This personally is my favorite film ever, and I hear a lot of people bashing it, mostly non-Sci-Fi fans really, but still. I want to know what everyone's opinion is on this classic movie...and novel too if you want to add that.
(My 2,001st post )
Posted by Malnurtured Snay (Member # 411) on :
The movie was good ... but honestly, I've never been as enthralled with Kubrick's work as others. I really liked the set design -- the opening sequence, where the one fella' runs up and then down the circular corridor really struck me as damn cool. Never read the novel.
Posted by The359 (Member # 37) on :
Technically he was running both Up and Down, since the entire circular set was truely spinning, and he was merely running in place at the bottom while it rotated around him. This kind of thing was also used to show the Stewardess on the Pan Am shuttle going upside down to reach another compartment.
Posted by Masao (Member # 232) on :
I saw 2001 projected in Cinerama during its original run at the Cooper Theatre in Minneapolis in 1969 (or whenever it was). Unless you've seen 2001 on a big wide screen like that, you really haven't seen it. Watching 2001 in pan and scan on a tiny TV screen with a tinny mono TV speaker is sort of boring, because a lot of it is just little white blobs moving around. Seeing it on an enormous screen with theatre sound is a completely immersive, transforming experience, especially if you saw it when you were very young. The special effects, even when blown up that large, are completely believable. The movie puts you into space.
Posted by Vogon Poet (Member # 393) on :
It is also my favourite film. I first saw it in 1978, at some sort of 10th-anniversary screeing; my Dad & Uncle took me, and it scared me quite a lot at the time (well, I was only eight. . .).
Since then I've seen it countless times on video, and once more on the big screen, at the Tyneside Film Festival back in '92 or '93. I don't actually OWN a copy of it at all (about 5 years ago MGM did a range of classics on VHS, available in Widescreen and Pan'n'Scan; well, one of the series wasn't available in W/S, guess which?); If I ever get a DVD player, maybe it'll be time.
What I do won is two copies of the novel, including a first edition; the making-of book, and an original film poster (the Belgian version - "2001 L'Odyss�e de L'Espace / Een Ruimteodyssee").
Posted by BlueElectron (Member # 281) on :
No doubt about it!
The greatest Sci-Fi film EVER MADE!
The movie was revolutionary not only in the plot, the way it was film, and the background music is truly amazing.
A pop-quiz for you guys, name the background music right when Dave was reborn in space, which is the very famous scence when he was reborn as a baby in space with the sun rising in the background (who wrote it, what's the title, which orchestra played it, and who's conducting the orchestra).
Posted by Siegfried (Member # 29) on :
I can't remember the movie's music too well, but I remember that at least two classical works were used. One was Richard Strauss's "Thus Spake Zarathustra" and Johann Strauss's "On the Beautiful Blue Danube." I also want to say that one of Khachaturyan's ballets was used as well, but I'm rather fuzzy on it all.
I saw the movie at home when I was in the ninth grade (or thereabouts). I rather enjoyed the movie. I had to watch the ending several times before I could really comprehend what I was seeing. A lot of people I know who've seen the movie tell me the same thing. Later that year, I got to read the book for an English project. I really enjoyed Clarke's work. The movie was fabulously done, but the book was by far even more outstanding.
Posted by The359 (Member # 37) on :
You mean the "Worlds of 2001" book, Vogon? I would love to have that, except I can't find it anywhere.
I personally have 3 copies of the film: 1985 MGM/UA VHS Cassette (Widescreen) 1999 WB Stanley Kubrick Collection VHS (Widescreen) 1999 WB Stanley Kubrick Collection DVD (Widescreen)
And of course I also have 2010: The Year We Make Contact on DVD.
Posted by Vogon Poet (Member # 393) on :
I can't remember what the book is called right now, and I'm not gonna go fumbling around downstairs trying to find it. I'll dig it out tomorrow. What I do remember is, I think there have been two books about it, and I have one. . . There's also ACC's "Lost Worlds of 2001" book which talks about the creative process and has many rejected drafts and plot points.
The music that plays at the end is the same piece that features throughout, Richard Wagner's Also Sprach Zarathustra. I also have the soundtrack album downstairs, I'll find it tomorrow as well.
Posted by BlueElectron (Member # 281) on :
It is "Also sprach Zarathustra" by Richard Strauss.
The version on the movie is played by Wiener Philharmoniker conducted by Herbert Von Karajan recorded in 1959.
Posted by Balaam Xumucane (Member # 419) on :
Excellent film. Definitely one of the most innovative films ever made. This week in San Francisco they are showing a restored 70mm print. I will most definitely be in attendance...
Posted by EdipisReks (Member # 510) on :
i wish that i had been in town when it was shown at the local art theater on jan 1st, 2001 at midnight. a friend of mine has a huge wide screen HDTV and a $15k sound system, and watching it on that was a revelation compared to the 13" in my bedroom. great, great movie
--jacob
Posted by Vogon Poet (Member # 393) on :
The book I have is imaginatively entitled 2001: Filming the Future by Piers Bizony (Aurum Press, 1994).
As regards the soundtrack, there are only about half a dozen pieces used:-
Richard Wagner, Also Sprach Zarathustra (Karl Bohm, Berlin Philharmonic) - used during the "Earthrise" sequence; Moonwatcher learning how to use tools; and at the end
Gyorgy Ligeti, Requiem for Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Two Mixed Choirs and Orchestra (Francis Travi, Bavarian Radio Orchestra) - All appearances of the monolith: on prehistoric Earth, on the Moon, and in Jupiter's orbit
Johann Strauss the Younger, The Blue Danube (Herbert von Karajan, Berlin Philharmonic) - scenes in Earth orbit, and a reprise at the end when the Star Child appears in Earth orbit
In addition, you can now get Alex North's original, incomplete score for the movie as rejected by Kubrick. But I wouldn't bother. It's boring, standard oompah-oompah music you'd find in any music throughout the 40's, 50's or 60's (before Lalo Schifrin and Jerry Goldsmith gave us scores that were then copied throughout the 70's). The music, most of it for the prehistoric sequences, could be put into any other film (or even a Star Trek - TOS - fight sequence) without sounding strange.
Posted by The Red Admiral (Member # 602) on :
Certianly one of the best films ever made, and absolutely one of my favourites. But the book is essential reading, especially for those who didn't quite grasp the movie - particularly the ending. 2010 is great too, 2061 not so great, but its still an entertaining read.
Posted by Vogon Poet (Member # 393) on :
Just never mention 3001. Ever. Oops, I just did. . .
Posted by Balaam Xumucane (Member # 419) on :
It was a couple days ago, but I spent my bottom dollars to see the 70mm print at the cavernous Castro theatre in San Fanncsico. Wow. I had seen it on the big screen before, and my folks have a HDTV widescreen, but it's just not the same. It was literally breathtaking. Before the film started, they had the guy up there on the mighty Wurlitzer and he played a little 'Zarathustra'. That was fun. Then the film starts and it is simply incredible. I mean it puts so many contemporary films to shame. The only thing that dates it is the clothes and the computer graphics. It's depressing in a way, because the themes of tools and who's-using-whom throughout the film kind of relates to modern film-making. I mean here we are: today in 2001 with all the tools we have for special FX and cameras and editing and stunts and we're still making movies like Red Planet and Event Horizon. Don't even get me started on Episode I. Then there's the ideas of the real world. We're still nowhere near the civilians in space concepts as presented in the film. It's a shame.
Anyway if you do get a chance to catch the 70mm print, I HIGHLY recommend it.
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