Review of 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) by Keenan S — 29 Mar 2015

2001: A Space Odyssey is undoubtedly one of the absolute greatest science-fiction films I have ever seen, as well as surely being among the absolute greats I have seen, period. It's truly a mind-bending, thought-provoking, riveting, and at times, frightening odyssey into the future and statements about humanity and technology. It's also a rare film in science-fiction, as it is something that truly makes you feel like you're wandering into the vast, terrifying unknown of space, and the possibilities of the future.

It's also an exploration on mankind's relationship with technology, but also about life itself and how it evolves and how it adapts. There's a lot to talk about and a lot going on in general, though some people miss the entire point of this film and dismiss it as being boring. There's a lot to explore here, you just have to be willing to explore it and take your time in doing so. It never offers easy answers, only interpretations and ambiguity.

The story is split into four different sections - each one encompassing its own themes and ideas and the cycles of life, and how it evolves over time.

The first one is The Dawn Of Man, which focuses on primates as they simply try to survive in the harsh conditions of a desert. Things change for their simple, but harsh existence, when they find a rectangular object of unknown origin and soon they begin to evolve out of their basic instincts. One of them learns how to use a bone as a blunt object to kill prey, but also to kill other primates as they adapt.

The second story is TMA-1, which focuses on a scientist who travels to an orbiting station to discuss a possible epidemic that has broken out on the colony on the moon and are sent to the colony to investigate, only to discover a mysterious rectangular object, and are stunned by a high-pitched noise that comes from the object.

The third story is Jupiter Mission, which focuses on a ship and its crew as they make their way to Jupiter, with a computer known as Hal 9000, tagging along. This particular brand of computers has never been known to fail and also has emotions, to make it seem more like a person to the crewman, as opposed to just being a computer. Unfortunately, for this crew, they end up with the one Hal 9000 computer that malfunctions and goes rogue and starts trying to kill the crewman after they discuss unplugging the system.

The final story is Jupiter And Beyond The Infinite, which takes place shortly after the previous story and I won't go into much detail for fear of spoiling it, other than it deals with the cycles of life.

The stories are very ambiguous and mysterious, but in a way that makes the film very engaging and thought-provoking. There are all sorts of themes and ideas floating around in this film, and I don't think I'll ever be able to uncover them all. But the interpretations and ambiguity is what makes it so fascinating and exhilarating. The evolution of man, the relationship of mankind and technology, the mysteries of space and the unknown, the natures of humanity, the cycles of life, and so much more. The methodical and very slow pace of the film won't be for everyone, but if you're willing to open your mind and embrace it, you'll find one of the most engaging and intelligent science-fiction films ever made that will blow you away.

The acting is also quite good across the board, even though many of the characters are enigmatic and not much detail is given about them. However, this is the kind of film where you have to read all the little things on an actor's face and make interpretations. It's also quite fascinating to watch Keir Dullea in particular, as he is forced to go from an astronaut, to channeling animal-like instincts to survive against the higher intelligence of the powerful technology of Hal 9000. His performance in particular gripped me as he made his way through his terrifying journey into the unknown. It was a performance relying on the pure survival instincts of human beings, and he pulled it off brilliantly.

As far as entertainment goes, this is something that much more for the mind, than it is as popcorn entertainment. As much as I enjoy a good space opera and various science-fiction films in general, what makes 2001: A Space Odyssey so special to me in particular is all its themes, ideas, and concepts. It also helps that this film further bolsters its very futuristic feel with phenomenal special effects. However, it's very much a film for your brain to munch on and think about. It's an experience for your mind, your eyes, and your ears that will absolutely absorb you. It's also sort of like a science-fiction version of Fantasia in some ways. It's a very interesting and arresting experience to say the least.

2001: A Space Odyssey earns its reputation for very good reasons and still rightfully claims its spot as being one of the greatest films ever made. If you consider yourself to be a fan of science-fiction, you owe it to yourself to see this film. It's a magnificent journey into the unknowns of space, of life, and everything in between.