2001: A Space Odyssey

Celestial, astronomical, so incredibly conceived it tears heaven itself asunder. Quite possibly the most magnificent science fiction film ever made. A Van Gogh in motion. Anyone who's seen it and appreciates it can't say enough good things about it. You could start a whole semester long class dedicated to the understanding, conception, and shear theory behind the story. I find it sad that it can't catch people immediate attention. I admit at first I would fall asleep during the film in my first viewings on account every time I seemed to watch it would be late at night. Now during every viewing it seems to fly by despite it's two and a half hour long stretch. To recognize it's natural beauty you would have to, as with every other film, experience it in the theater. Luckily, my associate and friend Martin informed me that the Fox Theater in Atlanta was showing it. I couldn't have spent my money better. Everything seemed as though it was twice illuminated with life. The film seems so quite on a television screen but, on the big screen I have to admit the silence is very well deafening. My favorite part of seeing it in theater is during the intermission, well, I got to take the intermission experience.

The film start out with immediate confusion. Director Stanley Kubrick begins the film with with a blank screen with classic orchestra playing over the blank screen. My interpretation of this is that it was the idea that in the beginning of the universe there was nothing. Though he skipped the theory of the Big Bang I still believe that's what he was implying but, could totally be wrong. At the dawning of mankind when the world is ruled by apes, one particular clan of apes discovers a mysterious rectangular monolith near their cave, which imparts upon them the knowledge of tool use, and enables them to evolve into men. We flash fowards to 2001 A.D. where reports of a monolithic figure has been discovered on the moon, and is determined to have come from an area near Jupiter. Astronaut David Bowman (Keir Dullea), along with four companions, sets off for Jupiter on a spaceship controlled by a super computer code named, HAL 9000. HAL is a revolutionary computer system that is every bit mankind's equal, and perhaps his superior. When HAL endangers the crew's lives for the sake of the mission, Bowman will have to first overcome the computer, then travel to the birthplace of the monolith where he meets the eternal infinite face to face.

There are limitless one ups to this film the first is the fact that Kubrick got the author of the novel, Arthur C. Clarke, to write the screenplay to the film. Which is good to know that the author was alright with the film, he trusted Kubrick and we can all agree he put his work into good hands. Every frame that whirls by on screen is a piece of art. The stillness on screen is the most accurate depiction of space of it's time. And for 1968 it's still extremely accurate. Kubrick researched with actual NASA scientists working on the moon landing mission in 1969. The camera work and set designs are something to drive a inexperienced filmmaker bonkers on screen. Rotating sets, anti-gravity, stunning images all capturing the glory and mystery of outer space.

trailer