Heads Up: Eyes Wide Shut

I'm a big Stanley Kubrick fan.  I usually cite him as being my favorite director.  "Eyes Wide Shut" was his final film, and was completed only shortly before he died, and then released posthumously.
It is not a movie I can recommend to everyone.  If you don't know already whether or not you are the type of person to whom I would recommend it, hopefully you will by the end of this heads up.
This movie is about sex.  In the best, most intelligent and mature way possible.  Sex as a theme is explored in a variety of really interesting ways throughout the films odyssey like proceedings.  It begins by addressing ideas of fidelity, and discussing the topic of human sexuality in various ways film as a medium rarely touches.  I was already on board at this point, when the film takes a drastic turn and evolves into something much bigger.  This turn is handled in such a well crafted way that I didn't even realize the turn had been taken until reflecting on the film as a whole afterwords.  The film begins focused on Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman's characters, and their relationship.  It expands those ideas to encompass something more epic in scope, and yet still focusing on the concept and relationship established in the opening scenes.
Although not abundantly apparent at the films offset, stylistically "Eyes Wide Shut" is thoroughly a Kubrick film.  Especially by the time we get to the surreal, ritualistic worship sequence it is clear that the brilliant hand of Kubrick is crafting a masterpiece.  The film takes place in opposing environments; either lush, luxurious, baroque settings, or filthy urban settings.  Both are as exquisitely chosen and filmed as you would expect from this famed perfectionist.  The composition, too, is as just as brilliant as any Kubrick film, consistently creating stunningly beautiful, and haunting images.  The music, and overall sound design also deserves a mention, as it wonderfully supports the story and the images.  In every way a film can be, this film is truly an artistic accomplishment.
I was a bit surprised at how engaging the story was in addition to that.  I wasn't expecting such a dramatic and intense film, but I was really drawn in to the story.  Performances are great all around, and the casting was clearly very deliberate (Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman being as close to statuesque perfect human forms as there could have been).

So in the end we have a film that is really stunningly beautiful as a piece of art, thorough in its exploration of extremely delicate themes, and even tells a thrilling story.  So from that end, it is recommendable for just about every reason you would want to watch a movie.  If you are up for it, don't deprive yourself, but if a unabashed, graphic film about human sexuality is not your idea of a good time, go ahead and pass this one, and jump back to my heads up about "The Killing".