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THE MOVIE
No matter what I say about this film, I’m going to get in trouble with someone so, taking a deep breath and spreading my arms for balance I shall take my first steps out along the fence…
2001 is a definitive moment in the science fiction genre. Open to, and subjected to a multitude of analyses and interpretations, the essential premise of the film is the evolution of man impelled by an alien intelligence.
The story is actually quite simple (everybody sitting comfortably? Then I’ll begin…)
There are three periods covered in the film.
The first is entitled “The Dawn of Man”. A group of (what are about to become) pre human ape creatures are struggling for survival against other tribes. One morning, a black monolith “appears” amidst them and the apes subsequently discover how to use simple tools, leading to their prevailing over the other tribes.
The second period is set in the year 2001 (well it had to eventually, didn’t it?). Dr Heywood Floyd journeys to the moon where a survey has found an object buried under the lunar surface (this object being strangely monolithic in nature…)
We then leap ahead eighteen months and are aboard the USS Discovery, a space vessel sent to survey the moons of Jupiter. Dave Bowman and Frank Poole are the flight crew (the survey crew are in hibernation) and start having trouble with the onboard systems as reported to them by the ships computer HAL, who seems to be having trouble controlling both the spacecraft and himself…
The three periods in the film are linked by the recurring appearance of the monolith throughout the movie. It is difficult to explain further without giving away elements of the evolving (no pun intended) plot and clashing with the various interpretations of the film’s meaning.
You really do need to see it for yourself, then argue with everyone about it, and then see it again (just like the rest of us have!).
THE TRANSFER
Video:
If ever a movie was destined for a Widescreen DVD release, it was this one.
The new print is bright, clean and the blacks are good and strong, very important when the screen is two thirds black for half the film and white the rest of the time! I saw no evidence of colour bleed (I have to say that I expected some, especially the red space helmets against the white hull) and the whole film was blissfully free from dirt and other film artefacts.
Since the film includes an intermission with a black screen, the layer change is perfectly hidden.
About the only criticism I could make is that there is some aliasing present. This is most noticeable at the beginning of the first space sequence, as the satellite is falling down the screen.
Audio:
Here we begin to tread on the toes of the purists...
If it is indeed vital to preserve the original aspect ratio of a movie when transferring it to DVD, does not the same apply to the soundtrack?
2001 was originally mixed in stereo, this disc is in 5.1 . Have we betrayed the directors vision? Is this the equivalent of colourising the Seven Samurai? Or do we DVD fanatics sometimes take it all a little too seriously?
In this case, remixing the sound to 5.1 doesn't really make a lot of difference. The bulk of the sound is still coming from front of house. The surrounds are used very effectively on a couple of occasions, in the "Dawn of Man" segment, the cicadas are chirping all around the room, and in all the space suit scenes, the breathing of the suit wearer is in front and behind as the action progreses.
I think Mr Kubrick would approve...
Of course, 2001 is also famous for the ABSENCE of sound. The only movie I can remember (email me if you know others!) where exterior space shots are not accompanied by a bass rumbling as the space ship goes past. Exterior space shots either have music as the only sound, the breathing mentioned above, or total silence.
THE EXTRAS
If you gave me a choice between a complete original trilogy Star Wars box set, and a copy of this film with a commentary track featuring Stanley Kubrick and Arthur C. Clarke, I’d have to think long and hard about it….
Sadly there are no commentary tracks (and as a result we’ll all go on fighting about the ending) and with the passing of Stanley Kubrick, there never will be.
In fact, the only extra on the disk is a trailer. In the tradition of old trailers it is covered in dirt and scratches and has mono sound. At the very least, it appears to be the right aspect ratio.
Although not technically an "extra", this print also includes the original “curtain warmers” for the beginning of the movie, the interval and the end after the credits. Originally designed to be playing while the audience were finding their seats they provide an interesting background (especially for a movie night with fellow fans). I cannot however, see anyone sitting watching them purely as entertainment. The running time of the movie is actually a little misleading, this includes the curtain warmers at the the beginning, middle and end of the film, so you won't actualy get 143 minutes unless you sit in the dark watching a black screen and listening to the music.
Of course, if you want the authentic cinema experience, then while the INTERMISSION titles are up and the music is playing, you should rush out to the kitchen and open a bag of jaffas and/or fantales (remember them?)...
SUMMARY
This is 2001 as you would expect it to see it in the cinema. The restored print is marvellous, especially in widescreen and the sound is flawless.
You are never going to put this on for family viewing on a Sunday night after tea (well, most families aren’t) but if you’re a film buff, then you MUST see 2001 at least once. If you consider yourself a collector of Sci-Fi DVD’s then you simply have no choice but to buy it.
It really is one of the starting points…
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