Spectacular and gripping

Rating: 9/10 (20 October 2006)

A film like no other, 2001 takes you on an epic journey that should stick in your mind. It's 150 minute duration is short of narrative material but full spectacle, and of haunting and thought-provoking Revelations and scenarios in outer-space. Kubrick indulges himself with long, lingering shots and great detail in each scene. The films slow pace is bearable thanks to its staggering spectacle and ingenious camera work. The beauty of many shots in accentuated by the use of classical music and scenes of peril or menace are made greater by the use of silence and sound effects.
For long periods 2001 is short on narrative, with characters appearing fleetingly and only subtly suggesting what the
film is driving at. It is split into four sections, each showing a separate event in time. Some of them seem unrelated to the previous act, all they have in common is the monolith. One is first seen triggering a step in man's evolution millions of years ago. One is then dug up on the moon and found to be emitting a signal toward Jupiter. On the mission to Jupiter one is seen in the 'star child' sequence. What this means is open to interpretation.
What makes 2001 great is its thought-provoking nature, awesome visuals and sound and the haunting power of many of the plot revelations. There is a section of 2001 when it moves away from its abstract nature and has prolonged sections of dialogue and character development. The result is simply fantastic. The conflict between HAL and the astronauts is one of the most unnerving and gripping sequences in film. HAL is a great villain. Because he is a machine the crew underestimate him. The viewer also has no idea what he is capable of. The fact that the crew are alone in space with an all powerful super-computer for an enemy is pure terror. The conflict is brilliantly built up with Dave and Frank having their doubts about HAL's competency and then his discovery of their plans to disconnect him. HAL was not evil but simply programmed to assume himself fool-proof and to treat any attempt to undermine to control of the Spaceship as an attack on the mission. His pleading for mercy before being disconnected shows his depth.