tonybear

2018 marks the 50th Anniversary of Stanley Kubrick's iconic movie “2001: A Space Odyssey”.
That film ranks as one of the all time great science fiction films of all time, but it's making is not known very well, except for the most ardent of film-goers. All that unknown knowledge about the making of this amazing movie is brought to light in author Michael Benson's new book “Space Odyssey”- Stanley Kubrick, Arthur C Clarke, and the Making of a Masterpiece”.
Throughout the film, the movie's HAL 9000 computer is symbolized by its mysteriously ominous all-seeing eye, a big red-domed lens. Some HH'ers might recognize this as a Nikon 8mm fish-eye lens, that was lit from behind- as Benson's incredible book explains. Other special effects in the film were state of the art for its day- mostly done through optical technology, as there was no computer generated imagery technology available at that time.
While the film “2001: A Space Odyssey” is 50 years old, the story it tells, which is mostly visual, still holds up, despite it's often mysterious and baffling ending. Its currently available on DVD and BluRay. The Blu-Ray version has many supplementary documentary videos about the making of the film, and serves to provide the reader with additional fascinating insight into the remarkable film. And Benson's new book reveals hitherto unknown background information how Kubrick's amazing production team brought the film to fruition. It's well worth a read.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Loved that movie!
I have Hal announce "There is a message for you." when I get new mail on my computer.

Smudgey Loc: Ohio, Calif, Now Arizona

With out a doubt, one of the best ever. No super heroes, just good visuals and good acting, and well written screen play. I have lost count on how many times I have seen it, and never tire of it. Every time I talk to Siri on my iPhone or iMac i think of the HAL 9000. I often wonder if Siri will someday rebel. So far we get along just fine.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

If she says "I can't do that Dave.", RUN!

BebuLamar

I actually hated the movies. It's so boring in the long later part with the HAL9000. I liked how the portray the video phone at the airport and he still camera used in the conference room. They are quite different from what we have today.

Keldon Loc: Yukon, B.C.

I'm with Bebelamar, I found the movie to be quite boring. Long, long, long special effects shots that never seemed to end and didn't do anything for the movie.

Just Fred Loc: Darwin's Waiting Room

I saw the premiere of "2001: A Space Odyssey" at the Uptown Theatre in Washington, D.C. in 1968. I went with my then-employer (I was still in high school, working part-time on a race car team) who was an airline pilot. We were all astounded at the movie, and my employer was agog at the heads-up displays (HUD) in the movie. "They are all real," he declared. The "hard" science in the movie was astounding, as was the movie itself.

By the way, I subsequently read the Arthur C. Clarke book, and found it illuminated even more the topics presented in the movie.

I will still watch the movie from time to time, riveted in my chair.

bwana Loc: Bergen, Alberta, Canada

2001 is truly a great sci-fi movie! I have it in VHS, DVD and Blu-Ray formats.

bwa

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

A SciFi classic, and the special effects are remarkable for the time (with no computer assistance). Kubrick’s masterpiece. It is slow-paced, but so are many other great movies. It helps to read Arthur C. Clark’s book if you want to understand the ending. I grew up reading the great SciFi writers - Robert Heinlein, Arthur C. Clarke, Jack Vance, Ray Bradbury, and the good doctor Asimov, H.P. Lovecraft, Fredrick Pohl, and Clifford Simak just to name a few...

Burtzy Loc: Bronx N.Y. & Simi Valley, CA

I saw that movie as a film student at UCLA, some months prior to its release and then again, a few weeks after it was first released. There was a small but significant change in the film that most people don't know about, but which Arthur C. Clark spoke of some years later. In the transition from the moon to the mission where Hal loses its mind, there was a title card. In the release version of the film, it read "18 months later, Jupiter Mission." In the pre-release version I first saw, it read "18 months later, in deep space." After several long-distance discussions between Clark and Kubrick, Clark convinced Kubrick that the change was necessary to make the film less confusing. Too bad they didn't clarify the ending. If you had never read the book (or later seen the sequel, 2010) the slit-scan visuals and the space baby were mostly incomprehensible (but still awesome). A couple of years later, ABC used similar slit-scan visuals for their on-air promos. Both sets were made by the Special Effects genius, Doug Trumbull.

dreamon

cdayton

Great movie that we try to replay every year or so - hard to believe it premiered 50 years ago. A fun factoid, since it doesn’t seem to be widely known, is that HAL = IBM - one letter.

dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida

Years ago my computer greeted me and said other things like "you can't do that" .... in modern terms "we had a personal relationship." Hal was there ... my computer became Hal. In the morning Hal would say " "I'm completely operational, and all my circuits are functioning perfectly." Can I do that again?
https://www.maketecheasier.com/change-startup-sound-windows10/
http://www.moviesoundclips.net/sound.php?id=44

Step wise directions including photos of screens
http://www.thewindowsclub.com/set-custom-notification-sound-windows-10

One would insert Hal wave into the list of waves ..... humm, well, do you think Stormy Daniels could record for us or Trump added to our virus or malware... "I stopped a Spy" "No Witches were found"

dglueck Loc: Rochester, NY

I like Deep Thought.

sv3noKin51E

Saw this when it was first released and screened in Ann Ardor, MI, the auditorium was filled with happy people and er, the appropriate aroma that made the viewing seem close to HD, it was the first time I'd seen a curved screen. 2001 was and will ever shall among the top must-see visionary films ever made, Kubrik's masterpiece made it troubled times. Always refreshing and inspiring when we catch it when Netflix or Amazon prime video runs it. May even buy the 4K remastered version. Pity Kubrick and friends aren't around for the anniversary, only one of the cast still breathing. Mr. Scot will get around to beaming eacj of us up when the our time comes, then we'll experience a light show surpassing the film. sv