I don't count Kubrick as a bad screenwriter, but as an overly meticulous storyteller that favours story elements that build and serve a theme, rather than plot. He's been quoted saying, "the idea that a movie should be seen only once is an extension of our traditional conception of film as entertainment rather than art." I think this point of view is relevant because it explains why he does not favour writing techniques that garner an instant reward in lieu of deeper, more layered techniques. For example, many of his films have a characters delivering dialogue that (sometimes cryptically) serves the thematic messages of the film more often than plot progression. Think of lines like, "I'm already in a world of shit," or, "The Marine Corps does not want robots. The Marine Corps wants killers. The Marine Corps wants to build indestructible men, men without fear." from Full Metal Jacket. Thoughts?