So I finally watched 2001: A Space Odyssey the other night. I know, I know. I'm a little behind here. But better late than never, right?
All in all, I liked it so much that it's kind of consumed my thoughts for the last couple of days and I went ahead and picked it up on Blu-Ray today. While I'm a bit torn regarding my feelings on the narrative, you can't argue that it's not a thought-provoking film that really gets in your head.
First off, it doesn't even have to be said, but it's visually stunning. I watched it in HD and the set design, photography and effects all look great even today. The models used for all the space craft/stations/bases are excellent and model-based effects are really something that I want to keep alive rather than using CGI for every single thing, but it's a dying art for sure. Let's hope for a revival.
The soundtrack is also excellent, though sometimes it felt inappropriate. There were times when I was hearing a playful classical piece when I felt like I should be hearing something darker and more moody.
In regard to the story, well, I think it's the kind of movie you have to watch a few times to really get, and even then it would probably be difficult to decipher everything Kubrick was trying to say. The ending, especially, was totally lost on me and I'm not sure it would make sense even if I watched the film 10 times in a row. While I appreciate the experimental nature of the movie, I do think it could have benefited from at least something of a more traditional narrative structure.
All in all, I think it's best viewed as a mood piece and as a successful attempt by a filmmaker to break new ground in terms of visuals and FX.
So what about the rest of you guys? What are your thoughts on this film? Masterpiece or overrated mess? How important is it to you as a piece of cinema?
All in all, I liked it so much that it's kind of consumed my thoughts for the last couple of days and I went ahead and picked it up on Blu-Ray today. While I'm a bit torn regarding my feelings on the narrative, you can't argue that it's not a thought-provoking film that really gets in your head.
First off, it doesn't even have to be said, but it's visually stunning. I watched it in HD and the set design, photography and effects all look great even today. The models used for all the space craft/stations/bases are excellent and model-based effects are really something that I want to keep alive rather than using CGI for every single thing, but it's a dying art for sure. Let's hope for a revival.
The soundtrack is also excellent, though sometimes it felt inappropriate. There were times when I was hearing a playful classical piece when I felt like I should be hearing something darker and more moody.
In regard to the story, well, I think it's the kind of movie you have to watch a few times to really get, and even then it would probably be difficult to decipher everything Kubrick was trying to say. The ending, especially, was totally lost on me and I'm not sure it would make sense even if I watched the film 10 times in a row. While I appreciate the experimental nature of the movie, I do think it could have benefited from at least something of a more traditional narrative structure.
All in all, I think it's best viewed as a mood piece and as a successful attempt by a filmmaker to break new ground in terms of visuals and FX.
So what about the rest of you guys? What are your thoughts on this film? Masterpiece or overrated mess? How important is it to you as a piece of cinema?
