"The 9000 series is the most reliable computer ever made.
No 9000 computer has ever made a mistake or distorted information.
We are all, by any practical definition of the words, foolproof and incapable of error."
I have a list of classic films that I always dream I’ll be able to see in the cinema. At the top of that list was Alfred Hitchcock’s ‘Rear Window’, which I had the privilege of seeing in the cinema last year, but Stanley Kubrick's '2001: a space odyssey’ was always a close second. As part of a limited release, ‘2001: a space odyssey’ has been re-released and I managed to snatch up tickets to go and see it.
What an experience it was to see a masterpiece like this on the big screen.
Humanity finds a mysterious artificial object deliberately buried on the surface of the moon and, with the incredibility intelligent H.A.L. 9000 computer, set off on a quest.
‘2001: a space odyssey’ is a film that truly has to be seen to be believed. It was light years ahead of it’s time and has truly stood the test of time as a rare cinematic experience.
Written by Stanley Kubrick and Arthur C. Clarke, based on Arthur C. Clarke’s story ’The Sentinel’, it has puzzled audiences since it was released in 1968 and is still puzzling audiences today. You will finish ‘2001: a space odyssey’ with so many unanswered questions that, if you want any answers, you will have to go back and re-watch it. This being said, even after going back and re-watching it to try and gather some sort of explanation, you’ll still probably end up stumped…
The film is totally open to interpretation.
‘2001: a space odyssey’ always knocks me off balance. It’s an unsettling piece of film-making that goes way beyond narrative and soaks into your subconscious. I feel so uncomfortable watching it and it always scares me. I don’t quite know why it scares me, I just can’t explain it, it’s an emotional reaction to what I’m watching that I can’t control. How can a film make you feel terrified, like a child, without even knowing why you are scared?
There are no jump scares, no gore, no haunted houses or ghosts, it’s a visceral internal reaction. It’s the fear of the unknown.
Kubrick is trying to open our eyes to a new type of experience. He is trying to take us on a journey past, present and future through the known and the unknown. He gives us an all too clear warning for the future and theorises over the meaning of life and what could be “out there". It is a film so grand and epic in nature that it’s near impossible to grasp all of it’s meaning on a first, second or third viewing. Kubrick manages to transcend the traditional viewing experience and challenges us with something more.
The film is also an astounding technical achievement. We are treated to some fascinating set design that equal watching a magician perform on stage, there are in-camera illusions and practical effects that totally blow modern CGI out of the water.
It is a testament to the genius of Kubrick as his vision is realised through the fantastic work of Anthony Masters, Harry Lange and Ernest Archer, who were nominated for a Best Art Direction-Set Decoration Oscar. The film actually won Best Effects, Special Visual Effects.
The soundtrack is also essential in creating the atmosphere and is, more importantly, a character in the film. The object that mankind discover has a voice through the sound design that doesn’t only speak to the characters in the film but it also speaks directly to the audience as well.
I think everyone on the planet will have heard the classic theme and it’s just phenomenal when you have the sound cranked up all the way to ten. You'll recognise it instantly.
I think there are two contributing factors that really put a lot of people off ‘2001: a space odyssey’.
The first is it’s pace. It is an extremely slow film. Kubrick is in no rush whatsoever to tell the story and stretches out every second and millisecond he needs to tell the story in it’s fullest. This means that, with a running time of 160 minutes, it’s the definition of a "slow burner". Commercial modern film-making is quick paced, energetic and action packed which, unfortunately, will leave a lot of viewers bored watching ‘2001: a space odyssey’.
The second factor will most definitely be the third chapter of the film. The film is split up into three chapters and the third act is as bizarre and puzzling as it gets. The ending is complex in every way and doesn’t make a whole lot of sense when you watch it. Kubrick wants us to dig deeper and leaves it open ended. The second chapter is by far the most narratively interesting chapter but the third will either make or break the film for you.
At the end of the day, you’re probably going to love or hate ‘2001: a space odyssey’. I personally think it’s one of the greatest films ever made but you might come out it thinking it’s one of the worst. It can be that extreme a reaction. Either way, I think that it at least merits one watch to make up your mind.
If you enjoyed ‘Interstellar’ and are looking for a film that’s more complex (and interesting) then I definitely recommend ‘2001: a space odyssey’. You’ll see how much Christopher Nolan stole from it and just how much it’s influenced science fiction film-making.
You may just have your brain raped and melted by the end credits... but it’s totally worth it…
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