While it was supposed to be "Kubrick's haunting final masterpiece," EYES WIDE SHUT ended up being greeted by decidedly mixed reactions from both critics and moviegoers, and wasn't quite the blockbuster everybody involved probably hoped it would be. While personally I rather liked much of the film, I can certainly understand those who didn't, and the ad campaign (which seemed to promise lots of sex) certainly didn't help. Anyhow, one thing that isn't up for debate is the controversial editing of the film, or rather, its "digital censoring."

Soon after Kubrick's death in mid-1999, it was revealed that in the United States, unlike the rest of the world, the famed "orgy scene" in the middle of the film was simply too hot to handle, and thus about 30 seconds or so of explicit footage would be "obscured" by digitally created figures and shadows. While Kubrick apparently approved these changes (his contract required him to deliver an R-Rating in America, or so we're told), many still cried foul that no uncut version would be shown in the U.S., even in limited release.

Even worse, when it came time for the VHS and DVD home video releases in march of 2000, and again the reissue in June of 2001, many rightly assumed Warner would release the uncensored original version. But, it was not to be, and yet again the only version we Americans get to see is the digital censored edition. For all the brouhaha by Warner over preserving Kubrick's vision for the much-maligned KUBRICK COLLECTION DVD set and reissue, it seemed odd they wouldn't support his uncensored version being released on home video here in the States.

Worse, at a roundtable discussion in June of 2001, longtime Kubrick collaborator and documentarian Jan Harlan explained that Kubrick did not in fact "approve" the censoring. Though he was contractually obligated to deliver an R rated picture for Stateside theatrical distribution, the digital obstruction of the orgy scene was done post his passing by Harlan and his team, as a compromise to avoid outright cutting the film. Why Warner continues to insist on not releasing the uncensored cut in the United States remains baffling!

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