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2001: A Space Odyssey(1968); Discuss the film and DVDs here
Topic Started: Apr 26 2006, 05:23 AM (1,355 Views)
packmule
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There have been several topics on various boards about "favorite movie director". My answer has always been the same: Stanley Kubrick. I have seen all of his films, and own most of them on DVD: Spartacus(1960), A Clockwork Orange(1971), Barry Lyndon(1976), The Shining(1981), Full Metal Jacket(1987), and Eyes Wide Shut(1999). Many adjectives can be used when describing his films. The ones that always come to mind for me are visuals, score, storyline, and acting. In Kubrick's film you can be sure that these categories are well taken care of. My favorite sci-fi film(of all time) is also a Stanley Kubrick-directed film based on a book by Arthur C. Clarke, and released by MGM IN 1968: 2001-A Space Odyssey. The film's story: a strange obelisk is unearthed on the moon. Later a deep space exploration vessel experiences an unusual, and normally impossible breakdown, within the system of the powerful, automated computer running it, named HAL. This computer malfunction takes place as the vessel approaches Jupiter and it's moons, encountering another similar obelisk, similar in appearance to the one found on the moon, but gigantic in size.(no spoilers)-----Observations: for fans of fast-paced sci-fi or those including monsters this film will not be your "cup of tea". The movie is visually stunning, and the music is, I think, absolutely tremendous. The pacing of the film is very deliberate, and the actors are, while well represented with Keir Dullea and William Sylvester, almost secondary to the visual and audio "scope" of the movie itself. The film is available on DVD as part of the "Stanley Kubrick" collection box, or sold by itself. The film is presented in letterbox(2.35:1) and in 5.1 audio. Post your opinions of this beautifully crafted science fiction classic here. All replies welcome. :)
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Quote:
 
Observations: for fans of fast-paced sci-fi or those including monsters this film will not be your "cup of tea".


That statement is very true! I first saw this as a preteen on TV and really had no idea what to expect....my Dad had given the film praise and he'd never let me down with his positive or negative views of films, so I sat and watched it. The most exciting aspect of the film for me at that time was the opening sequence....the prehistoric ape sequence and then the jump into colonized space. I suppose I'd been raised on too much cheesy sci-fi films up to that point and looked forward to googly-eyed monsters and such, but future viewings made me appreciate this film much more and I find it to be an excellent film with a gerat musical score. These days, I give the film an enthusiastic thumbs up .
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KaijuFanatic
Apr 26 2006, 02:18 PM
The most exciting aspect of the film for me at that time was the opening sequence....the prehistoric ape sequence and then the jump into colonized space.

Indeed. IMO this sequence is arguably one of the greatest transition effects(regarding the change from one scene to another) in all science-fiction filmdom. One of the great appeals to me regarding this film is the lack of explanation or description concerning the events in the movie. Much of it is easily understood based on real-time(actual) events that occur as the movie progresses. Other imagery is, I think, certainly subject to the viewer's interpretation, e.g. Bowman seeing a much older version of himself(towards the end of the film), or the image of the unborn fetus... confused

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2001: A Space Odyssey has so many images that took me by surprise and made me wonder what the reasoning behind some of the images really meant and I agree, packmule, I think Kubrick gave viewers an opportunity to come to their own conclusions as to why or what certain scenes meant.....does this hinder a film or help make it more meaningful for viewers? For myself, I think it took several viewings of the film for me to appreciate it and I'm still never sure I fully understand the film, but I do appreciate it and enjoy it more, these days.
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KaijuFanatic
Apr 27 2006, 02:18 PM
...does this hinder a film or help make it more meaningful for viewers?

Maybe a little bit of both. The first time I watched this movie I was left wondering to myself: What the hell did I just watch? What did the ending mean?. I had to watch it a second time to realize that there are elements of this film deliberately ambiguous(a recurring trait of Stanley Kubrick-directed films) and left open to the viewers dissection and interpretation. Once I realized this... thumbs up
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I know the more I've seen the film, the more I do enjoy it. Mr Green
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Apr 28 2006, 02:00 AM
I know the more I've seen the film, the more I do enjoy it. Mr Green

This film would, I think, make a good movie for release in the Blu-Ray and HD DVD formats.
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This film would, I think, make a good movie for release in the Blu-Ray and HD DVD formats.


I don't think I can make one more format change! I've got plenty invested in DVD and I don't have an HD TV, but to replace all these discs....I simply cannot afford something new, now. :(

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KaijuFanatic
Apr 28 2006, 02:00 PM
... but to replace all these discs....I simply cannot afford something new, now.

I couldn't afford the changeover either, probably ever. tongue-1 . That said if a HD-DVD player was ever "on sale" in the $200-$225 range I might be tempted to buy one, although from the projected prices of these players that price range might not happen for a few years(if it happens at all). Were it to happen though I would buy the player and then I would buy an HD-DVD on occasion, though not often. confused


Topic: I always wondered if children(or adults) were used in the opening scenes of the early ape-hominids. question
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Luckily our current DVDs will play just fine on Blu-Ray/HD players. I doubt I'll be rebuying anything I already have.
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Ro-Dan
May 1 2006, 12:15 AM
Luckily our current DVDs will play just fine on Blu-Ray/HD players. I doubt I'll be rebuying anything I already have.

I doubt I will either. Have you ever watched 2001-A Space Odyssey, Dan? :huh:
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As anyone who has watched 2001: A Space Odyssey(1968) will attest, the ending of this film is, to say the least, open to a rather wide interpretation. Not just the ending but IMO pretty much the entire film, which is full of symbolism and thought provoking imagery. I came across this outstanding video, 20 minutes in length, that attempts to explain what this movie, directed by (the late) Stanley Kubrick, really means. You must have a flash player downloaded in your computer to watch this excellent video, which is divided into four(4) parts. The link: http://www.kubrick2001.com/

Kimi, since you use dialup you might want to "bookmark" this URL, or jot it down for future reference, and try to watch it later on a computer with a broadband connection. :)
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I loved the film and and aslo read all three books and think it is a shame that book two and three were never made into films as 3001 seemed to close out some of the answer left in 2001.
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jae
Feb 10 2008, 11:45 AM
I loved the film and and aslo read all three books and think it is a shame that book two and three were never made into films as 3001 seemed to close out some of the answer left in 2001.

Several people at other message boards have recommended I read the Arthur C. Clarke novel 2001: A Space Odyssey, which they believe provides a more understandable ending than that of the Stanley Kubrick directed film, which obviously is wide open for interpretation. I recently bought this movie on Blu-Ray DVD-the picture quality is absolutely marvelous in this format on my HD TV.
This film was, IMO, way ahead of its time, both in concept and in overall special effects. thumbs up
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A couple months ago I watched this movie after renting it at Blockbuster, I didn't expect much. But I was suprised by the visuals and how good they were. And more suprised by the year it was realesed! 1968. That was years befor Star Wars and this Film still looks way Better. Plus the memorible Characters, and outstanding Music. And unlike Science Fiction nowadays, which is all about the futuristic weapons, wars, ships and so on.
I kinda wonder if there will ever be another Science Fiction Movie like this, The Abyss comes close, But that was almost 20 years ago and Its time for another real Sci Fi movie. Put The Avatar effects to even better use.
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Godzillaheisei546
Dec 19 2010, 07:28 PM
And more suprised by the year it was realesed! 1968. That was years befor Star Wars and this Film still looks way Better
Another sci-fi film way ahead of its time with visual effects: Forbidden Planet(1956). If you haven't seen this movie I'd highly recommend watching it. winky

I've been tempted as of late to buy the Arthur C. Clarke books "2001: A Space Odyssey" and the "3001" books.
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packmule
Dec 21 2010, 08:24 AM
Godzillaheisei546
Dec 19 2010, 07:28 PM
And more suprised by the year it was realesed! 1968. That was years befor Star Wars and this Film still looks way Better
Another sci-fi film way ahead of its time with visual effects: Forbidden Planet(1956). If you haven't seen this movie I'd highly recommend watching it. winky

I've been tempted as of late to buy the Arthur C. Clarke books "2001: A Space Odyssey" and the "3001" books.
I will check out Forrbidden Planet. big grin


But I don't think it's nessecary to get the books, Personally I like having to make up my own ending.
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Not many people realize this but 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) is actually a work of alchemy. Most people think Alchemy was an early form of Chemistry, but it is something much more than that. Alchemy is really about the transmutation of the human being into, what the Inca elders of Peru call, Homo luminous, which I believe is what the star-child at the end of the film represents. All great alchemy works, like 2001 or The Phenomenon of Man by Teilhard de Chardin, can be broken down into four part transmissions. Alchemists also believe that the transmutation of consciousness goes through four stages/realms in the course of it's evolution.

In 2001 the four parts of the film represent the four realms of the Kabbalah: Part I (The Ape-man sequence) represents the Earth; Part II represents the Moon; Part III represents the Sun (Stanley Kubrick was originally going to do Saturn for the crew's mission, but the special effects department couldn't make Saturn's rings realistic enough, so he replaced Saturn with Jupiter. In esoteric traditions Saturn and the Sun are interchangeable); Part IV represents cosmic consciousness, the highest consciousness that humans can attain and also the goal of alchemy. The Black Monolith in the film is the prima materia or philosopher's stone which according to alchemical lore is the stone that can transform humanity. The word "monolith" is Greek for "One Stone" and always appears at times of planetary and celestial alignments. The ancient alchemists and astrologers believed that these events cause dramatic events to occur on Earth.

If you would like to learn more, I highly recommend watching the documentaries Secrets of Alchemy: The Great Cross and the End of Time (2004) and Kubrick's Odyssey II: Beyond the Infinite (2012), both by Jay Weidner, and distributed through Sacred Mysteries Productions. The transcript for Kubrick's Odyssey II can be found here: http://www.alchemylab.com/alchemical_kubrick.htm
The Secrets of Alchemy documentary can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctmRv0Uczko
Edited by Bradman, Aug 30 2017, 09:06 PM.
I love the B-Movies from the 50's, 60's and 70's. topper
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