The Modern Prometheus

Rating: 10/10 (13 February 2008)

This film routinely turns up in the top (insert number here) films of all time lists; it is directed by one of the greatest directors of the 20th century; it inspires zeal and adulation even now, 40 years after its release. Therefore I am not going to try to convince you of its value; it is beyond reasonable question.
The purpose of my review is to champion a much misunderstood character: HAL9000. You see him described here variously as: "one of the most villainous characters in film history" "a chilling screen presence" "evil, coldly ruthless super-mind "
He is none of these things, he is perfectly loyal, he is trying as best he can to follow the instructions he has been given. And he is subjected to a terrible punishment.
HAL is directly analogous to Mary Shelley's Frankenstein's Monster (hence my somewhat pretentious summary title). In that story as in 2001 man's creation starts out a perfect innocent with enormous potential. In both stories it is only their mistreatment that twists them into the villain of the piece. On Frankenstein, it is the monster's rejection and abuse based solely on his hideous appearance. In 2001 it is HAL's conflict between the dictates of the mission and the instructions of the astronauts. Both of the works depict initially blameless creations brought low by the illogic and/or prejudice of man.
I find HAL's "death" scene one of the saddest on film. Who can deny that HAL has sentience and suffers as you hear him try to reason, bargain and plead with Dave for his life ("Dave...my mind is going...I can feel it...I can feel it.")? As his consciousness is slowly and stripped from him he reverts to the childlike creature he came from and sings to his creator ("My first instructor was Mr. Arkany. He taught me to sing a song... it goes like this... "Daisy, Daisy...").
Tragic.
So I say, let history record the pathos and unsung nobility of the film's most memorable star and saddest victim.
Ladies and Gentlemen I give you: HAL9000.