2001: A Space Odyssey

There are many movies that are masterpieces but seem to be forgotten by the general public due to the blockbusters of today. This makes it difficult for me to have the opportunity to see these great movies but thankfully the film community has not forgotten these works of art. I hear about movies such as "Lawrence of Arabia", or "To Kill a Mockingbird" a lot because I love the history of moviemaking and I always try to see these films when I get the chance. I was able to borrow the Blu-ray of "2001: A Space Odyssey" from a friend. I have always wondered why it was #1 on the American Film Institute's list of the greatest science fiction films of all time instead of "Star Wars". I understand why "2001" has an important legacy but personally I didn't find the film extremely entertaining. Many people feel it is boring and I would somewhat agree. I do however appreciate the use of sound, music, editing and special effects in the movie. My second viewing of this show was on the IMAX screen for its 50th anniversary. The large format made the visuals and sound quite powerful. This film is a work of art but because I enjoy stories more than I enjoy special effects, this movie is not as fun for me to watch as "Planet of the Apes", which also came out in 1968.

The use of sound plays an important part in "2001" or rather the lack of sound. The quiet sounds of the earth during the dawn of man serve the same purpose as the silence of space travel, which is to create a sense of drama and realism. I did not expect the film to start with "Also sprach Zarathustra" but rather thought that it would only be heard when the man-ape learns to use a tool. Instead, this piece of classical music is heard three times and "The Blue Danube" is heard twice. I felt this decision to reuse music made some musical sequences less powerful than if director Stanley Kubrick had limited their usage a little bit. The ending of the film suffered because by the end, "Also sprach Zarathustra" felt a tad redundant. I did like the sudden jump cut to the ape-men arguing over the waterhole. The difference this time is that weapons are being employed. The subsequent match cut from the bone to the satellite is very powerful and well accomplished in the editing process. The use of music did make space travel for example elegant and romantic so that is important to note. The special effects in "2001" are amazing and deserved their Oscar. However, you can tell that the stewardess takes the pen off the sheet of glass that is holding it up in midair. The first few shots of the satellites are amazing but my favorite special effect shot is the reveal of the Jupiter mission spacecraft. You didn't expect it to be as long as it is. It was easy for me to figure out how the people in the movie are able to walk upside but there is one shot where David and Frank approach a spinning part of the ship, go in it and turn upside down without the spinning portion stopping. I can't figure that camera trick out. HAL 9000 is a very memorable character thanks to the voice work of Douglas Rain and the design of the red eye. I like the fast editing that reveals that HAL is in control of the pod that is going after Frank. A great use of sound or lack thereof comes when David reenters the Discovery One. The use of editing while traveling through the beyond is quite abstract and we get some great colorful special effects shots. The ending seems open to interpretation as to exactly how much time is passing. My personal understanding of man's destiny can be likened unto this movie and that is what I think makes this story at least somewhat interesting. No matter what you believe, the vagueness of the story allows anyone to make comparisons.

Kubrick set out to create a different sci-fi film as opposed the comical & cheesy kind and he did just that. The mood of the film is symbolic of the director himself as a perfectionist. You never really knew the reasons for many of his decisions. After making hit movies such as "Spartacus" and "Dr. Strangelove", Kubrick had the creative freedom he needed to make "2001". He strove for scientifically accuracy in trying to predict the year 2001. Even though he was wrong, there is still a sense of verisimilitude. Instead of the spaceships being designed by Hollywood, Kubrick hired real engineers. After "2001", science fiction films had to meet this new standard as set by Kubrick. Story-wise, the idea of machines taking over our lives and even going so far as to turn against their creators began on screen with "2001". The film pioneered the use of motion control cameras in order to achieve the elaborate shots needed of the spaceships. The cinematographer, Geoffrey Unsworth, would later in his career win two Oscars and be the cinematographer for "Superman". When the film was released, it was not a hit but the drug culture liked it for obvious reasons. Over the years, the film became a sensation. In 1970, the crew of Apollo 13 named their command module "Odyssey" in honor of the film. They also played "Also sprach Zarathustra" during their broadcast from space. "2001" has obviously influenced moviemaking ever since its release. George Lucas saw the potential of its special effects and he was the first one to meet the "challenge" that Kubrick put out there. When you look at "Star Wars", there are similar shots to those in "2001". The major difference is that there is a sense of action that has been incorporated. The opening reveal of the star destroyer is a good example and decades later in James Cameron's "Avatar", the opening spaceship resembles the Discovery One. Steven Spielberg created "Close Encounters of the Third Kind", which has a similar sense of wonder and scale. Robert Zemeckis' "Contact" also has similarities to "2001" as does Pixar's "WALL-E".

Stanley Kubrick's only Oscar career win was for the special effects in "2001: A Space Odyssey". The film was also nominated for Best Art Direction, Director and Screenplay. In addition to being at the top of the AFI list of science fiction films, it is also #15 on its list of the greatest movies of all time and #40 for thrilling movies. The line "Open the pod bay doors please, HAL" is #78 on the AFI list of top movie quotes and HAL 9000 is #13 on the list of movie villains. I must disagree with one decision of AFI and that is I believe "Star Wars" to be the better sci-fi film. This is fittingly the first Kubrick film I have seen in its entirety and the Blu-ray version is so pristine. The IMAX version was likewise very well adapted to that specific format. "2001" is very important in Hollywood history but I didn't find the film a complete joy to watch. Even though it is a little tedious to watch in a home setting, I do like a few of its cinematic characteristics. Stanley Kubrick unfortunately never lived to see the year 2001 but his impact because of this film will live on. To be honest though, I enjoy the "explosions" that this "fuze" set off.

3 Stars out of 5