2001: A Space Odyssey - Michael

2001: A Space Odyssey

This film is something of a paradox. On one hand, it's incredibly well known, with scenes and lines firmly rooted in pop culture. Just a few seconds of Also sprach Zarathustra immediately conjures the image of apes crowded around a huge black monolith. How much of our fear of artificial intelligence can be attributed to HAL 9000, and "I'm afraid I can't do that, Dave."?

But, on the other hand, if you asked someone what this movie is about, you'd probably get a shrug at best, or else a somewhat long-winded intellectual interpretation that may or may not have anything to do with the original intent. 2001 is a movie that everyone knows, some have seen, and a few even understand.

Well-done science fiction is an amazing thing. 1968 was the year of Apollo 8, when we first orbited the moon. But seen today, the moon base and Jupiter mission seem almost completely plausible, even if the special effects to travel "Beyond the Infinite" seem a little dated and drug-infused. The special effects used to show weightlessness are incredible for the time, and impressive now, emphasizing just how out of place Man is in space. Space travel isn't really over-glamorized, it's just a job, or even a chore. Though the in-flight meal was just a tray of juice boxes, it still looked better than more options today.

Of course, this movie isn't complete without one of the most distinctive and memorable enemies in all film, the HAL 9000. Throughout, his presentation is beautifully minimalistic, a glowing red "eye" on a back panel. The voice is a little odd, though it's probably a good thing that it wasn't heavily processed. His nearly-human voice indicates a real personality, while the eye reminds us that he's calculating and soulless. When we ultimately see the inside of HAL's brain, and hear him pleading for his life, he seems less villainous, and almost a victim of his programming.

Frankly, 2001 is not for everyone. Many parts go beyond "slow" to "crawl", but even these serve to set the mood. Much of the movie has no dialog at all, and much of the dialog there is doesn't help explain what's happening directly. Overall, a fantastic movie, but make sure you're in the right mood (either naturally, or chemically aided) before watching.

By the Numbers:
Current Number of Real Years Past Film Date: 8
Current Approximate Iteration of HAL: 6500, tops
Current Awesome Moon Bases: 0
Number of Monkeys Harmed in the Making of This Film: 1
Height of Moon Base Ceiling: 3 feet too low
Chance of Surviving HAL: 20%
Chance of Understanding This Movie After One Watching: Negligible
Chance that Haywood's Daughter Went Through A Rigorous Casting Process: 0%
Chance that Haywood's Daughter Was In Fact Kubrick's Daughter: 100%

Rating (without alcohol): 4 1/2 Stars
Rating (with alcohol): 4 Stars
Rating (as a nerd): My God, It's Full of Stars