| Overall Grade: |
B |
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| Story: |
B+ |
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| Acting: |
A- |
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| Direction: |
A |
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|
| Visuals: |
A+ |
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A toss up.
by -Voodoo- (movies profile)
Dec 31, 2005
3
of
4 people found this review helpful
One of the most talked about, mysterious films of film history is one no movie goer should miss. It's insight and creativity are mindbending and ingenious. Stanley Kubricks futuristic masterpiece succeeds to a point until it reachs a point where it seems to be uncertain of where to continue and dribbles off into a spiral of confusion and disbelief.
Half of the film should be in an art gallery while the other half should be rested in a video store. The first half of the film is brillaintly frightening and interesting, while the other half is unexplained and forgettable. The film seems to require to tell us the dawn of man's story of the apes ability to use tools, while the core plot lies in a futuristic 2001. Although, the long ape sequence is meaningful in the end it seems prolonged and unnecessary. The character developed in HAL is chilling and intriguing. He is one of the original machines to turn against man in Hollywood, he is not human but he has his own feelings and character which is why he is so incredably absorbing. I would have wished the plot pay closer attention and stay with HAL longer but it seemed to have a different idea.
Instead of continuing explore the rebel machine, the story veers of in an artistic direction fueled by distorted images of space, composate colors, and flashing neon lights. The ending may or may not phase you in any way. It may touch you or may leave you dumbfounded. It tries to teach us about the cycle of evolution in a confusing and unclear way.
The film also feels much like a silent film of a more modern generation. There is little talk besides when HAL is present and much calm music. Although when the all mighty monolith is present, we hear the great and unforgettable thumping, powerful theme song. The monolith is a powerful figure in this movie and depending on how you view the movie, it may represent different things.
For anyone who is interested in film, 2001: A Space Odyssey should not be unseen for it is a cinematic classic. Although I think this has more to do with the fact that from different perspectives from different people, the ending, the monolith and the movie as a whole will have a varied meaning. Which has never been done before, or after, in film history. It is a confusing, frankly, it's often rather dull but a cinematic art none the less. |
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