When the lights come on and the credits roll, most of the time people will be found happily discussing a movie as they exit the theater and reenter the real world. Not many films have the power to create a need for existentialist discussion that has spanned the 44 year period since 2001: A Space Odyssey was first released in 1968. While a horror movie may have someone glad to reenter their own, less scary reality or a comedy may have someone chuckling at the absurdities of reality; this sci-fi classic will have any viewer questioning the point of reality and human existence itself.
The story within 2001: A Space Odyssey comes in three parts. It begins with a dialogue-less story of monkeys. The monkeys encounter a monolith supposedly placed by aliens, and the monolith signals the evolution into using tools, as one monkey brave enough to touch the stone wins a tribal battle by using a femur as a weapon. In a quick cut, the movie transfers to the year 2001, where man has adequate tools to explore the universe through space travel. On the moon, humans find another monolith, put there to supposedly signal the next step in man's evolutionary path through their limitations and capabilities. The monolith sends a beam to Jupiter, the goal of man's next conquest in the form of a voyage 18 months later. On the ship, controlled by the latest AI Technology, the advanced HAL-9000 computer, the astronauts discover that AI may not be trustworthy, yet one passenger goes on to fulfill man's destiny that has been planned since the dawn of time. The conclusion of this classic film sparks many more questions than it answers.
And yes, 2001: A Space Odyssey is in fact a classic film by any sense of the term, as it makes extremely important assertions about the nature and future of man. Classic films have importance in society by expressing ideas which transcend the film itself, and 2001 has social and cultural significance in addition to a style which allows the audience to form their own opinions, which are just as important as a plot-driven point.
Some self-proclaimed “classic” movies may consider classic to be defined by simple factors such as replay ability or quote ability. These are simply not true. Classic is used with abundance nowadays to describe any film which received even the minimum of critical acclaim. A real classic film is not defined by time period or reviews, but as a “film which embodies a method of storytelling that leaves something to the audience's imagination.”(reelclassics.com). Indeed, the black monolith that represents the signal of human progress is actually the same dimensions as a movie theater screen itself; expressing the direct notion that human progress is what we make of it. Whereas the ending of films in modern society leave little to be imagined save for the release date of the inevitable sequel, 2001: A Space Odyssey has viewers debating not only the film’s strange ending, but also issues from the film that have direct and cultural significance both in today’s “futuristic” society as well as the society present during the film’s release, during the crux of the great space race. How will humans elevate themselves to the next level of sentient being? The answer to this question and the meaning of the black monolith in relation to human evolution have stood the test of time and will continue to be hotly debated with several interpretations, satisfying the criteria of classic. Forty four years after its release, 2001 “hasn’t lost one ounce of mystery or inventiveness” (toptenz.com)
Anyone can watch a movie and immediately call it a classic. Another factor which determines the true meaning is significance over time. 2001: A Space Odyssey has been significant both culturally and in the movie business. In Hollywood, countless movies and shows have attempted to mimic Kubrick’s use of imagery to depict events instead of dialogue. The movie’s notoriously slow pace and limited dialogue are a testament to Kubrick’s radical change in movie creation, and many other directors have followed his innovative lead. “2001's realistic technological approach to depicting the near-term future of space exploration also had a strong influence on other movies and television shows.”(centennialofflight.gov). Kubrick’s shining and white depiction of space travel has caused many directors to either embrace his vision or reject it, as Star Wars, Alien, and Blade Runner did outright. Either way, Kubrick’s vision shaped the ideal space world for a future generation of filmographers. The stylistic choice had a cultural effect as well, showing that “technology dehumanized people, turning them into boring drones”. (centennialofflight.com). This is just one example of how Kubrick’s film is not only a classic through the significance even in Hollywood today; it had great cultural significance in the modern world, another parameter for “classicness.” A classic film must be relevant and prevalent in society, and 2001 did just that, sparking debate about the necessity of space travel and artificial intelligence in a time when countries were clamoring to reach the moon and invent new computers. These issues are still relevant today. Overall, there is a reason that the film was “deemed culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant" by the United States Library of Congress and selected for preservation in the National Film Registry” (imdb.com). The cultural meaning of man’s quest to further their pursuit of technological advancement in the film will definitely stand the test of generations to come.
The year 2001 has come and passed without the passive-aggressive robot HAL gracing our aircraft, or any (known) black monoliths discovered on distant planets, yet the movie’s moniker is by no means a limit on the reach of relevance of the film. It satisfies all criteria of a classic film, and will fulfill the definition by going down in history as one of the most moving and influential movies of all time. Intellectually stirring, and culturally jarring, 2001: A Space Odyssey will live on as a classic film as long as we heed Kubrick’s warning and do not let technological tools override our appreciation of true art.
Works Cited
"2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) - IMDb." The Internet Movie Database (IMDb). Web. 12 Feb. 2012. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0062622/.
"Reel Classics: Article: Defining "Classic" Movies." Reel Classics: Elizabeth's Classic Movie Homepage. Web. 12 Feb. 2012. http://www.reelclassics.com/Articles/General/definingclassic-article.htm.
"Social History :The Cultural Impact of 2001: A Space Odyssey." Web. 12 Feb. 2012. http://www.centennialofflight.gov/essay/Social/2001/SH8.htm.
"Top 10 Mind-Blowing Movies | Top 10 Lists | TopTenz.net." Top 10 Lists - Top Ten Lists - TopTenz.net. Web. 12 Feb. 2012. http://www.toptenz.net/top-10-mind-blowing-movies.php.
The definition of a classic movie and the incorporation of outside knowledge of the time period demonstrated your credibility as a writer well. Logical reasoning was used when you provided evidence and related it to your claim. The use of rhetorical questions emotionally engaged the reader and convinced them that the movie was well-made. This review was very thorough and reflected strong organizational skills.
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