Release Date: 1968 Length: 142 min
“I am putting myself to the fullest possible use, which is all I think that any conscious entity can ever hope to do.” -Hal.
Director: Stanley Kubrick(known for The Shining, A Clockwork Orange, and Dr. Strangelove) Writers: Stanley Kubrick and Arthur C. Clarke(writer of the novel) Actors: Keir Dullea, Gary Lockwood, and William Sylvester
Summary: After a monolith of alien origins is discovered on the moon, a team is sent to Jupiter to try and locate the source. On the way, they encounter technical problems from the communications system called H.A.L. that result in deadly consequences.
Overall Thoughts: This film was ahead of its time when it came to the science behind space travel. The designs of the spaceships seen in the movie are incredibly accurate, like the “Ferris wheel” looking spacecraft that created artificial gravity through centrifugal force. Even the little details that are easily overlooked were clearly researched extensively, like the small detail of no sound in space and the overall look of the characters floating in space. All of this is even more impressive when we remember that this movie was made 1 year before the first men walked on the moon! The movie was even more accurate than some of the modern-day science fiction films. The story of the film is also a work of genius that incorporates a ton of subplots that all come together to create one cohesive idea. The film does not have just one underlying theme, but several, like evolution, the search for extraterrestrial life, and the creation of Artificial Intelligence. For me, the film’s best scene is when H.A.L. begins to beg the main character, Dr. David Bowman, not to kill him. You finish watching the scene, truly feeling like you just witnessed a murder, but then you remember that H.A.L. isn’t human. It makes you wonder what the future holds as the world advances further in the realm of AI. Will AI become more human than humans? How much control will we have over something that can, in essence, think for itself? I’m not familiar with any of the main actors outside of this film, but I can say that they were all perfect for this film. In particular, Keir Dullea, who plays the main character, shines in the final 30 minutes of the film, which cannot even be explained in words except to say that it truly leaves one with questions, but in a good way. I have been a longtime fan of Stanley Kubrick, so it will be no surprise when I say that this film could never have been made without his genius behind the camera. I cannot overemphasize enough how great Stanley Kubrick is at creating epics that stay with you long after they end. I cannot even imagine the amount of research and soul-searching that this film took, but it clearly can only be done by the very best. Overall, this movie is great for anyone who wants to see a realistic science fiction film that is left to be interpreted by the audience.
Ratings: Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 90% My Rating: 90%
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