Post by Vercetti on Feb 5, 2006 17:49:04 GMT
2001: A Space Odyssey
Director: Stanely Kubrick
1968 UK/USA
“Its origin and purpose still a total mystery.”
In Africa, millions of years before modern man, pre-human apes find a mysterious monolith which gives them the knowledge to use tools. Millions of years later in 1999 modern man discovers another one on the moon that sends a signal to Jupiter, which gives them the technology to advance manned missions to Jupiter, to investigate the origin and purpose of the monolith in the year 2001.
Stanely Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey is one of those films that practically hypnotizes you into not even noticing how long it is. Usually while watching a movie in my computer chair I’ll eventually switch over to my bed for relaxation, but here I found myself eliminating every source of light in my room and not even moving from my chair. This is a thought provoking film in the highest order, and the above quote from an official speaking of a mysterious monolith found seems to apply more to humans in the long run.
The film begins in Africa millions of years ago where we see a bunch of lower forms of humans. The apes’ lives soon change when a mysterious rectangular monolith appears. They are curious of it, and soon learn how to use bones as weapons because of it for unknown reasons. One ape is killed by others and we see one of the most famous shots in cinema, a bone being thrown up in the air against the blue sky, cutting to a space station that looks like it against the black space. This is 1999 and soon another monolith will appear on the moon, releasing a loud signal to Jupiter while at the same time possibly giving these advanced humans the technology to reach Jupiter.
Like Kubrick’s other films he captivates us with the visuals and mise en scene. It’s like like a set with people moving around it like Star Wars, which would come out a decade later. We are treated to excellent effects of low gravity, characters walking upside down from a normal position on the floor, etc. What’s particularly isolating is the scenes where they must repair things in outer space, while we can only hear the breathing from in their helmet. These silent scenes are haunting and can remind one of silent cinema. Much of the film lacks dialogue, remaining on the pure cinema characteristic of telling it’s story through visuals.
We are also treated to one of the famous characters of cinema, a super computer called HAL 9000, with it’s famous red light eye. It speaks with a sophisticated elegance that seems more intelligent then other humans around it. So it’s no surprise when it beats Dr. Frank Poole at chess by naming the only possible moves left, when in fact there is another one. Is HAL flawed? Or is it possible that HAL is so advanced that it can become manipulative? Things soon turn for the worst when HAL begins attacking the astronauts after he lip reads that they plan on disconnecting him. I’m sure everyone remembers one of the more famous lines.
Dr. Bowman: Open the pod bay doors, HAL.
HAL: I'm sorry Dave, I'm afraid I can't do that
The music in this film fits the breathtaking visuals. It’s made up of classical numbers, although after watching the final segment with the Pink Floyd song “Echoes” synchronized to it, I really am sad that Pink Floyd originally declined to compose music for the film (they later regretted it). However it’s still amazing with the classical music. It turns out to be one of the greatest films ever, meticulously directed by Stanely Kubrick into being his masterpiece, and ultimately, one of the ten greatest films ever. Unlike the Star Wars films, we are treated to a very realistic feeling that makes us feel like this was actually filmed in space, and it takes advantage of that isolation with it's hypnotic cinematography.
What this film leads us through is an odyssey of man’s existence. Our origin and purpose is still unknown. This mysterious monolith can easily represent our knowledge through the years. It seems like a Buddhist view on things, in wondering what will happen to us. Do we evolve constantly until we become something greater, like a star child? Is there an answer out there somewhere in the stars?
CREDITS
Director[/b]
Stanely Kubrick
Producer
Stanley Kubrick
Writers
Stanely Kubrick & Arthur C. Clarke
- based on "The Sentinel" by Arthur C. Clarke
Cinematographer
Geoffrey Unsworth
Composers
Aram Khachaturyan, György Ligeti, Richard Strauss, Johann Strauß, and Harry Dacre
Editor
Ray Lovejoy
Production Designers
Ernest Archer, Harry Lange, Anthony Masters
CAST
Keir Dullea
Dr. Dave Bowman
Gary Lockwood
Dr. Frank Poole
William Sylvester
Dr. Heywood R. Floyd
Douglas Rain
HAL 9000[/size]
Director: Stanely Kubrick
1968 UK/USA
“Its origin and purpose still a total mystery.”
In Africa, millions of years before modern man, pre-human apes find a mysterious monolith which gives them the knowledge to use tools. Millions of years later in 1999 modern man discovers another one on the moon that sends a signal to Jupiter, which gives them the technology to advance manned missions to Jupiter, to investigate the origin and purpose of the monolith in the year 2001.
Stanely Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey is one of those films that practically hypnotizes you into not even noticing how long it is. Usually while watching a movie in my computer chair I’ll eventually switch over to my bed for relaxation, but here I found myself eliminating every source of light in my room and not even moving from my chair. This is a thought provoking film in the highest order, and the above quote from an official speaking of a mysterious monolith found seems to apply more to humans in the long run.
The film begins in Africa millions of years ago where we see a bunch of lower forms of humans. The apes’ lives soon change when a mysterious rectangular monolith appears. They are curious of it, and soon learn how to use bones as weapons because of it for unknown reasons. One ape is killed by others and we see one of the most famous shots in cinema, a bone being thrown up in the air against the blue sky, cutting to a space station that looks like it against the black space. This is 1999 and soon another monolith will appear on the moon, releasing a loud signal to Jupiter while at the same time possibly giving these advanced humans the technology to reach Jupiter.
Like Kubrick’s other films he captivates us with the visuals and mise en scene. It’s like like a set with people moving around it like Star Wars, which would come out a decade later. We are treated to excellent effects of low gravity, characters walking upside down from a normal position on the floor, etc. What’s particularly isolating is the scenes where they must repair things in outer space, while we can only hear the breathing from in their helmet. These silent scenes are haunting and can remind one of silent cinema. Much of the film lacks dialogue, remaining on the pure cinema characteristic of telling it’s story through visuals.
We are also treated to one of the famous characters of cinema, a super computer called HAL 9000, with it’s famous red light eye. It speaks with a sophisticated elegance that seems more intelligent then other humans around it. So it’s no surprise when it beats Dr. Frank Poole at chess by naming the only possible moves left, when in fact there is another one. Is HAL flawed? Or is it possible that HAL is so advanced that it can become manipulative? Things soon turn for the worst when HAL begins attacking the astronauts after he lip reads that they plan on disconnecting him. I’m sure everyone remembers one of the more famous lines.
Dr. Bowman: Open the pod bay doors, HAL.
HAL: I'm sorry Dave, I'm afraid I can't do that
The music in this film fits the breathtaking visuals. It’s made up of classical numbers, although after watching the final segment with the Pink Floyd song “Echoes” synchronized to it, I really am sad that Pink Floyd originally declined to compose music for the film (they later regretted it). However it’s still amazing with the classical music. It turns out to be one of the greatest films ever, meticulously directed by Stanely Kubrick into being his masterpiece, and ultimately, one of the ten greatest films ever. Unlike the Star Wars films, we are treated to a very realistic feeling that makes us feel like this was actually filmed in space, and it takes advantage of that isolation with it's hypnotic cinematography.
What this film leads us through is an odyssey of man’s existence. Our origin and purpose is still unknown. This mysterious monolith can easily represent our knowledge through the years. It seems like a Buddhist view on things, in wondering what will happen to us. Do we evolve constantly until we become something greater, like a star child? Is there an answer out there somewhere in the stars?
CREDITS
Director[/b]
Stanely Kubrick
Producer
Stanley Kubrick
Writers
Stanely Kubrick & Arthur C. Clarke
- based on "The Sentinel" by Arthur C. Clarke
Cinematographer
Geoffrey Unsworth
Composers
Aram Khachaturyan, György Ligeti, Richard Strauss, Johann Strauß, and Harry Dacre
Editor
Ray Lovejoy
Production Designers
Ernest Archer, Harry Lange, Anthony Masters
CAST
Keir Dullea
Dr. Dave Bowman
Gary Lockwood
Dr. Frank Poole
William Sylvester
Dr. Heywood R. Floyd
Douglas Rain
HAL 9000[/size]