2001: A Space Odyssey

Movie Trailer

Released: 1968

Director: Stanley Kubrick

Run Time: 160 minutes

Rated: G

Cast:
Keir Dullea: Dr. David Bowman
Gary Lockwood: Dr. Frank Poole
William Sylvester: Dr. Heywood Floyd

I feel that since this is my first real post for this new website of mine, I chose a movie that would help launch this website in earnest.  So, my first review will be of the Stanley Kubrick film, 2001: A Space Odyssey.  Hailed as a masterpiece of science fiction, 2001 was based on the novel of the same name by Arthur C. Clarke.  Released in 1968, 2001 was met with very polarized reactions.  It was a movie that people either loved or absolutely hated.  On one side, people praised the film for its use of music, sound effects and visuals to tell the story instead of having a whole lot of dialogue.  The detractors claim that the film is overly long, dull and out of control.  Yet, the film managed to win one Academy Award for Best Special Effects and nominated for three others: Best Director, Best Art Direction, and Best Writing, Story and Screenplay.

I’m unsure of how to proceed with the plot, as the film is actually divided into 4 separate acts.  The first act sees a group of apes surrounding a watering hole when a mysterious black object appears.  Afterwards, the apes begin to learn how to use bones as weapons and tools.  The second act follows Dr. Heywood Floyd(William Sylvester) on his way to the moon because of a discovery that was made of an unidentified object.  Act 3 takes us on a journey to Jupiter with a group of scientists lead by Dr. Dave Bowman(Keir Dullea), Dr. Frank Poole(Gary Lockwood), and the ship’s computer, the Hal 9000.  I’ll talk about the 4th act later because it takes an….unexpected turn.

For all 5 of you who haven’t seen this movie yet, this is not an action movie.  Far from it.  I’m not entirely sure how I should describe it, but it is a slow movie.  If anything, it makes you rather curious about what’s happening and where it’s going.  For people who like talking heads, this movie ain’t for you.  A lot of what’s going on and how it’s transpiring isn’t done through dialogue.  Instead, it takes a more visual and aural approach to what’s happening on the screen.  This bothered a lot of people.  People wanted someone to actually explain what was happening, but while there is dialogue, the story unfolds in a far more imaginative and visual way.  The use of classical music is also worth mentioning.  The opening sequence which I have posted above features Johann Strauss’s Also sprach Zarathustra.  Strauss’s Blue Danube also makes an appearance during the opening sequence of the second act.  The music is essentially a character in and of itself.  What you see is like a dance.  The visuals are slow, methodical and match the pace of the music.  Let’s talk about WHAT you see on the screen.   2001 is a visually spectacular film.  Look at the landscapes of the moon.  It’s a combination of miniatures and painting.  The space stations and ship are uniquely designed.  Towards the end of the movie, the special effects really kick into high gear.  It’s phenomenal how much work went into making this a good-looking movie.

The 4th act of the film is where things start getting REALLY weird.  One of the main themes of 2001, is evolution and the final act of the film takes a very bizarre look at where our evolution as a species may lead us.  Is there a villain in this movie?  Yes, it is HAL.  It takes a very murderous turn, but it’s voice is very eerie.

There are a lot of iconic scenes and moments in this movie.  The opening of the film featuring Strauss’s music is one of a kind.  It’s been 20 years since I’ve seen the movie, so I didn’t really remember a whole lot about it before getting into it.  I’ll be honest:  I’ve never really been a huge fan of Stanley Kubrick’s work, with Full Metal Jacket being the only exception.  I can tell you this, he had a very interesting visual style, which is prevalent in all of his movies.  A Space Odyssey is no exception.  It does run long at 150 minutes.  The original release was about 161 minutes, I believe.  In either case, patience is required for a movie like this.  The 4th act of the film really threw people off.  They had no idea what to make of it.  The acting is serviceable, but nothing terribly memorable.  The film isn’t really about the individuals, but rather, the species as a whole and where we are going in this universe as far as evolution is concerned.

Overall, I love this movie.  It’s a very unique film that’s inspired directors like George Lucas and Steven Spielberg.  It’s also an incredibly spectacular movie that takes a risk by telling its story through visuals rather than dialogue.  It works.  Until the 4th, you do know what’s happening, but certain specifics are left to your imagination.  I think that’s why this film is extraordinary.  It’s not only a landmark science fiction film in terms of special effects, but it does tell a very human story about evolution, technology and discovery.  This is a movie that still stands up today.  I definitely recommend it, provided you have the patience for it.  9.5/10 is what I’m giving 2001: A Space Odyssey.  The film is rated G, so everyone and their grandma can watch it.  It is currently available on DVD and Blu-Ray.  If anyone has any comments or suggestions, feel free to leave a comment or two.