When Stanley Kubrick’s films started appearing on DVD a few years back, there was almost universal outrage expressed by many over what they saw as opportunism on the part of Warner’s video division. The video transfers of the films were, as it turned out, rather old, and while they may have been state of the art back when they were done, they simply didn’t hold up next to modern telecine transfers; making matters worse, the prints that were used were in many cases in fairly poor condition themselves. While the reason given at the time was that these were the only Kubrick-approved transfers in existence of his films, behind the scenes former Kubrick assistant Leon Vitali was working on fixing the problem. Supervising brand new transfers on current-generation high-end equipment from the original negatives - and also having the soundtracks for most of the previously-mono films remixed for 5.1 surround sound - Vitali finally brought Kubrick’s films to DVD the way they were intended to be seen. Literally, in some cases - controversially, most of the transfers are non-anamorphic full-frame or near-full-frame offerings (only 2001 is supplied in 16:9 format). But this, it seems, is what Kubrick wanted - though the small percentage of people that own widescreen displays may be disappointed by that. Ultimately, these films will have to be offered in some kind of widescreen-enhanced format, but for now, these transfers are a revelation.

And the films? You don’t need us to reiterate here what’s said in the reviews listed below - this is genius stuff, a set of films that challenge convention and push boundaries, films that are all utterly different from each other but curiously comfortable in each other’s company… exquisitely crafted, highly individual films that are like nothing else you’ll see anywhere. To have seven of them in the one set is magnificent, a one-stop library of everything that’s good about the movies (and there’s never been a better time than now to be reminded of that!) and a fascinating snapshot of the majority of Kubrick’s filmmaking life.

The Kubrick set released in Australia does differ in three major areas - two in favour of the US version, and one in favour of ours. Most importantly, the US box contains Dr Strangelove, which is not included in the region 4 version. The Dr Strangelove DVD is owned by Columbia Tristar, from who it was licensed by Warner for the US box; quite why that same wasn’t done for our version is unknown, but the disc is available separately (and the video transfer is terrific). Secondly, the version of The Shining on the region 4 disc included here is substantially shorter than the US version; both cuts of the film are Kubrick-approved, and it appears the shorter version was the one he ultimately preferred to be seen. But if you want the long version (personally we prefer the shorter cut), you’ll have to look overseas. On a positive note, the version of Eyes Wide Shut in the region 4 box is completely uncensored - while the US disc is, unbelievably, the same digitally-mutilated version released in cinemas in the country where an orgy of violence is okay, but a plain old orgy isn’t…!

If you don’t have any of these films on DVD yet, go grab this set at the first opportunity; the discs are available separately, but if you buy the box there’s a rather important extra feature that you can’t get anywhere else…

Note that at the time of writing, the box set has just been reduced in price to around $140, with the individual discs going for around $20 apiece - fantastic value for timeless cinema.

While the individual DVDs are generally fairly extra-feature-free (The Shining has a fascinating making-of doco and associated commentary, while Eyes Wide Shut offers a half hour of interviews), the Kubrick Collection box includes a terrific extra feature - literally - in the form of the full-scale documentary Stanley Kubrick: A Life In Pictures. Shown at last year’s Melbourne Film Festival to great acclaim, this 136-minute journey through Kubrick’s career and films was put together by longtime associate Jan Harlan, and it’s a must-see. In chronological order it presents each of Kubrick’s films and traces his life around them, illustrated by extensive interviews with people who knew him and worked with him - everyone from Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese and Woody Allen to Malcolm McDowell and Jack Nicholson to Wendy Carlos and György Ligeti - it’s fascinating stuff.

A Life In Pictures was shot on digital video in 16:9 format, but this DVD offers it - curiously - in a non-anamorphic format with the various movie clips (all sourced from their new transfers) presented in the aspect ratio of their individual DVDs. It does look very good, though widescreen TV owners may look at the letterboxed interview footage and quietly mutter curses under their breath (the only alternative, though, would have been to window-box most of the film clips, which wouldn’t have gone down especially well with the majority of viewers). Audio is Dolby Digital 5.1, though being a documentary most of the sound comes from the front - the full surround arena is really only used during film excerpts.

A fascinating, refreshingly non-sycophantic documentary, A Life In Pictures makes the upfront outlay of investing in this box set well worthwhile.