2001: Space Odyssey (Ws)

0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:

Great, 2010-09-01
the very reasons 2001 succeeds as a great film is not because it simply awes us, although moments do, but because, like all great films, it touches us, and deeply, in ways that many viewers are not even aware of, and none that require genius. The film succeeds in myriad little moments that all can relate to. I mentioned Dr. Floyd's banter with colleagues on the way to the monolith site, but there is the ecstatic `first violence' in the murder of the rival man-ape early on. This is a vivid redo of the Cain and Abel myth, and how many of us wish we were so excited that we could toss an object into the air like the murderous man-ape does his bone weapon? Then there is Floyd with his daughter on the space videophone, and a circumspect Floyd being confronted by the smiling Russians. There is the scene where Poole gets a video birthday wish from his parents, and acts ho-hum about it. There is the scene where Bowman must release the recaptured corpse of his friend to outer space to save himself and the mission, and the very fact that, despite being on the mission for his cool demeanor, Bowman hurriedly forgets his space helmet to retrieve the body in the first place shows a deep connection between emotion and action that a didactic spoken resolution could never achieve. There are other moments, as well, but it is in these moments, often dismissed as banalities, that the film actually pulls the viewer into the tale. That so many critics miss these rather obvious connections shows just how attuned to lowest common denominator action, violence, and bluntly obvious things, most filmgoers are. Yet, it's the parallax of this lack against the grandness of the other parts of the film that pulls the mind like taffy between the antipodes. And it is this stretching wherein the film's greatness lies. br / br / Another point that goes unnoticed is how and why, if HAL is so `insane,' the computer simply does not turn off all oxygen and heat inside the spaceship when the two waking astronauts sleep? Perhaps one of them needed to be awake while the other slept and would have simply unplugged HAL, but it does seem that HAL's flaws in programming, the ones that make him more `human,' also make him a flawed antagonist. And this is yet another aspect of the film, lost in all the talk of its grandeur, and superlatives, that is lost on most viewers and critics, yet part of the doll within doll within doll like nature of the film that buoys its claim to all time great status. There's simply no doubt, after watching this film, that both it and its creator deserve the label great. Unfortunately, too few, these days, even attempt such, whether Kubrickian or not.

0 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

What's the fuss?, 2010-08-15
I remember a visit to the National Museum in Washington when I saw several people standing in front of a blue canvas debating it's meaning. Of course the conceit of modern "art" is if you don't get it you're somehow retarded. I'm no scientist, but I did earn a BA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a 3.3 GPA and a focus on Liberal Arts. As far as 2001 goes, there are few interesting ideas, that unfotunately are stretched to the limit, and it is technially proficient, but honestly I have considerable concern for the particular type of audience that views this as some sort of masterpiece. Have they ever kissed a girl? It may come as a surprise that this film was almost universally panned on its initial release, which was of course spot on, until drug addicts started to see it in droves while high. It' not quite much ado about nothing, but it's pretty close.

1 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

ahead of it's time. but does not age well for a new generation, 2010-08-14
Just watched this movie. Have been interested in watching all the Kubrick films since he is hailed as a top director of his time. Anyways... 2001 a space odyssey is fairly interesting. being a movie that i guess came out in 1968 I can see this being an epic mindblow of proportions. it has great scenes, soundtrack, ideas and visuals. so i can understand all the praise the movie has. but really if this movie had come out in today's age 2010 i don't know. think it would have been a love it or hate it movie that would fade away into obscurity. personally i dont' know... it's decent but nothing i would praise or watch again. i do and can understand people that watched this in it's origninal release still seeing it as great for what it is and i can understand that. anyways... epic for 60's. ok for 2010. the visuals playing orchestrated music did nothing for me. seemed like more of a way to make the movie longer and kill time

0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:

Slow moving, but beautiful on blu... Kubrick's best film., 2010-08-11
'2001' has to be one of the best transfers that I've seen yet on blu-ray. It was one of the first I picked up because of the ten dollar price tag and the good ratings, I figured I didn't have anything to lose. I am impressed with the image quality. It beats out the transfer to blu from Donnie Darko (and countless other newer films.) At any rate, this is a film to sit all the way through, its definitely a mind bender. Enjoy the cinematography and draw your own conclusions (you sort of don't have a choice) with this trippy classic.

0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:

Wonderful movie, 2010-08-07
Wonderful, wonderful movie !!! br /Too good for words. br /Plot, music, scenery...all fantastic. br /11 out of 10