Review of 2010 (1984) by Justin V — 24 Sep 2010

This is a very very strong sequel. A lot of character development, interesting storyline and a very well done and entertaining science fiction film! Here is the issue between 2001 and 2010. 2001 left you with a lot of questions and really only worked as a visual and musical kind of film while the elements from 2001 like HAL 9000 making his return, Dave Bowman, the discovery vessel, with all those elements that are left unanswered from 2001 are clearly and understandably are worked in and played out very well.

All of the characters develop and have their own little parts and arcs in the story but there are two that are the most fascinating. The first being the friendship between the American and Russian astronaut that try to board onto the Discovery.

At the time and in this film the Cold War was still going on and the countries Russia and America become very angered at each other but these two astronauts help each other and grow together and this is a metaphor for the rest of the Russian and American crew on the ship, working together.

The second is the creator of HAL and HAL 9000 himself. It is really cool to see references from the prior film and the creator is aware of HAL's disobedience to orders if not logical but in a this magnificent display of human and technological terror finally coming to terms and telling the truth to one another finally gives HAL something that we can finally cheer him for as well as the creator and everyone in the film.

The visuals are not to impressive but still very well done. The cinematography is great, the music is a bit to B-movie techno like but still has the original 2001 theme. The story flows and has great pacing and we even get eye candy from the original film.

Overall, this is a fantastic movie and very entertaining to watch. If you take some of the visuals from 2001 and the HAL and Dave storyline from 2001 and put them at the beginning of 2010 it would be a great stand alone film.

This movie works as a great sequel and a wonderful stand alone film in general!