2001: The Universe To Cinema

Rating: Null/10 (11 October 2004)

2001: A Space Odyssey could easily be considered the film that greatest utilizes the full potential of cinema i.e. the best film of all time, ever. So much so that the film may thought of as a showcase, the technical manual on how a film should be. To the point that the film is purely about the perfect execution of production & direction. The actors are as much the apparatus of the production, merely another element that is part of the totality that is the film. They do not dominate but are like the proverbial "bone" of the story: tools of the trade. For the film is an exercise in the use of technology to break new boundaries and would be to cinema the experience that Dr Dave Bowman goes through. This is a brilliant film from a brilliant director for so many reasons. One that is endellable to me is when Bowman is blown out of the air lock by Hal and as he tries and eventually gets back into the ship; all you can hear is his breathing. It times the scene beautifully, the theme of the opening cave man scene, of crisis and opportunity is re-lived in the space age. What is at stake in the fight for survival is the same as ever, but now the "bone" has hit back....and so on and so on. What I have written is for people who have watched and studied this film, they may not agree with what I say. However I feel that the sheer technical brilliance, significance and sophistication of this film dwarfs any other film that could be compared to it.