Can anyone explain 2001: A Space Odyssey to me?
I understand in a way that it’s supposed to make you think and all that. But, I’m just plain confused about it.
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It’s an epic metaphysical tale involving themes of creation, the evolution of man and the nature of consciousness that is all supposed to be really awesome after smoking a joint.
Yes. It is the beginning of a trilogy of Sci Fi thrillers related to our flight from Earth to Jupiter and includes a computer named Hal which has gone berserk and a group pf phallic monoliths that desire to create a new sun in our evening sky so the Earth will no longer have a night time in which folks are frightened.
It was also a great way to use this music in a movie!
You have to read the book to even have a clue what the movie means. I haven’t read it since high school, but the black monolith you see in the caveman scene ends up being a catalyst for evolution. So you see it again later in the movie as man is seemingly evolving to the next level, but it totally is not clear in the movie. I do recommend the book, it isn’t confusing. The movie is considered by many to be a classic, but I personally disagree because there is too much of Arthur C. Clarke’s intended message missing, and people have filled in the blanks with other things.
The book is about Clarke.
The movie is about Kubrick.
Good combo if you ask me.
What do you mean “The movie is about Kubrick”? If I missed something significant, maybe that is why the movie was sort of lost on me.
2010 was a better movie than 2001!
Kubrick directed the movie.
Arthur C. Clarke wrote the novel.
Stanley Kubrick. Great filmmaker
I kept falling asleep in 2001. Of course maybe if my brother hadn’t brought the darn hashish…
and last time I saw it was in 1970.
I KNOW KUBRICK DIRECTED THE MOVIE.
I am sorry Dave, I afraid I can’t do that.
Shh Hal can read lips, too!
2001 was a collaboration between Kubrick and Clarke. They were both worked on at the same time between the both of them. It was also loosely based on a short story (or stories) by Clarke.
There are pre human primates on an African plain. One night they are visited by a monolith. The monolith “touches” one of them intellectually. He reasons how to use a bone as a weapon and wields it against animals. He becomes bigger and stronger. Eventually he becomes man, who travels to the moon. On the moon, man discovers another monolith sending a signal to jupiter. Man gets on a ship to Jupiter and after an adventure with a mutinous computer, he discovers another monolith near Jupiter. The monolith, apparently a device created by a mysterious and manipulative alien intelligence, takes him on cosmic journey, where he is reborn into a child of the universe, allegedly with an advanced understanding and appreciation of the secrets of the universe. It has all been an amazing monolith inspired journey. The movie ends.
No.
And that is the beauty of it.
@filmfann Thank you and I guessed that what it was about. But how can I appreciate it if it makes little sense to me?
In short: Earth sends a spaceship to investigate what turns out to be the catalyst for life on Earth, and possibly the whole galaxy. Along the way, the ship’s computer flips out and tries to kill everyone. The survivor gets to the catalyst, and ascends to a higher state of being. The whole thing is wrapped in symbolism, metaphor, hard science, and lots and lots of space tape.
The books are a heckuva lot better.
@Captain_Fantasy
My dad tells me that his high school class went on a field trip to see it, and that (judging by the screams when they got to the end) the sorts of kids who sit in the back row had been enjoying the film whilst on acid.
@davidbetterman I’ve only known about 2001, and 2010. I didn’t realize it was a trilogy. What is the 3rd one?
It’s art. Not entertainment.
@josie Great answer, much better than mine. I knew I was missing something key, but it had been so long since I read it.
@RandomMrdan
There’s 2062 and 3001.
@mattbrowne That’s the clever little excuse that artsy people tell themselves when they’re making entertainment.
@nullo I’ve never hears of those before, were they any good?
@RandomMrdan Certainl, though in a more-of-the-same kind of way. 3001 wraps up the series with a nice finale.
@Nullo – I’m not saying that art cannot entertain us, but the motivation of the creators is somewhat different.
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