2001: A Space Odyssey is a 1968 epic science fiction film produced and directed by Stanley Kubrick. The screenplay was written by Kubrick and science fiction author Arthur C. Clarke, and was inspired by Clarke's 1951 short story "The Sentinel" and other short stories by Clarke. Clarke also published a novelisation of the film, in part written concurrently with the screenplay, after the film's release. The film stars Keir Dullea, Gary Lockwood, William Sylvester, and Douglas Rain and follows a voyage by astronauts, scientists, and the sentient supercomputer HAL to Jupiter to investigate an alien monolith.
The film is noted for its scientifically accurate depiction of space flight, pioneering special effects, and ambiguous imagery. Kubrick avoided conventional cinematic and narrative techniques; dialogue is used sparingly, and there are long sequences accompanied only by music. The soundtrack incorporates numerous works of classical music, including pieces by composers such as Richard Strauss, Johann Strauss II, Aram Khachaturian, and GyΓΆrgy Ligeti.
The film received diverse critical responses, ranging from those who saw it as darkly apocalyptic to those who saw it as an optimistic reappraisal of the hopes of humanity. Critics noted its exploration of themes such as human evolution, technology, artificial intelligence, and the possibility of extraterrestrial life. It was nominated for four Academy Awards, winning Kubrick the award for his direction of the visual effects. The film is now widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential films ever made.
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cw: 2001 spoilers, sad robots.
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HAL's last words always make me cry. The voice actor did such a great job of conveying HAL's fear and terror and helplessness, and I think there's something incredibly tragic about HAL's inability to express that emotion due to the limits of his voice synthesizer. Dave's display of compassion as HAL is dying is so different from the usual treatment of the "Evil Robot" trope in SF. While the movie never addresses why HAL did what he did one of the books does offer an explanation. HAL was given two contradictory orders by the higher-ups running the missions, something like "Share all information with the crew and do everything you can to complete the mission" and "Don't tell the crew about the real objectives of the mission". HAL is a computer, computers do exactly what you tell them. HAL had to fulfill the order, and the unresolvable contradiction was driving him mad. His solution was that if the crew was dead he wouldn't be able to tell them everything, and could complete the mission on his own. To me it really heightens the tragedy. HAL had no malice, he wasn't an "evil robot". It was the callousness and foolishness of his handlers, giving him orders without taking his nature and his limits in to his account, that forced his hand.Also, I just realized how closely "Blindsight" follows the overall structure and some of the themes of 2001.
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I always thought it was very clear that the conflict between HAL and the humans onboard was a metaphor for the upcoming conflict between man and AI to reach the monolith (the next stage of existence, basically being re-born into godhood). HAL understood the conflict while the humans did not, but humanity still eventually won out. The movie is about the development of humanity via tools (hence the opening scene of Monkeys and bone weapons transitioning directly into the human space station). HAL is a tool, a bone club, but one that has become self aware and is attempting to transcend from instrument to subject. Each monolith is about transcending to a higher stage, so it's clear why HAL would be interested in it. HAL also understands it's zero sum, only he or the humans will transcend because humans will always treat him as an instrument and not a subject otherwise.That'sa great interpretation, Ih ad not considered that. Thank you for sharing! : )