Five Decades of 2001

[Shaka Zulu]

I wish he hadn’t destroyed the props but take heart that, on the bright side, the momentous props didn’t get watered down by being used in unrelated films (see also: Robbie the Robot or other props that got lent out, rented/leased, etc.). Ideally he could have donated the materials with a proviso about further usage but, well, y’know.

February this year I was pleasantly surprised to discover that the Pan Am space plane resides on display at the Baltimore Science Museum. Unfortunately it was after the event in the placard had passed.

A few weeks ago I also managed to visit the re-creation/re-interpretation of the suite from “Jupiter and Beyond” at the National Air and Space Museum in DC.

I wish that a new Orion II model kit would be made by Round2Round/AMT/Ertl, and that in addition to the Pan Am insignia, it has the insignia of other airlines, like JAL, KAL, Air Canada, British Airways, United, Delta, American Airlines, etc. I'd also love for it to be as large as the model shown here.

Spoiler: A few large photos

The gift shop had precious little 2001 related merchandise but I did get to handle Christopher Frayling’s 2001 File. I wasn’t impressed enough to pay the $75 asking price but was impressed enough to hunt it down online. Just arrived the other day.

While there I finally had the chance to see the original 1701 fully restored for the first time. Unlit, unfortunately. Lots of photos/video of that too. Never noticed the small antenna hanging from the little dome light under the saucer.[/QUOTE]

Great reproduction of the bedroom set; I see that you got your money's worth going to this exhibit.

 

[Gary7]

Newly built Pod by Greg Nicotero for Escape Velocity.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bi8krv_n-VH/?taken-by=gnicotero
https://www.instagram.com/p/BjQXmfsHt0H/?taken-by=gnicotero

Wow, that's stunning! Paint is too glossy, but otherwise... Is it just for exterior show or will there be a fully lit interior as well?

 

[N-121973]

The film had a very limited re-release on cinema here in the UK and I couldn't get to see it because of the times being inconvenient. I did see the trailer when I went to Solo and the effects and everything stood up extremely well. I'm currently reading a book about the making of the film which I heartily recommend https://www.amazon.co.uk/Space-Odys...&sr=1-1&keywords=space+odyssey+michael+benson. It's definitely revelatory. Best line of the book, referring to Gary Lockwood's time in the UK making the film: "He never met a recreational drug he didn't like'. I fully intend re-watching this film on Blu-Ray in the immediate future.

It certainly inspired.

 

[Qonundrum]

The film had a very limited re-release on cinema here in the UK and I couldn't get to see it because of the times being inconvenient. I did see the trailer when I went to Solo and the effects and everything stood up extremely well. I'm currently reading a book about the making of the film which I heartily recommend https://www.amazon.co.uk/Space-Odys...&sr=1-1&keywords=space+odyssey+michael+benson. It's definitely revelatory. Best line of the book, referring to Gary Lockwood's time in the UK making the film: "He never met a recreational drug he didn't like'. I fully intend re-watching this film on Blu-Ray in the immediate future.

It certainly inspired.

Another movie inspired Star Wars, though not always in the same ways:

Spoiler: Now get The Cowsills to sing about it:

More buns there than in a Hostess bakery... click on the pic to really see the details. Just try not to stare at the man in red for too long in his oversized nappy and all... If The Wizard of Oz made Zardoz, what made Zed red?

 

[crookeddy]

If you've never seen 2001 on the big screen, you've basically never seen the movie. Here in L.A. revival theaters have it on every 2 months. Super highly recommended movie going experience. And yes, almost everything in the movie is so well made that it looks fine now. That's the most incredible part.

 

[Gary7]

If you've never seen 2001 on the big screen, you've basically never seen the movie. Here in L.A. revival theaters have it on every 2 months. Super highly recommended movie going experience. And yes, almost everything in the movie is so well made that it looks fine now. That's the most incredible part.

Aside from stylistic differences, you're absolutely right. Real models enhanced with CGI will usually displace full CGI. There's something about the natural effect of real light (not computed) on an object that CGI is still having a tough time getting right enough to fool people. Although, as of late, the realism is often so astonishing that you can get fooled with the right circumstances.

Btw, anyone notice how they forgot to put an anti-glare film on the space pod window when it rotates to go attack Frank? You can see studio lights momentarily reflected. That's the only major gaffe that I could make out.

 

[Vger23]

Aside from stylistic differences, you're absolutely right. Real models enhanced with CGI will usually displace full CGI. There's something about the natural effect of real light (not computed) on an object that CGI is still having a tough time getting right enough to fool people. Although, as of late, the realism is often so astonishing that you can get fooled with the right circumstances.

Btw, anyone notice how they forgot to put an anti-glare film on the space pod window when it rotates to go attack Frank? You can see studio lights momentarily reflected. That's the only major gaffe that I could make out.

I'll take 2001's 50-year old practical effects over most modern stuff any day. Good, brilliant stuff...!

 

[Non Sync]

2001 related - I have an Amazon Echo and being a smartarse I asked it to open the Pod Bay doors. Got the response that we're not in space and it's not HAL.

If you ask Cortana to open the Pad Bay doors, she replies in a voice similar to HAL's "I'm sorry, Dave. I'm afraid I can't do that."