2001: A Space Odyssey was released on April 3, 1968. My first glimpse at this film was when I was very young. I remember back then, even at such a young age, thinking this was extremely captivating. This isn’t a typical movie that most kids might enjoy as it is two and a half hours long and has very little dialogue. But I believe it makes up for that by the genius storyline and special effects graphics, that were clearly ahead of its’ time.
The brains behind the film, Stanley Kubrick, is also notable for his films “The Shinning” and “A Clockwork Orange” which were produced roughly around the same time frame. Much like his other movies, Kubrick uses unconventional forms of cinematography and editing that allows a viewer to be able to not only take in all of the amazing scenery and sets but also allows the audience to think and analyze every scene. Much of his other films are very similar to “2001” where the scenes are often quiet with long pauses between any dialogue. With that said, the score of the film can not go without mentioning.
As a child watching this film, I remember the interaction with the main character, an astronaut and HAL 9000, a robot that virtually is the lead characters main social encounter in his travels through space. I think as a kid this is what would intrigue anyone but as an adult I really love to analyze the movie as a whole. Some of the most interesting scenes are those that appear to be random and unconnected until you sit and try to interpret what and how the scenes actually relate to modern days.
This may be one of the best reviews and analysis I have seen of this film and is almost completely in line with how I interpreted the film.
“2001” may have been the first of its kind. The film is so nicely put together that it feels like it could have been made today. Many films with similar story lines, special effects and essence since then have spun from Stanley Kubricks’ work with the 2009 film “Moon” being one that comes to mind. It is almost identical in storylines but 2001: A Space Odyssey is a true masterpiece that needs to be seen at least once in your life.
Jared,
I really enjoyed your description on about how you perceived the movie as a kid and how would you think of it as an adult. Same as you I watched a movie that discussed something outside the world, an exploration in space. I watched Interstellar. The message that I got from the movie ‘2001: A Space Odyssey’ was hope. Interstellar’s withstanding message is likewise on hope, however Nolan gives us the wild confidence of familial endurance instead of the satisfaction of an existential predetermination, praises human love as opposed to spiritual transcendence.
Isuf