Review of 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) by Maineutral R — 29 Dec 2013

December 18th, 2013. Wednesday. I write this down, cause it's the date when I saw for the first time this masterpiece in cinema: 2001: A Space Odyssey by Stanley Kubrick. The film takes many mythological aspects of mankind to create a journey into the infinite and the unknown, with classical fitting music and use of incredible special effects. 2001 is a reminder of why I love movies: they are mere experiences. And this is a hell of an uneven and incredible experience, reflecting our own kind and the place we might have in the universe. After all, we are just tiny in size when in comparison with the infinite, that's just outside of our own planet. Kubrick's masterpiece.

2001 takes us to this journey in 4 parts: our origin (Dawn of Man), our future, our struggle with machines that we create, and the cryptic journey into the unknown, between life, death and re-birth. What 2001 tells is mankind in the sight of the universe. Now, without artistic vision, let's see what is great about 2001.

First, the narrative is unlike any other in a movie, and works incredible. Actually, the movie has minimal use of dialogue, replaced instead by music, which helps the movie's meaning and plot. But we also need great special effects, thing which 2001 does incredibly great and believable: the amount of Special Effects in quality terms is simply superb. Even better than Superman, that came out ten years later and is also known for the use of groundbreaking special effects. Performances are also top-notch, and it features one of the most fearful artificial life forms: HAL, the computer system that is present in the Jupiter Mission. It's just...terrifying, to think that the machine spreads fear, cause it has no feelings and for the good of the mission, is capable of anything...yes, even kill. And the worst part is: mankind created it. Huh. But again, that's part of our history in the universe: we create things to build, but also to destroy. Our biggest discovery, can be our greatest danger. Do I even have to talk about the final sequence? The journey into the infinite? It's just breathtaking and suspenful. One of the best sequences ever crafted.

2001 is easily one of my favorite films and one of the best ever done. This is a perfect example of Kubrick's mind, able to craft incredible masterpieces.I might take some time for others to understand it, but by me, I don't care what it means; I know it's an artistic masterpiece. One of the greatest cinematic events in the history of mankind. Nuff said.

HAL scares me...i need dry pants.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS REVIEWS PART 09: 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968).