2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)

2001: A Space Odyssey (G)

"Daisy, Daisy, tell me your answer due...I am crazy all for the love of you..."

Before any actual human set foot on the moon, master Director Stanley Kubrick was creating a possible future for mankind out there in the void, as still being penned by SciFi great Arthur C. Clark.  In it it tells the epic story of a mysterious force in the universe that empowers the human race from cowering knuckle dragger of the Savannah to intrepid Space explorers seeking out the answers to existence.  Told in a purposefully robotic fashion, filled with genius camera takes and tricks and gorgeous cinematography, ahead of it's time understanding of space and AI, and a mind-bending conclusion that had hippies, cinephiles and sci-fi freaks alike flooding the cinemas in the late 60s.

The movie is broken up into 4 separate but equal parts, shedding characters and intentions and time periods as needed.  The opening often alienates the most viewers, what with its sociological pre-historic depictions of proto-humans, but without it the most famous film cut in film history wouldn't exist, that between the bone-weapon being flung and the space station being ballet-docking with a shuttle while orbiting Earth.  Everything happens for a reason in 2K1ASO, and the more you watch the more it becomes apparent.  The Cold War political intrigue of the Russian vs. America space may seem dated but still is relevant in today's headlines, HAL9000s malevolence and the human's reliance on him for their survival is incredibly timely in this day and age of Internet and technology overtake.  The further leap into the super unknown is just the icing on the cake, and is a wonderful conclusion to a film that is not only about the future evolution of mankind, but the melding of art and science into one of the all time film masterpieces.

Now for those in the wrong, those who think 2001 as a slow plodding chore, consider the following.  At 148 minutes in length, 2001 is shorter than most of the Bay Transformers and about 1000x more intelligent.  Those CGI gonzo monstrosities have nothing on the sleek, beautifully groundbreaking model work found therein, nor the quick cutting explosion laden free for all.  2001 is a methodical step through the mindsets of greats.  Great acting, great scenes, great writing, great ideas, great sets, great special effects, great music, great directing, great purpose, great art.

We can and must forgive the men in monkey suits, the PANAM antiquity, the video phone charges.  Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey is not something to be watched, its a sensory experience that is like submerging into the black subconscious of the mind of man.  Deep into that cold void where math meets color, ambition meets creation, and the survival instinct of the fittest in the deadliest of places.  The beauty of staring into the abyss and the abyss stares back at you?  When it looks this good it's a pleasure to stare.

10 Rectangular Microwaved Astronaut Food Receptacles out of 10 (OUTSTANDING)