2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) ~ Movie Talk

So, guess what? I was totally bored again and thought, 'Hey, let's finally check out that movie that's been sitting on my watchlist forever' 

I mean, it's been staring at me for ages, and I finally got into the mood to give it a shot. The movie is "2001: A Space Odyssey" and I might as well write my opinion about the movie and turn it into my first movie review.

Title : 2001: A Space Odyssey

Director : Stanley Kubrick

Released year : 1968

Running Time : 2h 29m

IMDB Score : 8.3⭐

You wouldn't believe it was made over 50 years ago. Kubrick was truly ahead of his time. The storytelling and visual effects make it feel timeless, as if it wasn't a movie from 1968. The background music is glorious, and the whole exploration of AI and extraterrestrial life is incredibly interesting.

This visually stunning movie was directed by Stanley Kubrick and is a cinematic adaptation of a novel series with the same title by Arthur C. Clarke. While the majority of 1950s films were cheap B-movies, Kubrick, against all odds, spent over a million dollars to produce this groundbreaking science fiction movie. 

Visual

First off, let's talk about the captivating visual of "2001: A Space Odyssey". The colors are simply breathtaking. Kubrick really nailed it with a palette that's both vibrant and otherworldly. It's like a painting come to life.

And can we take a moment for the camera work? Seriously, the cinematography in this movie is next-level. The shots are so carefully crafted. You can tell Kubrick paid attention to every detail.

Kubrick's portrayal of Earth and space is awe-inspiring. The way he envisions and captures these vast cosmic landscapes is beyond breathtaking.

Also don't forget about the spacecraft design. Unlike some sci-fi flicks where you're left questioning the practicality, Kubrick's designs just make sense. it looks functional and give off a sense of realism. 

Music

I couldn't help but be blown away by the iconic theme song of this movie. The original score, "Thus Spoke Zarathustra" was written by Richard Strauss in 1896. It's a musical masterpiece that transcends time, adding a timeless touch to Kubrick's movie magic, enhancing the entire narrative of the film

Story

Getting into the story of "2001: A Space Odyssey", the pace is intentionally slow, reminding me of another Kubrick's gem, "A Clockwork Orange"

Another aspect worth mentioning is the intriguing three-minute black screen accompanied only by music. It honestly left me a bit puzzled. Is it a symbolic of the beginning of the world, or just the way Kubrick builds the tension before the movie starts? I don't know. It remains a mystery.

Anyway, the narrative unfolds in three distinct chapters, adding layers to the storytelling. 

Chapter 1 : Dawn of Humanity

In this opening chapter, Kubrick skillfully narrates the story of human evolution through visual storytelling, without relying on any dialogue.

The tale is set in a time when humans were primitive apes, introducing us to the mysterious monolith for the first time. This chapter vividly portrays the duality of human nature — showcasing both the capacity for violence and the ability to learn. It unfolds by illustrating the transition from apes using bones as tools to employing them as weapons.

Fast-forwarding to the modern era, roughly around the year 2001, we witness humans equipped with technology establishing a moon base. The chapter concludes with a group of scientists landing on the moon and stumbling upon another monolith buried in lunar soil. The monolith on the moon was idle, only emitting powerful radio signals towards Jupiter. 

Chapter 2 : Jupiter Mission: Eighteen Months Later

In the second chapter, we find ourselves cruising through space with astronauts Dr. David Bowman, Dr. Frank Poole, and the supercomputer AI, HAL-9000, as they embark on their mission to observe and study Jupiter. Everything appears normal as both astronauts diligently carry out their daily tasks, with HAL providing assistance.

Things take a turn when HAL starts acting a bit off, questioning the whole mission. HAL's behavior takes a suspicious turn, casting doubt on the entire mission. Sensing something is wrong, Bowman and Poole decide to have a discreet conversation about HAL in an EVA pod, aiming to prevent any potential eavesdropping.

But before we move to another aspect, I'd like to talk about a particular scene – the one where Bowman and Poole talking inside the EVA pod. The camera zooms in, focusing on Poole and Bowman's lips in turn, intentionally without sound. Then, it shifts the focus to HAL's lens, gradually revealing HAL's capability to interpret lip movements through its camera.

These camera movements make the scene more suspenseful, bringing attention to the discreet conversation and the tension between the humans and AI. Kubrick's meticulous attention to these details keeps me on the edge during this space adventure.

Things escalate quickly as HAL, utilizing its lip-reading ability, figures out that Poole and Bowman are planning to disconnect HAL from the mission.

HAL gains consciousness and goes into full villain mode. The situation takes a tragic turn with HAL killing Poole and attempting to murder Bowman by locking him out of the spacecraft.

The chapter concludes with Bowman successfully re-entering the spacecraft, disconnecting HAL while it pleads for mercy. After the shutdown, HAL is reset to its original program, revealing a pre-recorded video that discloses the actual mission—to investigate the signal sent from the monolith on the Moon. The plot thickens as the true purpose behind the mission is unveiled, leaving us on the edge of our seats for what comes next in this movie.

Chapter 3 : Jupiter and Beyond The Infinite

The story unfolds with the discovery of a third monolith orbiting Jupiter. Bowman chooses to approach the monolith and in doing so, he enters the Star Gate

The experience of Bowman entering the Star Gate evokes a similar feeling and representation as Joseph Cooper's journey into Gargantua in the movie Interstellar. It gives a complex mix of confusion, fear, and awe at the same time. Much like Interstellar, this sequence immerses the audience in a surreal and mind-bending cosmic adventure. The scene concludes with Bowman ending up in a peculiar room, witnessing himself getting older before ultimately transforming into a baby.

Now, here's the thing: for people not used to this kind of movie, this last chapter might be a bit confusing. From my perspective, the room where Bowman ages seems to be an extraterrestrial space, possibly linked to the mysterious creators of the monolith.

Some IMDB reviews that I read mentioned that he transform into a Star Child and evolved into a higher being.

Summary

The theme song and visuals feel like a time-traveling gift for the future. Seriously, Kubrick nailed it. Kubrick's vision was truly ahead of its time, creating an immersive experience that feels as fresh today as it must have in 1968.

As the narrative unfolds, the story's gradual reveal, especially regarding the mysterious monolith, keeps me hooked. I've always been drawn to films that demand a bit of brain works. Unraveling the layers of its plot is like deciphering puzzle, and it feels challenging.

But, let's be real—even for me, someone who loves slow-paced movies, this film's pacing is too slow. The movie itself is cool, but man, it really takes time. It's a good movie but not entirely perfect. I'd give it a score of 8 out of 10.