2001 : A Space Odyssey : A Magnum Opus

Rating: 10/10 (21 May 2005)

Stanley Kubrick can be said as an Einstein of film making. 2001 : A Space Odyssey is more than a Movie. Its an unforgettable master piece, perhaps the most intelligently made movie of all time. More important for us is to applause Kubrick's effort as he has not made the film with a commercial angle but, instead brought out a learning experience through cinematic media. 2001 : A Space Odyssey can be said as a Mix of remarkable Documentary & a superb cinematic drama.
The best part of the film is how Kubrick has documented the behavior in Outer space & in Zero-Gravity system. Its merely impossible to explain by words or novel to explain the behavior & perception which one can face in zero-gravity. When coming to fiction, Kubrick shows how humans in 21st century overcomes zero-gravity by using principles of centrifugal force. Difficult even to mentally visualize, but Kubrick & his team generously designed, crafted & shot the greatest scenes ever, of the Rotating Giant Wheel Space Craft & Discovery Space Ship's Crews Walking through the Rotating Deck.
2001 : A Space Odyssey is a Film about "Evolution of Higher Intelligence for a Need of Survival under influence of Unknown Phenomenon"
The basic idea of Arhtur C. Clarke was that, evolution of intelligence on Earth, from Apes to Man was bestowed by some extra terrestrials (Aliens) and subsequently transforms them from man to the so called "Star Child" (Higher intelligence) at the end and after 4 million years.
During a sudden Phenomenon in an early morning, the apes come across the Monolith, a Black Rectangular Object, standing erect on the Land. It was a very unusual object for the apes as in wide contrast to their present environment. The "Curosity" increases amongst the apes and by overcoming their "Fear" one of the apes touches the Monolith followed by other apes. Here is where they overcome their fear and gained confidence. Their brains achieves a second degree of intelligence. Soon after that incidence, the apes are able to "THINK" and then comes the invention of a "Tool", perhaps the best scene of the film blended with great music. With this "Tool" apes are able to fight and defy the rivals.
The fast forward to 21st century visualizes the "Civilised" Man with his tool which is now sophisticated and in constant innovation. And there is a conflict between the man & machines (tools). Excellently directed by Kubrick, the dispute between the Discovery crew & Hal 9000 is remarkable.
Try to understand our connection with the earth. If we don't have any tool with us we can still walk around and survive on land as gravity keeps us together with the Earth matter such as air, water & soil. But in Space, if one loose control of his tools, he shall not survive as there is no Air, water, land & gravity. Our organic form of life is designed to be in need of these.
Here is the need of MUTATION. Its time, since man have reached its highest progress but is helpless in Outer space, there is a need for Another Evolution. A New species which shall require no tools to travel. And the Phenomenon again occurs after 4 million years.
Jupiter & Beyond exhibits that "Dave" the last survival of Discovery space ship, after killing HAL 9000, visits the monolith and subsequently enters a new universe. This again unknown, Kubrick leaves on us to wonder. But the New universe is Multi-dimensional. In the present world we live is 3-Dimension and we are able to move in the space around us in 3-D pattern. This is the rule of our universe. But Dave's new world is Multi - Space-Time dimensional. Imagine if you could also have a Road of time in which you can move to & fro like the Highway on which we travel. The birth of Higher intelligence Life form is an origin from this world. Dave is influenced / mutated again the by the unknown monolith and incarnated as "STAR CHILD" in present universe which in the movie is a Giant embryo. Here is were the film ends.
The Plot of the film is definite. A journey of evolution from "Apes - to - Man - to - Starchild" How it happens, Kubrick shows it as under influence of the Sentinel Monolith. But the evolution happens, Monolith is a fiction, but Genetic Mutation is true. Nature have always constantly mutated Life form to habitat its relevant environment. This is a story of habituating outer space.