2001: A Space Odyssey By Stanley Kubrick
2001: A Space Odyssey, directed by Stanley Kubrick released in April of 1968. Although the movie premiered almost 40 years ago, it still remains a phenomenon today. The film incorporates the evolution of humanity, technology, extraterrestrial life and a journey toward greater intelligence. The movie has scientific accuracy and unbelievable imagery, creating a visually pleasing movie with very little dialog. The music, visuals, structure and pace all play an important role in the film. The little details are a key role even in the most important of scenes, and silence is the greatest element of them all.
2001’s length is about 160 minutes; only 40 of those with dialog, and the first and last 30 with none at all. As a viewer watching …show more content…
This is because the plot of the film does not ever end, it is meant to continue on with the viewers. The movie has three independent sections that are very different in theme and action, however they all blend to make one coherent film. This type of structure is more suitable for the plot because it allows the film to continue on beyond the credits.
In the last section of the film, ‘Beyond the Infinite’, Bowman travels through a strange psychedelic corridor called the “stargate.” He finally ends up in a modern space hotel room with no windows or doors. It seems as if he has been placed here to be experimented on by extraterrestrials. At this point, Bowman is sweating, shaking and the room is silent aside from his heavy breathing. Bowman looks in the mirror dissatisfied, as if he doesn’t recognize himself. His breathing stops when he hears a metal clanking noise. Eating in the other room, is an older man. As he stands up and walks toward the camera, Bowman realizes it is an older version of himself. The older Bowman looks around, but the younger Bowman is gone. As Bowman returns to eating, he accidentally breaks a glass. The shattering noise breaks the silence. Then Bowman hears someone else breathing. He looks up and sees none other than himself dying of old age in bed. Bowman has reached the limits of his humanity has he takes his final steps in his transformation. At the foot of the bed the Monolith appears with a glowing, childlike figure. He has not died, but the starchild is born. Bowman is now at a new level of existence. He now transcends time, as shown by the glass which neither decayed nor went back together. He is still innocent within his new existence, as shown by the baby. The final scenes are of the starchild floating in space aside earth, Bowman’s birthplace. He now will grow with a new existence within the
2001’s length is about 160 minutes; only 40 of those with dialog, and the first and last 30 with none at all. As a viewer watching …show more content…
This is because the plot of the film does not ever end, it is meant to continue on with the viewers. The movie has three independent sections that are very different in theme and action, however they all blend to make one coherent film. This type of structure is more suitable for the plot because it allows the film to continue on beyond the credits.
In the last section of the film, ‘Beyond the Infinite’, Bowman travels through a strange psychedelic corridor called the “stargate.” He finally ends up in a modern space hotel room with no windows or doors. It seems as if he has been placed here to be experimented on by extraterrestrials. At this point, Bowman is sweating, shaking and the room is silent aside from his heavy breathing. Bowman looks in the mirror dissatisfied, as if he doesn’t recognize himself. His breathing stops when he hears a metal clanking noise. Eating in the other room, is an older man. As he stands up and walks toward the camera, Bowman realizes it is an older version of himself. The older Bowman looks around, but the younger Bowman is gone. As Bowman returns to eating, he accidentally breaks a glass. The shattering noise breaks the silence. Then Bowman hears someone else breathing. He looks up and sees none other than himself dying of old age in bed. Bowman has reached the limits of his humanity has he takes his final steps in his transformation. At the foot of the bed the Monolith appears with a glowing, childlike figure. He has not died, but the starchild is born. Bowman is now at a new level of existence. He now transcends time, as shown by the glass which neither decayed nor went back together. He is still innocent within his new existence, as shown by the baby. The final scenes are of the starchild floating in space aside earth, Bowman’s birthplace. He now will grow with a new existence within the