There was some cool info posted on this thread about people's movie experiences. I agree with Richard about Clockwork Orange - a very unpleasant film - but seeing it did make me read the original book which is a deserved modern classic. Lolita isn't pornographic though - it's black comedy with fantastic performances from all the cast.
Re the negative opinions of Eyes Wide Shut, I wonder if many viewers missed the point that it was based on Arthur Schnitzler's Dream Story (1926) - ie, it's a *dream* story (and so influenced by fellow Viennese author Sigmund Freud's ideas). For example, some people have sneered at the orgy scene as it is not remotely like the sex parties of modern, hip, super-rich Yanks. Well, I wouldn't know what happens at such events(!) but as the orgy is a nightmare vision it can take off in any direction it likes if it suits Kubrick's narrative. The same can be said of some of the other elements criticised. The young girl in the movie who is being pimped by her father who owns the fancy-dress store could be a nod to Kubrick's own anger that his daughter had joined the Scientologists and become brainwashed by them. It's odd that Kubrick would feel happy about working with Cruise given Kubrick's falling out with his daughter over her involvement with the cult but maybe Cruise's inclusion made the link between the sinister group in EWS and Scientology clearer.
