A Great Book Captured

Rating: 10/10 (2 September 2001)

Behold that rarest of phenomena: a great book captured as a great movie.
Arthur C. Clarke's magnum opus was nailed nearly perfectly by Kubrick. The plotline was followed faithfully. The classical music was a brilliant touch, making this not a 1968 movie, but a truly timeless one. The only thing that made it come up a bit short in this regard was the polyester clothing and the plastic furniture, but hey, YOU try to make a timeless film!
BRAVO to the accurate depiction of the absence of sound in space. This realistic touch made us aware of every precious breath taken in space's vacuum (the only sounds that can be heard from the environment of a spacesuit). Why does every other SF movie make spaceships go by with a token "whoosh!"?
Kubrick made us appreciate the story line with the vivid imagery of the subhumans' warfare. In this regard, he actually outdid Mr. Clarke. Who can forget that thrown bone turning into a spaceship? Kubrick must have been a fan of the Beatles' 1967's Sgt. Pepper album, the scene reminding me of the chicken's cluck that turned into a guitar riff.
This movie isn't for everyone, any more than any movie is. But for the diehard fan of science fiction writing, this is one of two musts (1997's Contact being the other). I hope some filmmaker someday captures Robert Heinlein's genius in the same fashion.