A movie > 2001 : A space Odyssey?

Question

This is a Kubrick film. What do you think about it? Do you like it? What do you like? What do you dislike? Do you understand it? What's the meaning of the story ? And what about the ending?... I need your help ! Tell me all you know about it, please!

Answer 1

I have read that Kubrick was influenced by philosophical alchemy. The planet that they originally wanted to make the movie around was Saturn--not Jupiter but there was some problem about using an image of Saturn instead of Jupiter in the filming. It's a little complicated to explain. Saturn, in alchemy, is considered the "black sun" (and some astronomers and cosmologists actually do believe that Saturn and Jupiter are suns but have a different type of radiation than the sun--so they don't "shine"). In alchemical meditations, one contemplates moving through the "planets " (like yogis meditate on the chakras) from the black sun of Saturn to the golden Sun. I can't go into detail about it here but to say that it is metaphorically related to the alchemical challenge of changing lead to gold. This is what the ending is supposed to portray. The Star Child represents the magical child--or philosopher's stone --that is created through the meditative or alchemical process of breaking down and separating old forms to release new improved, 'perfected" forms. The monolith is the catalyst of evolutionary change.

Answer 2

You must interpret this movie for yourself. You already can see the varying interpretations, and you'd see something a bit different from each person.

One thing I like to point out that gets missed (but might be obvious to some): When the bone is thrown upward then transitions to an object, that orbiting object is a bomb, not a satellite. I was amazed to see that after I had watched the film dozens of times. From what I've read, many people do miss this since they're distracted by other objects.

If this is an assignment, you really must watch it yourself. Otherwise, which interpretation do you plan to choose? This film has been argued over and debated since the time it hit the theaters; I doubt that people will ever settle it to their satisfaction. There always will be somebody to come along and say, "But..."

Read the reviews you're receiving then do one very important thing: WATCH THE MOVIE! It's not a "space opera", alien invasion or any other usual sort. It might spoil your response to it if you watch the sequel, or that could confuse you even more. HAL 9000's behavior is explained in the sequel but not much else.

Answer 3

For the time it was released, this was a brilliant movie. I was just a kid when it opened in the theaters so it was very high tech at the time. It was generally about an extraterrestial force that helped man ascend to the stars. Training early humanoids in tool use and ensuring the success of that branch of humanity. When the monolith was uncovered on the moon and hit by a sun beam, a signal was sent to a relay station outside of Jupiter. this served as a message to the extraterrestials that Mna had reached the moon.
the whole breakdown of Hal was to add drama, and to serve as a counterpoint to hthe flawed artificial intelligence of man, and that we still had much to learn about ourselves.

The ending appears hokey now, but it symbolized a journey to a dimension without time, begining and end all together. the baaby was the astronaut, as well as the symbolism of mans journey to the stars and real understanding of the nature of the universe

Answer 4

It's a classic, came out when I was in 8th grade. My teacher loved it and took the whole class. There is a book called "The Making of 2001: A Space Odyssey," my teachers letter to the producer was in it so we had a lot of class time devoted to it, lol.
There are several themes in general about the movie. Did you see it? Man vs machine, technology, etc. Comparison of man's evolution, or lack of, from primates to "modern" man. The concept of computers and technology getting too big, and out of control, controlling us instead of us, them.
They were very optimistic about the future in space when this movie came out. It was assumed that by now we would have advanced "space clippers" like commercial passenger shuttle crafts, ie "Pan AM." One must keep in mind that when this movie came out, we had just made it to the moon! Everyone was overly optimistic about space travel development.
All in all, the movie leaves a lot of room for different interpretation by the viewer. Nothing is definite, it's all like "What do YOU think that means?: lol. Especially that darn MONOLITH! LOL, who knows?....

Answer 5

I like the movie. It's a movie you have to have patience with and really pay attention to everything that's happening. Kubrick actually preferred that people have their own interpretations and not be bound to one opinion. The movie has several themes: extraterrestrial life, human evolution, technology and artificial intelligence.

Answer 6

Is this a homework assignment? If so, you really should see the movie.
So-so movie. Was considered VERY unsual when it came out (I am, unfortunately, old enough to remember)...the idea that a computer could "think" for itself and talk ,was scary...
I think the movie spent too much "quiet" time...(nothing going on)....I HATED the ending...