2001: A Space Odyssey

Production year: 1968

Science Fiction G   Running time: 2:28 

IMDB rating:   8.3     Aspect: Wide;  Languages: English, French, Spanish;  Subtitles: English, French, Spanish, Portuguese;  Audio: DD 5.1

When Stanley Kubrick recruited Arthur C. Clarke to collaborate on "the proverbial intelligent science fiction film," it's a safe bet neither the maverick auteur nor the great science fiction writer knew they would virtually redefine the parameters of the cinema experience. A daring experiment in unconventional narrative inspired by Clarke's short story "The Sentinel," 2001: A Space Odyssey is a visual tone poem (barely 40 minutes of dialogue in a 139-minute film) that charts a phenomenal history of human evolution. From the dawn-of-man discovery of crude but deadly tools in the film's opening sequence to the journey of the spaceship Discovery and metaphysical birth of the "star child" at film's end, Kubrick's vision is meticulous and precise. In keeping with the director's underlying theme of dehumanization by technology, the notorious, seemingly omniscient computer HAL 9000 has more warmth and personality than the human astronauts it supposedly is serving. (The director also leaves the meaning of the black, rectangular alien monoliths open for discussion.) This theme, in part, is what makes 2001: A Space Odyssey a film like no other, though dated now that its postmillennial space exploration has proven optimistic compared to reality. Still, the film is timelessly provocative in its pioneering exploration of inner- and outer-space consciousness. With spectacular, painstakingly authentic special effects that have stood the test of time, Kubrick's film is nothing less than a cinematic milestone--puzzling, provocative, and perfect.

Director

Features

Audio commentary
Featurettes/Behind-The-Scenes/Documentaries
Trailers/TV spots

Special features

Commentary by Keir Dullea and Gary Lockwood
Channel Four Documentary 2001: The Making Of A Myth
Featurette: Standing On The Shoulders Of Kubrick: The Legacy Of 2001
Featurette: Vision Of A Future Passed: The Prophecy Of 2001
Featurette: 2001: A Space Odyssey - A Look Behind The Future
Featurette: What Is Out There?
2001: FX And Early Conceptual Artwork
Look: Stanley Kubrick!
Audio-Only Bonus: 1966 Kubrick Interview Conducted by Jeremy Bernstein
2001: A Space Odyssey