Backfire knows exactly what I'm talking about.
When I say he's overated I'm talking about the average person in the street. NOT other filmakers.
I'm fed up of hearing people say "Kubrick was this" and "Kubrick was that" just because it makes them sound cool and a bit dangerous. When they have really know idea what they're talking about.
And I hate how all his films are considered "classics" just because he made them. A Clockwork Orange isn't a classic. It just looks dated.
And Ush how can you say 2001 isn't pretentious? Even the very idea of it is. I had to sit in a film class and watch it about 4 times while a teacher told us how great this part was and what this symbolised. He was looking for things that weren't there. It's avant garde rubbish.
he was the most influential director of the past 50 years. thus he deserves all the credit he gets. and all of his movies are considered classics because they are all utterly unique and nothing like them had never been done before he did them. like i said before, i do agree with you that many people like him just because they think it makes them unique or gives them credibility. thats all i agree with.