When my friend Saurabh I’ve mentioned and I got to watch the unrestored version of this film (in other words, exactly what audiences saw in 1968) at an Arclight last year it was such an utter joy watching one of my favorite movies of all time in a theater. As many films as I’ve seen over the decades (well you can see a counter on the front page LOL) any lists of my top 10 or top 5 naturally vary depending on my mood at the time. However, you’ll always see 2001 near the top of the list. You’ll also see it, 100% of the time, at the very top of any list I make of best Kubrick movies in spite of so many of his other films being mesmerizing.
What makes 2001: A Space Odyssey so incredible? I’ve never taken the time to really answer that but that’s the sort of reason I have this blog now.
Grand. That might be the best word to describe this movie, and this might be the best movie in history to epitomize that word. Kubrick was so ambitious – giving us this meditation on humanity that spans a time period from our species’ ancestors all the way to a highly advanced future and spans a physical space from Earth all the way to Jupiter even though at the time the film was made people had yet to even reach the moon.
Beautiful. In such big strokes the film meditates on how wonderfully life has evolved on our planet, how we can continue to do so, and how an alien species might lovingly view us. Notice how birthdays are a recurring theme in the film.
Majestic. That score. It’s a well-known fact that the classical music was meant for temporary use until an original soundtrack was composed but it turned out to be perfect.
Thrilling. The plot, especially insofar it contains the HAL 9000, is intense and captivating. It concerns the future of our entire species, in spite of existing on such an existential and often understated level.
Stylish. Even better than the use of sound is the use of silence. It gives you an honest feel of outer space. Yet when imagination is required, that essential light show towards the end (and really, who’s to say what traveling those billions of light years would be like?) is utterly unforgettable.
I told Saurabh at the time (and told some family members soon afterwards) that even the best meditative sci-fi movies (films such as Interstellar, Arrival, and Annihilation) are at most B-grade 2001. Granted, even B-grade 2001 can be incredible (look at how highly I just rated Ad Astra) but you will never have another experience like this movie.
Heck I almost thought outside the box and paired Ad Astra with that 1980s anime series Noozles (you know I was a Nickelodeon fan growing up) due to plot similarities. However, I couldn’t turn down the chance to sing the praises of 2001 for anyone who hasn’t seen it. In fact, even if you have seen it, if you’re like me you’ll watch it again any chance you can get.
Bottom line: This movie leaves me so speechless I might as well be in outer space.
Agree? Disagree? Feel free to comment.
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