think the mole on Tom's left cheek is not visible in the poster image. They must've mirrored the original photo that they captured from the shoot they did for the poster, thus the ring on his right hand instead of his left. (i.e. the original photo is mirrored so that it's his left hand behind her neck with the ring on the ring finger, and his right cheek is toward the camera, which lacks his mole - the poster is a reversed photo). His mole would've been catching the light being that glancing and it would've been even more pronounced as a result, but it's not visible. Yes, I am a neurotic person.

[@gasjet2000]

Maybe the cover image was mirrored to closely resemble a very specific mask seen at the orgy party. The mask depicts two faces, almost cubist in style, one a triangle and the other a moon. The triangle and moon appear to share a mouth but it also looks like they are kissing. And the triangle has one eye, like Kidman's side eye on the cover photo. If this is intentional it also gives the Kidman character an Eye of Providence, perhaps suggestion that Cruise's character is the one with "eyes wide shut."

[@eddyrose8596]

I really dig how you keep coming back to this movie time and time again!

[@lousekoya1803]

At the beginning you see that he really wanted us to see the six chairs with the three pilars on the painting above , and at .52 sec , you see three stars with a six and lots of all seeing eyes watching . When i see a Kubrick movie, I always watch for everything hanging on the walls or everywhere around , its all there.

[@brundlefly262]

It is all there... even Kubrick himself.

[@soundhealingbygene]

I think this Christmas symbolism throughout the movie... this is ultimately saying that what we want may not always make us happy.

[@luthorn]

Interestingly, there is a green and a red jacket / coat hanging in the morgue right across from the deceased girl. As if to symbolize, the xmas lights went out, but the spirit remains.

[@jinabrasser9439]

Really great analysis of this film….I’ve always been obsessed with this film & with Christmas lights more so than any of the other holiday rituals & this video just made my day 🥰🤩😘

[@chocofreak68]

This video is comforting, because I have found Christmas utterly overstimulating since I was 11. Every year though, I force myself to participate knowing I hate it. I overspend and stress myself out over getting everyone the perfect gift, just to play along. Besides, our western Christmas rituals are pagan and have nothing to do with Christ hardly.

[@echoarcade_nj]

great work! off topic...but does the actor who plays Zandor resemble a taller Martin Scorsese without glasses?

[@Joanto613]

The constant appearance of Christmas lights throughout the film is telling us, in a very subliminal way, that they are illuminati, it is a personal appreciation.

[@patrickgrengs7594]

Another observation -- Bill and Alice's daughter is named Helena, which means 'shining bright light.' Perhaps it is though their daughter that these two will find a way out of the darkness of their lust-driven fantasies that run counter to their mutual attraction.

[@isaac.avena33]

They give away their daughter in the final scene. That was the price they had to pay

[@unityofsaints]

Excellent analysis Rob, I much prefer this updated version broken down into sections to the previous single long video.

[@yucansuckadee8930]

Im not sure too many conform to Christmas anymore. I personally don't like Christmas, but I love the music. I never had a Christmas I felt was Christmas. It was filled with guilt. Or, acting. I was really struggling, we said Christmas was going to be only for THE CHILDREN this year. I had no kids. No obligations for adult expenses or expectations.

[@GraceKirk-k8y]

I'm 71 and hated the PRETENCE of playing happy families for one day of the year after which my parents went back to their unhappy relationship and domestic violence. Their marriage lasted 48 years. My older sister and I were both unwanted children. She was the reason they were forced to marry and I was the follow up child born 7 years later because my Irish Catholic Grandfather questioned why they only had one child in all that time. He told my mother she was prostituting herself because she used contraception so unwillingly, she got pregnant and had me and resented the hell out of me my whole life. Such was the influence of some men's religious opinions on what their daughters should do with their own bodies and the effects on their mental health and that of their children. My father died just before Christmas so we were grieving and processing how much shit and pretence and lying that people go through in their lives 'for the sake of the children'. I celebrate Christmas like I celebrate every other day by just being thankful I'm alive despite all the odds.

[@carmensmithaguirre3049]

I don't think without his background as a very good photographer he would've been as brilliant of a director

[@MrJamesC]

Hey, I love your videos! Could you maybe talk about James Camerons "Titanic" some day? I always sense that it has a rich subtext beneath it's clicheed melodramatic surface. In some interview I listened to years ago James Cameron himself said that the Titanic Story has multiple symbolic and metaphoric layers which attracted him to tell the story.

[@jamesjwalsh]

"Weekend At Bernie's" too. Very deceptive and complex movie.

[@stevestew9199]

At 8:38 the little painting on the shelf on the left. Perfectionist!!

[@davidlean1060]

Eyes Wide Shut is always looked at in such a serious manner, but Stan was a funny guy too. On top of all the more serious subjects the film touches on, it is still the story of guy who couldn't get laid, even at an orgy! I don't think that joke was lost on Stanley!

[@robag555]

Yes, great sense of humour. It amazes me that a lot of ppl can't see the blatant humour in Clockwork Orange.

[@davidlean1060]

@@robag555 ..or how funny parts of The Shining are. I crack up when Wendy approaches Jack in the Gold Room, right after he has been speaking to Lloyd . She tells him about the mad woman in the bath tub and he replies, 'are you out of f**kin mind?!?' This from a man who has just been having an in depth conversation with his own reflection!

[@markhirstwood4190]

7:25 and 7:36 note the lights above Bill's head. A white square in Hamleys toy shop and earlier, the light in their apartment. This happens elsewhere, including with lights reflected onto walls or doorways to be above his head as he walks past on the street, and so on. At 7:46, you see a red light reflected in the car window then you see it's in the shop display: a white key on a red shield 'Becks Bier' (German spelling). 7:54 in the taxi: two reflected lights converge, just briefly, to appear to incinerate Bill's head. 9:13, watch the tree, a small circular metalic decoration. As it moves, a red 0 (zero) is reflected onto it, very briefly. That's why Bill points at the tree with his index finger and Domino says 'This is it.' His index finger also points out and is 'on' Domino's jacket, the W pattern, but also more. 11:13, watch Helena point at things with her index finger.

[@juliannfloress3490]

wow, thats dope dude...how did u find that?...really creepy ...mark

[@glyndwr15]

I was watching this again the other day and I noticed the "Magic Circle" board game in the background of the final scene. Some have pointed to this being some kind of occult reference, so I looked up the game. So far as I can tell, there was no Magic Circle board game. I could be mistaken about this, but I didn't find anything when I looked. But I did discover something even more interesting. The term "magic circle" comes from Johan Huizinga's 1930s study of "play" called Homo Ludens. It's a study of the role that games and "play" have in human affairs. In it, he introduces the notion of the "magic circle," by which he means the alternate reality of a game which we step into and leave our reality. Inside the "magic circle," the rules of everyday life become the game's rules, the meaning of things become the meaning assigned in the game, The purpose of what we do is similarly imposed by the game's designated objectives and so on. This obviously seems to speak to the bifurcated nature of Eyes Wide Shut where there seems to be a real world at Ziegler's party and then its recreation in the form of a dream during the orgy scene. It's like the real world vs. the world we find inside the magic circle of a game, but there remains the question as to which is the game and which is reality. I suspect there is also a reference to the bifurcated nature of culture where we have a public culture and a private one behind closed doors. It's a strange way to think about sexuality, but it is actually public, even if we don't think of it that way. There are cultural norms associated with it but they are often kept just outside of our official or explicit public culture, but sexuality is a sphere of public culture all the same. We recognize this if we're in some place where people are expected to seek sexual encounters, like a night club for instance, or a brothel. A good example of this is when sociologists note how racism seems weirdly acceptable on porn or dating sites where it wouldn't be overt like that anywhere else. In Eyes Wide Shut, I've always suspected that the mask in the film is a reference to this hidden or esoteric aspect of public culture that is sexual and therefore rarely made overt in the same way other things in public life are. It's like a shadow culture, or our society wearing a mask. You could even argue that sexuality itself is a kind of "magic circle" in the way that Huizinga described it. It's a very different society we step into when we're engaged in the cultural aspect of sexuality, an alternate cultural reality, like a game, or like the alternate reality of the orgy vs. the party at Ziegler's. The rules change in just the same way as when we step into Huizinga's magic circle and enter a game reality. Also note that the orgy was a ritual with explicit "rules." The leader even makes reference to "rules" specifically and of course the mysterious masked woman gives her life for his to satisfy one of these rules. At any rate, it's highly likely that Kubrick was making a pretty overt reference to Ludens. I hadn't seen anyone else make this connection before and I doubt I'll ever bother to make a video about it, so I thought I'd pass it along. Maybe somebody else can do something interesting with this line of reasoning.

[@noiamspartacus8965]

Over the past few years the aspect of celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ at Christmas has been completely taken over by the commercial aspect of Santa. Only Santa is celebrated in the shopping malls and yet no one seems to have noticed the change.... Quite Kubrickesque!

[@GraceKirk-k8y]

Santa is an anagram of Satan and Satan is the planet Saturn. Hence Saturnalia or Winter Solstice. Zodiac sign of Capricorn is late December/January and depicted by the Goat. Hence Satanic rituals involving goat horns. Worship of the Horny Old Goat, sex sexual energy, lust, ambition and greed of the material world we live in. Interestingly both Epstein and Maxwell were Narcissistic Capricorns. A couple of horny old goats who preyed on young, naive girls enticing them with all sorts of glitzy future faking. Even the myth of Santa coming down the chimney to deliver presents to good children is really depicting the sex act. No wonder people's minds are so confused.

[@TheDirrtydog]

Excellent take on EWS, the lights and Xmas! I too have not participated in the exchange of material during xmas in years. But i do enjoy the vibe, music and family time it offers.

[@horrorstateofmind2724]

I'm watching this on 12/17/21 at 12:34 and everything Rob is saying about the ritual of Christmas for men is hitting the nail for me..lol

[@Sandra-hc4vo]

my family didn't celebrate Christmas except in the most bare bones sort of way and there was no religious reason behind that choice. Simply it was not considered a real thing. It was not something i noticed a great deal growing up, but as an adult I know it's very different from others experience with it. And from that and having that direct experience, I happily engage in Christmas with my kids. Because I know they'll enjoy it.

[@pericmaster1]

I dont think that at 9.57 there is a picture of Cupid. This is one of the two Raphael's angels (cherubs) from the picture Sistine Madonna. I may be wrong tho... Anyways...very enjoyable video with great insights as always Rob! Keep up the good work!

[@ronmackinnon9374]

Yes, it is from the Raphael painting you mentioned. I think one reason for confusion is that there's a specific kind of cherub, called 'putti,' I believe, that are typically portrayed as playful and cupid-like.

[@robbiepeterh]

A Stanley Kubrick film is like a million separate paintings, one after the other,

[@the_shadow_realm5110]

If you compare the Christmas Tree at 9:15 with the same one at 3:09 - the tree at 3:09 is demented and broken looking.

[@SoleMan117]

I can certify: I have a problem with Christmas, for much the same reason you've mentioned here, and because I choose to disengage with it, my family treats me like a pariah. It's not even that I'm not into Christmas itself, it's just that I don't want a lot of presents or other material goods, all I want is to spend time with family. Year after year I would tell them "don't get me anything, I really don't want it," and year after year they would get me something, and when I informed them I didn't like it or was unimpressed, they would throw a fit about how I'm a spoiled brat who doesn't appreciate things. One year I flat-out refused to open my presents, and they were almost reduced to tears over it. These days I don't even go home for Christmas, I catch people during the rest of the year. Now, I realize that a lot of my non-material attitude was actually the result of "communist propoganda," but still, this seems to be such bizarre behavior from grown adults, getting mad over prioritizing spirituality over materialism.

[@jockmactaggart6068]

Christmas is false teaching..it's pagan hence the rituals same with Easter.. SANTA??Can you spot the name

[@aaronrodriguez1410]

@@jockmactaggart6068 yes but you can't give the dark any power. Christmas is a time for getting together

[@gretchendorenbos3900]

A thing I also noticed is that the colour red is mainly used to desplay sexual excitement , while the colour blue is used to display lack of sexual excitement

[@joannewalker4232]

I didn't "do" christmas last year and I'm not doing it this year either. Covid certainly has made all the other delusions come into sharp focus.

[@mroctober3657]

Is that the fabled "War on Christmas"?

[@fidelio76]

Why ? Pls explain

[@mroctober3657]

@EyewatchlessYTeach Timetheylockmeout As Melania Trump would say... "Fok Chreesmus."

[@mroctober3657]

@EyewatchlessYTeach Timetheylockmeout Yeah, it was recorded by her assistant who then left and tried to cash in.

[@davidlean1060]

The commercial side of Christmas, ok, I'll give you that, but thinking it is delusional to celebrate the time of year when the days stop getting shorter and the slow march to spring begins?! Really? People have been celebrating the solstices for millennia!

[@TheMorganVEVO]

I love this channel so much.

[@mikebarnettstuff]

I apologize I was moved to write again. This is about the Charles Dickens Christmas Carol. I agree with your point about its indoctrination use and it may be interesting to note that the book itself actually had a major effect on the holidays popularity when it was first published. Helping to turn it from a minor holiday to a major one.

[@watermelonlalala]

That is true. Halloween wasn't even any kind of holiday. Public schools and show biz did a lot to make the American Christmas and also to erase Easter.

[@RobertOrgRobert]

“ I mean the friggin bath is in the kitchen “ ! Cooking with your eyes wide shut !

[@watermelonlalala]

Actually, different poor families shared a bathroom in the early part of last century in NYC. Martin Scorsese's family was filmed in the 70s, talking about their early days. Sounded pretty bad. But, what they remembered was how the whole building was like one big family. Something really missing in EWS.

[@guitaoist]

Haven’t celebrated pagan holidays in 10 years cuz of my beliefs, but there are those who love the world and those who go against it

[@claudiaxander]

Not everything in cinema has some deep well thought out meaning! Kubrick: Hold my warehouse of research.

[@frenchmime1972]

I've made widely seen films, what some people see in them and tell me about, wasn't intentional at all, I believe some of this is the case in kubrick's films as well, but if someone gets that out of it, can't really argue it.

[@claudiaxander]

@@frenchmime1972 Yes, people are mental!

[@Lexi_Con]

Isn't that the point of art? While some if not many elements are intended, such as allegory & visual/audio compositions, the piece as a whole is subject to interpretation. Art evokes emotion & thought, but it is ultimately up to the viewer.

[@Lexi_Con]

In addition to my first comment: Not sure if you're snarky & complaining or paying Kubrick a compliment for his research & attention to detail, but I can't help but wonder why you're here if you weren't looking for some kind of interpretation/analysis. No, every movie does not have symbolism or elements requiring deep thought (plenty of action flicks & rom-coms for that). Stanley Kubrick's & other films are considered classics bc of how well everything is tied together (direction, acting, set design, lighting, cinematography, score, and most importantly writing). Same with great novels. Ever take literature in college... Or at least high school? That's what you do, except with books.

[@claudiaxander]

@@Lexi_Con Yes, I fully understand what you're saying and I wholeheartedly agree... My initial comment is a joke. Now not being funny, but are you on the spectrum? I don't mean to offend, just curious!,

[@millsykooksy4863]

I think the movie is about the power of sexual desire. We fear it’s destructive nature and exalt it’s ability to build love and intimacy. It is a terrifying force in our human existence and we are scared of it and rarely discuss it. We pretend it doesn’t have the power over us that it actually does.

[@Tyler_Solomon]

But then how does one parse out the dream sequnces and reality with this theory? Or are the dream sequences theory as wel? Genuinely asking.

[@Verilee1970]

As a single guy with no kids, I am able to mostly skip Christmas every year. It's awesome.

[@ROTALOT]

The lights fight depression in dark winter. What about the southern hemisphere then.

[@cruxbucket]

Sharky is the pseudonym that saruman uses when he scours the shore in Lord of the rings. It was his last illusion. Im sure Kubrick read and appreciated the themes in the book. If you think about it the movie is similar in theme. Evil is a corruption, it slowly takes hold of you. To me the movie is about the ruinous nature of wealth and vice.

[@GraceKirk-k8y]

Yes it's about temptation and recognising it for what it is. It's about unconscious drives and impulses and their consequences on ourselves and those around us.

[@nigelsmith2824]

Never done Christmas for over 10 yrs

[@mackychloe]

It's amazing just how much I miss when I watch a movie.

[@TommyTwoSocks]

Thank you Bobby always love your insightful Kubrick content

[@joegatrill6634]

Ive just watched this film for the first time and for me money was a strong theme. 3 times bill gets what he wants with money, a prostitutes services, a taxi going out of his way, a costume out of hours. Also the costume shop owner changes his mind about his daughter (for the right price we assume). I also noticed in one of Robs other videos that helena was dressed as a balarena in the very first scene and in the last scene she asks to buy a balarena doll. Did the secret society buy HER (for the right price)? power and money gets you whatever you want?