Mankind in a match-cut

Rating: 10/10 (6 June 2001)

Kubricks fascination with man and his relationship with machines was best represented in this hypnotic, intelligent and sometimes open-ended film. Charting mankind from 'conception' through to our next stage of evolution, it is open-ended in the way you can interpret key points. You could say the opinions offered (in particular the work of the Monolith) are blasphemous, or it could be deeply religious (who is to say what form God may take) but then you would have to consider Gods motives, does he only pick the most intelligent for further enlightenment (the book clearly establishes 'Moonwatcher' as the brightest ape, and Bowman is certainly no dunce). It could embrace, or reject Darwinism (after all, we do develop from the apes even if our evolution is not totally natural), the truth is that you find in it what you want.
The vital point made, on a spiritual level, is that the monolith which influenced our ape ancestors, is always going to be responsible, at least in part, for mankinds comparatively advanced status (at least in our own world). One simple match-cut, bone to bomb (or satellite, depending on the source) says this, and has a more powerful, but still ambiguous meaning than most films. Bowman is an ape. The Discovery is a tool. The transformation Bowman goes through at the end of the film is just the next semester of the Monoliths eternal classes in self improvement.
You could write, discuss, and ponder this film indefinitely.