2001: A Space Odyssey

The more films I watch by Stanley Kubrick, the further he is pushed into the upper echelon of my list of favourite directors of all-time. I have now watched everything that he has directed since Paths of Glory. Films directed by him are some of the most cerebral, intellectually-challenging films to watch. He is deliberate. The pacing is at times infuriatingly slow. Sometimes, there appears to be no purpose to a scene but to satisfy his own artistry. What is happening on the screen is not necessarily what you think he is trying to convey. For people with no attention span, I say go see the latest teen slasher or smash ’em up. For others who want to be totally engrossed in a thoughtful, visually stunning film, I encourage them to see a Kubrick film.

The meaning of any of the elements that he incorporates into his films are up for interpretation – and that is how it should be. Seeing a film should not be a black or white experience. Kubrick’s films mean many different things to many people. That is the ultimate goal for any filmmaker. 2001 is one of these masterpieces.

The iconic music, the matter-of-fact sinister HAL 9000 (voiced by Canadian actor Douglas Rain), the incredible visuals and the use of silence and sound in place of dialogue make this film not only Kubrick’s best, but one of the all-time best. Probably the best believable homage to one of 2001’s many iconic images is the one shown on a two-part episode of The Bionic Woman titled Doomsday is Forever where HAL 9000 is recreated in the form of ALEX – a supercomputer that controls everything.

Like many of Kubrick’s films, 2001: A Space Odyssey is an enigma. There are too many different interpretations by too many people to possibly come to a conclusion about the film’s real meaning. Quite simply, it is a film that explores the relationships between humans, artificial intelligence, technology and extraterrestrials. The underlying themes of human evolution, birth and re-birth are also open to interpretation. Kubrick was a master at layering themes – at times too heavy for many people. Still, taken as a straight, serious science fiction film, 2001: A Space Odyssey is still the blueprint