The Next Step in Filmmaking

Rating: 10/10 (24 August 2015)

Is aggression a prerequisite for the progression of human development? This is one of many questions posed by director Stanley Kubrik in this groundbreaking film. The film is divided into three segments and this question is posed within the first twenty minutes as a group of prehumans come into contact with an alien obelisk. This obelisk starts to move the story forward and effects subtle changes within the prehumans including an intelligence that allows them to use weapons. The story then jumps into the future where humanity has discovered an object on the moon. As the object is approached which appears to be similar as the alien obelisk seen earlier in the film, it gives off a signal of some sort. The story then jumps into a further future where a spacecraft has been sent to the destination point of the alien signal. This causes a series of events that brings about the next evolution of humanity into a "starchild".
While the issue surrounding aggression and the progression of humanity is addressed early on, it is questions regarding artificial intelligence that creates the conflict within the story. Concerns surrounding how far an A.I. should be made aware and if an A.I. has the right to ensure it's own survival are addressed.
Mr. Kubrick pioneered several techniques for this film which included practical ways to make an environment appear weightless. This included showing characters walk on ceilings and also seeing objects float through the air. He was also able to use inventive camera techniques such as using still photographs for wide shots as opposed to taking a film crew with him to film on location.
This film is a solid production. Through Mr. Kubrik's camera techniques and the body language of the actors it made to be very believable that the characters are in space. It is definitely a technical achievement especially when these visuals are paired with music that Mr. Kubrick picked personally for the movie. The film does lack in that their is no clear protagonist or antagonist. There is no character development for any character as no character is around long enough. It is almost as if the characters are there just to facilitate the progression of the story.
This film was finished almost a decade before Star Wars and helped to define the genre for it's time. It has remained a classic and has impacted it's genre and cinema in general.