2001 on the Big Screen

Hambone · January 5 2013, 02:50 PM

The local (Madison, WI) Sundance Theater had a special showing of "2001" this week and I was fortunate enough to see it. A couple of thoughts:

-The film holds up remarkably well; special effects look better than ever. The smooth, subtile movement of the space ships is very relaxing compared to the current trends.

-The audience was overwhelmingly male, but there was a wide span in ages. There were teenagers and 70-somethings. I hasten to add that most of them looked like they hadn't seen a shower or a razor in weeks, which I found slightly humorous.

-If you have an active bladder, it might not be the best idea to buy the 72-ounce soda for a 2-1/2 hour film. The guy sitting in front of me had to get up 4 times to pee.

-My girlfriend had never seen 2001. It was her idea to go. She sat patiently through the whole thing. On the way out, her only comment was "What the fuck was that?" BUT...on the way home, she started asking questions, indicating that the film had worked its legendary magic on her imagination.

roger1999 · January 5 2013, 02:57 PM

Lucky you. My favorite film of all time.

Mr. Laser Beam · January 5 2013, 03:22 PM

Mine as well.

Fun fact: The centrifuge set in the Discovery was 'real', in that it was actually built complete, all the way around, and rotated just like a real life version would.

Procutus · January 5 2013, 03:25 PM

The best science-fiction film ever made, IMO. I haven't seen in for close to a decade now, so your comments are likely to make me pull out my DVD and view it again. I can't tell you the number of times I read Clarke's novelization, probably more times than I've seen the movie.

Yeah, it does have a magic of its own, totally different from sci-fi movies today.

Procutus · January 5 2013, 03:27 PM

Mr. Laser Beam wrote:

Mine as well.

Fun fact: The centrifuge set in the Discovery was 'real', in that it was actually built complete, all the way around, and rotated just like a real life version would.

I either didn't know that, or had forgotten that fact. There was an excellent book on the making of the movie that was in print, way back in the 70s, and it's likely that was mentioned. The book also contained various script elements that Clarke had written, but were ultimately left out of the film.

Mr. Laser Beam · January 5 2013, 03:32 PM

I also liked 2010 a lot, as well. It's a completely different kind of film, of course, but you've got to expect that, given the decade it was released in. Besides, Roy Scheider is automatic coolness.

The Mirrorball Man · January 5 2013, 04:15 PM

Procutus wrote:

Yeah, it does have a magic of its own, totally different from sci-fi movies today.

Actually it's even more different from what science fiction movies were back then.

Set Harth · January 5 2013, 06:49 PM

Hambone wrote:

I hasten to add that most of them looked like they hadn't seen a shower or a razor in weeks, which I found slightly humorous.

It's not their fault. Bane trapped them underground. ( And the shower thing would be a smell issue, not a "look" issue. )

Hambone wrote:

-If you have an active bladder, it might not be the best idea to buy the 72-ounce soda for a 2-1/2 hour film.

Wait, you're asking modern audiences to think about the consequences of actions? That ship has sailed, my friend.

Andrew_Kearley · January 5 2013, 08:31 PM

Hambone wrote:

If you have an active bladder, it might not be the best idea to buy the 72-ounce soda for a 2-1/2 hour film. The guy sitting in front of me had to get up 4 times to pee.

Wow! Couldn't even wait until the intermission?

Mr. Laser Beam · January 5 2013, 08:36 PM

Procutus wrote:

Mr. Laser Beam wrote:

Mine as well.

Fun fact: The centrifuge set in the Discovery was 'real', in that it was actually built complete, all the way around, and rotated just like a real life version would.

I either didn't know that, or had forgotten that fact. There was an excellent book on the making of the movie that was in print, way back in the 70s, and it's likely that was mentioned.

IIRC, when Dave goes to get his meal from the food slot, Frank is sitting at the table eating. But since it's not really zero-g while they were filming, Gary Lockwood had to be strapped into his seat basically upside down, because Keir Dullea was on the other 'side' of the centrifuge where the food slot was...

roger1999 · January 5 2013, 09:21 PM

If you want to see a photo of the 2001 centrifuge set, just google "2001 centrifuge."

Set Harth · January 5 2013, 11:10 PM

Gary Mitchell would have showed that HAL who's boss.

Klaus · January 5 2013, 11:23 PM

I saw it on the big screen in 1972, the summer between 5th and 6th grade at a local college theater... same summer I read LotR for the first time. Never been the same since.

Though I had to go to the library and read the book to figure out what the end meant.

Set Harth · January 6 2013, 12:38 AM

And then the sequel retconned it.

Mr. Laser Beam · January 6 2013, 12:39 AM

You have been drinking your whiskey from Kentucky!

January 5 2013, 02:50 PM	#1
Hambone Fleet Captain Location: Land of cheese, sausage and beer	2001 on the Big Screen The local (Madison, WI) Sundance Theater had a special showing of "2001" this week and I was fortunate enough to see it. A couple of thoughts: -The film holds up remarkably well; special effects look better than ever. The smooth, subtile movement of the space ships is very relaxing compared to the current trends. -The audience was overwhelmingly male, but there was a wide span in ages. There were teenagers and 70-somethings. I hasten to add that most of them looked like they hadn't seen a shower or a razor in weeks, which I found slightly humorous. -If you have an active bladder, it might not be the best idea to buy the 72-ounce soda for a 2-1/2 hour film. The guy sitting in front of me had to get up 4 times to pee. -My girlfriend had never seen 2001. It was her idea to go. She sat patiently through the whole thing. On the way out, her only comment was "What the fuck was that?" BUT...on the way home, she started asking questions, indicating that the film had worked its legendary magic on her imagination. __________________ Get a haircut, hippie.

January 5 2013, 02:57 PM	#2
roger1999 Commander	Re: 2001 on the Big Screen Lucky you. My favorite film of all time.

January 5 2013, 03:22 PM	#3
Mr. Laser Beam Fleet Admiral Location: The visitor's bullpen	Re: 2001 on the Big Screen Mine as well. Fun fact: The centrifuge set in the Discovery was 'real', in that it was actually built complete, all the way around, and rotated just like a real life version would. __________________ It is by caffeine alone I set my mind in motion. It is by the beans of Java that thoughts acquire speed, the hands acquire shakes, the shakes become a warning. It is by caffeine alone I set my mind in motion.

January 5 2013, 03:25 PM	#4
Procutus Admiral Location: Back behind my keyboard	Re: 2001 on the Big Screen The best science-fiction film ever made, IMO. I haven't seen in for close to a decade now, so your comments are likely to make me pull out my DVD and view it again. I can't tell you the number of times I read Clarke's novelization, probably more times than I've seen the movie. Yeah, it does have a magic of its own, totally different from sci-fi movies today. __________________ I used to be indecisive. Now I'm not so sure.

January 5 2013, 03:32 PM	#6
Mr. Laser Beam Fleet Admiral Location: The visitor's bullpen	Re: 2001 on the Big Screen I also liked 2010 a lot, as well. It's a completely different kind of film, of course, but you've got to expect that, given the decade it was released in. Besides, Roy Scheider is automatic coolness. __________________ It is by caffeine alone I set my mind in motion. It is by the beans of Java that thoughts acquire speed, the hands acquire shakes, the shakes become a warning. It is by caffeine alone I set my mind in motion.

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January 5 2013, 09:21 PM	#11
roger1999 Commander	Re: 2001 on the Big Screen If you want to see a photo of the 2001 centrifuge set, just google "2001 centrifuge."

January 5 2013, 11:10 PM	#12
Set Harth Commodore Location: Ekkaia	Re: 2001 on the Big Screen Gary Mitchell would have showed that HAL who's boss. __________________ Are you casting aspersions on my asparagus?

January 5 2013, 11:23 PM	#13
Klaus Rear Admiral Location: Klaus - Beach condo, Bay of Eldamar	Re: 2001 on the Big Screen I saw it on the big screen in 1972, the summer between 5th and 6th grade at a local college theater... same summer I read LotR for the first time. Never been the same since. Though I had to go to the library and read the book to figure out what the end meant. __________________ "Sometimes I wonder whether the world is being run by smart people who are putting us on or by imbeciles who really mean it." - Mark Twain http://tlbklaus.deviantart.com

January 6 2013, 12:38 AM	#14
Set Harth Commodore Location: Ekkaia	Re: 2001 on the Big Screen And then the sequel retconned it. __________________ Are you casting aspersions on my asparagus?

January 6 2013, 12:39 AM	#15
Mr. Laser Beam Fleet Admiral Location: The visitor's bullpen	Re: 2001 on the Big Screen You have been drinking your whiskey from Kentucky! __________________ It is by caffeine alone I set my mind in motion. It is by the beans of Java that thoughts acquire speed, the hands acquire shakes, the shakes become a warning. It is by caffeine alone I set my mind in motion.