Space Odyssey 2001: A Review
Stanley Kubrick is a gifted artist and his film genius was wholly represented by his futuristic film, Space Odyssey 2001. Director Stanley Kubrick's work is a profound, prophetic and visionary delight. As produced and written way ahead of its time (1968), I think that the primary purpose of the director is to set out a classical standard in film making. Kubrick aimed to produce a new film genre or a model scientific or futuristic film. He probably aimed to create the best science-fiction film of all time. One in depth analysis of the film stated that the director’s purpose was to “blow his audiences away with 2001: A Space Odyssey's eye-popping visuals” (Journey, 2012). Indeed, Kubrick astounded the film industry with this classic. The film was really way ahead of its class in terms of artistry, visuals, special effects and overall cinematic impact.
The true subject of the movie is the exploration of the unknown. Kubrick himself made this exploration in film making when he set out to do this film. All of the four episodes of the classic film dealt with the exploration of the unknown from pre historic times to the more advanced space time. The kind of statement which this film seemed to evoke is that reality is how one interprets it. There was actually less dialogues and speeches in order to gather more of the self analysis or conclusions from each viewer about how he/she conceived the film and what truths he/she derived from it.
In the end, the viewer is left confused or loaded with various interpretations about what is beyond out there in outer space. The film did not intend to answer those crucial questions on what is out there. Hence, this is the attraction of the film. There is no definitive subject or conclusion to its theme and content or subject matter. Either the audience is blown away by the film’s visual and audio impact or he/she is left confused or obscured by the range of cinematic images and effects. The void is actually the subject more than the meaning it supplies, I guess.
The story is the main element of the film which contributed to its success. This is about the space future. The story is reinforced by the audi-visual effects, which were really hi-tech, scientific and very realistic. Space Odyssey achieved to make a magnanimous presentation of space travel which bordered between realistic and fictional. The production design, visual, and audio effects and the overall cinematography were all splendid. (Film Site Movie Review, 2012). It was really a well thought, highly techical production.
For instance, Kubrick actually enlisted the help of NASA engineers to produce the compelling ships and its specific sounds. He also engaged no less than the master of special photographic effects, Mr. Douglas Trumbull (who also gave us the classic futuristic movies such as Close Encounters of the Third Kind and Blade Runner) (Journey, 2012). Kubrick's sci-fi exploration through this film has attained its glory by the interplay of each of the cinematic effect. All the scenes in the film either has a dialogue or music or silence yet it did not employ the usual dialogue and background combination which traditional movies have.
I think that the best, artistic elements which were highlighted by Kubrick in this highly controversial movie are its visual images and audio-visual effects. This film has very intriguing imagery of outer space and space travel. In the first place, this has been an attractive image since this was the time when humanity was just attempting to reach the moon. A year after the movie was made, man has just stepped into the moon. Hence, the appeal of Kubrick’s visuals was very enticing for the film audience at that time. I think this has made the greatest impact in the world of cinema.
Another effective effect was the lack of verbal dialogues. The audience was left to experience the non-verbal, mystical vastness of the film. It made a subconscious and subjective impact on the viewers as they were focused on the visual delights and had ample time to speculate on its metaphors and real representations. Hence, it reinforced the film’s subject of technology and space. I think that there was no element or effect, which failed the film. Each and every element contributed to how the film has become a classic. Even the void was highly intentional and it often served a perfect purpose for the film.
My own personal reaction was first astonishment. No single film has ever blown an audience such as Space Odyssey 2001. Many years after it has been shown, it has not been reduced to its present stature. It is really a classic in sci-fi movies and no movie has ever made a single impact just like this film.
The second reaction is that of intrigue. How could space travel be depicted in the way the famous director has revealed it? Why this ending? Why the diabolique metaphors and very pregnant images of the moon, the ape and the monolith? Each and every sequence of the film will mark controversial questions from serious viewers. This makes me think that this film is intended for the intelligent audience alone. Some popular comments were about its “prophecy,” its being way ahead of its time, its magnanimity, among others.
I personally like the music since it transports the audience to a third dimension. There are other classics which are used in other epics. However, the audio effects of the music were really breath taking. It speaks for itself, reinforces the audience and stimulates the thinking as to the other world it conveys. For instance, the film's opening overture, Atmospheres by György Ligeti unmasked the black screen in a more psychological than visual effect the mysterious unknown time where the universe has just been created. By a certain parallelism, the film’s ending was also serenaded by Johann Staruss’ The Blue Danube Waltz, which was also played under a black movie screen. It was so poetic and scientific at the same time.
In hindsight, I believe that Space Odyssey 2001 is a masterpiece. It is the essence of filmmaking, where one’s old notions and visual insights are debunked by the grandness of the film. It will never be superseded by any other major sci-fi movie. In contrast, all the other sci-fi movies will copy something from it.
References:
Film Site Movie Review. (2012). “2001: A Space Odyssey (1968).” Retrieved on December 13, 2012 from, .
Journey, Nicanor. (2012). Deviant Art Website. Retrieved on December 13, 2012 from, .
