2001: A Space Odyssey

Stanley Kubrick stands high on my list of greatest directors to have ever graced the silver screen. The amazing thing about most Kubrick movies is that he allows his audience to interpret his work rather than revealing his visions bluntly on screen.This sort of effort on part of the director is extremely difficult to achieve ,No wonder he was referred to as a perfectionist.

2001: A Space Odyssey is a movie which will bombard you beautiful visuals and cinematography .Keep in mind that this film was released in 1968 at which period CG was practically non existent or not as developed as today’s technology.   So most of the special effects produced onscreen were brilliantly thought off and painstakingly executed.

Something for which Kubrick should be immensely applauded for is the Interpretation of the Future.(Although space Habitation by humans is a distant affair) The Concepts being used such as the zero gravity toilets,Video Conferencing which may seem very common in today’s world , was rather unknown or unique 60 years ago.

The Movie Starts off with a scene pictured somewhere in Africa at around 4 Million years BC. A Monolith has been laid by  extraterrestrials close to a colony of apes.

The Monolith in my opinion acts as a symbolic figure which is meant to stand the tests of time. The group of apes encounter a tool which is portrayed by the director as an Instrument of creation.

The Scene progresses showing the transition from a mere instrument in the crude hands of an primate evolving into space age technology.This shows the advancements that man has been through over the ages.

The Next part of the movie which i immensely enjoyed was the interaction between the HAL 9000 (which is a Unique computer with a Brain and a Central Nervous system , Capable of taking decision by itself.) and the astronauts.  He portrays machines which believe in the concept of life and with a primary goal of sustaining itself.

The Final part of the Movie is the Journey of man through Death And beyond still accompanied by the monolith which acts a witness to Man’s Transitions.

The Monolith Standing The Tests of Time

The Background score has been perfectly selected and calibrated into the respective scenes.

As mentioned before regarding Kubrick’s style of letting people self interpret his movies will make you think regarding the possibility of the concepts being portrayed here.

One word to describe the movie , Perfect!

10/10