2010 The Film

[Mr Light]

I just watched this movie for the first time in many years. I don't know what the general consensus is on this, but I think it's a pretty good movie. Sure it's not an surrealistic masterpiece like the first one but it's a good flick on its own right.

Roy Schneider is great as the lead character, bring a humor and humanity to what could have been a cold and inhuman story. John Lithgow and Helen Mirren are in it too!!!

I was surprised to see it came out in 1984 because the FX held up extremely well and nothing looked dodgy at all. There's even CGI Monoliths! Oh maybe that part looked a little fake

I really liked how the space mission was set against a US-Russia war about to break out back home, and the clashes between the US and Russian astronauts. The spacewalk sequences are really tense and stressful and they look absolutely real.

There were a couple scenes that are masterful and bring a tear to my eye even watching it today. When Dave appears to Heywood and tells him "something is coming, something wonderful" and in a Kubrick-ian sequence the character becomes a different shape in each shot until finally its the Star Child raising his head to look at him (which freaks me out to this day!).

And the scene where they're about to blast off and they're worried HAL will go apescat again and kill them. HAL keeps asking if he should abort the sequence and they're getting more and more freaked and finally Chandra tells him yes we're sacrificing you to save ourselves, and HAL calmly says "I understand. Thank you for telling me the truth". And then after they're gone, Dave appears to HAL and tells him what's about to happen and to send the message, and HAL calmly says "I'm afraid". Everytime I hear this it completely gets to me. And Dave says "Don't be afraid. You'll be here with me".

And the final message is stirring as well: "All these worlds are yours, except Europa. Attempt no landings there. Use them together. Use them in peace". Combined with the shots of the twin suns in the sky across the world, and then the shot on Europa showing the ecology developing, and the Monitor sitting there waiting.

 

[Daneel]

I like the film too, even if the Soviet references date the film somewhat.

The filmmakers certainly didn't have an enviable task in creating a sequel to 2001, and I think they were wise to do it in a more conventional style. I mean, I'm all for more innovation in cinema, but the original is such a unique, memorable, and pioneering film-going experience that it would be foolish to attempt to top it in a similar manner.

The resulting film may not be as well-crafted or as important as 2001, but I think it is a pretty good movie in its own right.

 

[Roshi]

My main beef with 2010: The Year We Make Contact is basically its tendency to rationalize the events we've seen in A Space Odyssey, i.e. HAL's fuck-up, the Monolith, is the Transcendence of alien origin or is it divine? etc. But from what I could gather, this was essentially Arthur C. Clarke's intent.
However I really liked the reinstatement of the "It's full of stars" line.

 

[John Picard]

I like the film too, even if the Soviet references date the film somewhat.

The filmmakers certainly didn't have an enviable task in creating a sequel to 2001, and I think they were wise to do it in a more conventional style. I mean, I'm all for more innovation in cinema, but the original is such a unique, memorable, and pioneering film-going experience that it would be foolish to attempt to top it in a similar manner.

The resulting film may not be as well-crafted or as important as 2001, but I think it is a pretty good movie in its own right.

I read the book, 2001, but couldn't get past the first 10 minutes of the movie. Kubrick was a nut. 2010 was more in keeping with the book.

 

[Daneel]

^^^^^^
Oh, I know the film won't appeal to everyone, and I can understand why. But I think even the film's detractors can't deny that it is a hugely influential movie, and one that is generally regarded as very important to the development of the science-fiction genre in cinema.

 

[Ensign_Redshirt]

It's good to see some other 2010 fans around here.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Who knew they'd still be using Apple //c's in 2010?

 

[TGTheodore]

^ I still use MINE.

--Ted

 

[Worf2DS9]

^ Heh, I'm sure the more "futuristic" computers must have been at the repair shop at the time and they were just using the old relics in the meantime.

I've always really enjoyed the movie as well. I liked all the call-backs to the first movie, like the recreation of the Discovery, HAL (with the voice of Douglas Rain), and it was cool that Keir Dullea still almost looked as young as he was in 2001.

And the closing shot... eerie.

 

[btflash]

when it first came out i didnt particularly care for it . after watching it recently ive changed my opinion and think it was a pretty good film. i guess the problem i had with it initially was that i expected it to look and feel like 2001. i still think the effects were subpar though.

 

[Broccoli]

^ Heh, I'm sure the more "futuristic" computers must have been at the repair shop at the time and they were just using the old relics in the meantime.

Oh, you see...in a deleted scene, that is now lost for all time to us, it was mentioned that the old computers in the room was part of prank from the guys down the hall.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Fortunately we will finally get a decent DVD version in a couple of months, when this film comes out on Blu-Ray.

All previous DVD versions of 2010, to put it mildly, sucked. They weren't even anamorphic (despite the cover label on the Warner version)... Although the version on iTunes is okay.

 

[Norrin Radd]

As a sequel, I don't like 2010. I personally don't like it's "literal take" on the events of the previous film. From that perspective, I wish the film didn't exist at all. I think it kind of "ruins" the spiritual and mysterious aspects of 2001.

However, on its own, 2010 is a damn fine film. But Roy Scheider is the one who makes it all work.

 

[shivkala]

You'll see, you'll all see, when the big thing next year is retro electronics and all of the new Macs look like Apple//c's, you'll all see!

Personally, I can't wait for Apple to reveal the 2010 iPod:

and, of course, the 2010 iPhone:

 

[Lookingglassman]

I like it, but I hated the guy who played the smarmy scientist who was friends with HAL.

 

[Broccoli]

Bob Balaban? That guy is awesome.

 

[CaptMurdock]

I just watched this movie for the first time in many years. I don't know what the general consensus is on this, but I think it's a pretty good movie. Sure it's not an surrealistic masterpiece like the first one but it's a good flick on its own right.

Roy Schneider is great as the lead character, bring a humor and humanity to what could have been a cold and inhuman story. John Lithgow and Helen Mirren are in it too!!!

I was surprised to see it came out in 1984 because the FX held up extremely well and nothing looked dodgy at all. There's even CGI Monoliths! Oh maybe that part looked a little fake

I really liked how the space mission was set against a US-Russia war about to break out back home, and the clashes between the US and Russian astronauts. The spacewalk sequences are really tense and stressful and they look absolutely real.

There were a couple scenes that are masterful and bring a tear to my eye even watching it today. When Dave appears to Heywood and tells him "something is coming, something wonderful" and in a Kubrick-ian sequence the character becomes a different shape in each shot until finally its the Star Child raising his head to look at him (which freaks me out to this day!).

And the scene where they're about to blast off and they're worried HAL will go apescat again and kill them. HAL keeps asking if he should abort the sequence and they're getting more and more freaked and finally Chandra tells him yes we're sacrificing you to save ourselves, and HAL calmly says "I understand. Thank you for telling me the truth". And then after they're gone, Dave appears to HAL and tells him what's about to happen and to send the message, and HAL calmly says "I'm afraid". Everytime I hear this it completely gets to me. And Dave says "Don't be afraid. You'll be here with me".

And the final message is stirring as well: "All these worlds are yours, except Europa. Attempt no landings there. Use them together. Use them in peace". Combined with the shots of the twin suns in the sky across the world, and then the shot on Europa showing the ecology developing, and the Monitor sitting there waiting.

Oh, thank you. I thought I was the only one who choked up when HAL agrees to sacrifice himself. Then...

Chandra: Do you want me to stay with you?

HAL: No. It's better that you leave. Dr. Chandra?

Chandra: Yes, HAL?

HAL: Will I dream?

Chandra (choked): I don't know.

 

[stj]

The climax, when the second sun appears in Earth's sky, is extraordinary.
It's also something that not everyone cares about.

 

[Kryton]

Bob Balaban? That guy is awesome.

QFT. Close Encounters, Altered States, Seinfeld, and countless other appearances. He is a treasure.

 

[Star Wolf]

I like the film too, even if the Soviet references date the film somewhat.

The filmmakers certainly didn't have an enviable task in creating a sequel to 2001, and I think they were wise to do it in a more conventional style. I mean, I'm all for more innovation in cinema, but the original is such a unique, memorable, and pioneering film-going experience that it would be foolish to attempt to top it in a similar manner.

The resulting film may not be as well-crafted or as important as 2001, but I think it is a pretty good movie in its own right.

I read the book, 2001, but couldn't get past the first 10 minutes of the movie. Kubrick was a nut. 2010 was more in keeping with the book.

Good, I'm not alone in the 2001 versus 2010 battle. For years I kept a VCR of 2010 copied off of the late night movie before we had infomercials. 2010 v. Sunshine?