Only Stanley Kubrick could make a movie about World War III and make it one of the most hilarious films ever made. No, it doesn't hurt to have Peter Sellers in your film, either. And it doesn't hurt to have him in three roles (originally he was slated to play four, but a broken leg and trouble with Slim Pickens's southern accent kept him out of the B-52 that just might bring about Armageddon).

Ranking as filmcritic.com's #1 movie of all time in our recent Top 100 Films of the Millennium feature, I suppose we have some explaining to do as to why we picked it. Not only is the movie wickedly funny, it's a subversive anti-war film that shows just how easily a conflict could erupt and the end of the world be brought about. The cast is top notch, and Sellers would have stolen the show if George C. Scott, Pickens, and Sterling Hayden didn't keep taking it back. Never for five seconds is this film less than perfect -- from its devilish gags (courtesy of co-writer Terry Southern) to its hilarious improvisations (courtesy, of course, of Sellers) to its simply unpredictable plot. I've seen this movie two dozen times and each with each viewing not only do I get something more from it, but I keep thinking the ending is going to change.

And of course, it doesn't. And still I wake up at night in fear that the world will truly end like this.

Kubrick's most bizarre film stands out from the rest of his work (basically since it's his only comedy). It's a technical, dramatic, and comedic masterpiece which is also accessible to the Kubrick newcomer or the simple cinema fan. Film just doesn't get any better than this.

The brand new Special Edition DVD supplements a crisp transfer with a couple of documentaries and a number of extras that true fans won't want to miss. It's a perfect disc to go along with a perfect movie -- highly recommended. Or you can check out the 40th Anniversary DVD, which adds two more documentaries to the mix plus remastered sound and a cardboard case -- even more highly recommended.

The 45th Anniversary Blu-ray includes the same extras as the 40th Anniversary DVD, plus a picture-in-picture pop-up trivia track about the film.



The war room: No fighting in here.