I’m a sci-fi geek. Not a total one, though. There are a lot of things I’ve just happened to miss, like The X-Files, Comic Con and everything on the SyFy channel (I don’t have cable), but many movies from the genre are on the list of films I could watch over and over again. Star Wars (the original trilogy, please), Alien, Aliens, Blade Runner, The Terminator (1 and 2), The Fly, Total Recall, Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978), Scanners, Gattaca, Showgirls… I could watch these sci-fi movies anytime, anywhere. I never get sick of them. The film that is probably at the top of that list is Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey.
It is operatic in scale, gorgeous to look at, quietly terrifying and never less than thrilling for me, every time I see it. It doesn’t have the pace of The Empire Strikes Back, Aliens or T2; it’s a totally different ride that never ceases to enthrall me. When people tell me they think it’s slow, I think they’re slow. Every frame is a thoroughly considered work of art.
The British Film Institute just released a gorgeous new trailer for the film in anticipation of a re-release in British theaters. As much as I love my Blu-ray copy of the movie, I almost want to fly to London, since I’ve never seen 2001: A Space Odyssey projected onto a screen.
If you’ve never seen it and are even marginally interested in sci-fi or just good filmmaking, do yourself a favor and rent it, buy it or, if you live in London, see it. It’s a masterpiece.
Trailer:
Photos from the movie:
4 Comments
George, 2001 A Space Odyssey remains my all-time favorite movie. Having seen it in the theatre as a very young child it forever influenced my expectation of the future, as well as my preferences for clean, sleek design and 1960’s fashions. It was not until many years later, as a teen, when I read the book and finally understood the plotline which escaped me as a child (particularly the first half of the movie) that I came to appreciate the magnificence of the story and it’s spiritual component. It’s primitive special effects still hold up against any current movie, and the final moments when Bowman sees his aged self still give me chills. Yes, I’m biased, but I’d still love to have a shiny white, endlessly huge livingroom with Hot Pink seating…LOL
I concur… I recently read the book and while at first it was like a physics lesson 🙂 it is one great post-human novel, way before its time! Simply awe-inspiring. Probably more remarkable given that the book was written explicitly for the development of the movie, yet it stands strong in its own right.
Well Mr H, you missed a really good showing of 2k1 at last year’s Adelaide Festival. Big screen in one of the best venues for music in Australia, accompanied live by our symphony orchestra and choir.
You should have come! But then a smart-dressed man like yourself would have stood out in Adelaide like Showgirls in a list of great sf move es 😉
Cheers,
Jim
If you’re in San Fran there’s a Kubrick exhibit at Yetba Buena Center for the Arts.