All right I consider myself to be a fairly intelligent person, I understand more than most symbolism and I usually am able to digest the context of most art.....but I just finished watching 2001: A Space Odyssey and all I can say is WTF????

I just don't get it...

What's up with the monkeys?

That big ol' black wall thing?

What made Hal bug out?

What was the message that they were supposed to uncover on the mission?

What the fuck happens in the last 20 min or so after Dave goes through that black hole???

Why is there a giant fetus floating in space in the last scene?

Ok Admittedly I had roughly an hour and a half sleep last night and I dozed for approximately 40- 60% of the film ... but had I been at full thinking power and had a remained awake for the full time allotment I still don't think I would have got this movie.


Can someone kindly explain the film in the most simplistic terms possible?

Thanks.... Now I'm going to watch the Price is right, I think that is more befitting my thinking mode today.

I wish I could help but you already know scifi ain't my thing.

I found this:

http://www.kubrick2001.com/2001.html


Gonna go watch it

I think the apes are supposed to symbolise how faw we have evolved. Note how the ape gathers intelligence by using the bone as a weapon. I assume this to be the true considering the juxtaposition of the scene where the ape hurls the bone into the air with the scene showing the various spacecraft floating amongst outer space.

I consider myself also to be an intelligent person and the ending in particular made no sense to me either! Perhaps Kubrick was trying to get across the message of what we might create may turn against us or develop a mind of its own when considering Hal and the ending. I thought the ending was rather pretentious to be honest as was generally the case with all Kubrick's films in my opinion.

this might help:

http://imdb.com/title/tt0...st/8170574

i either adore open ended movies like that, or they infuriate me

kinda like toni morrison

It's about artificial intelligence vs human intelligence. Artificial intelligence ultimately destroying its human creators. I think the film is an exploration of the dangers of computers experiencing "emotions."

Lleena said:

Is that your opinion Lleena or Kubrick's?

Lleena said:

again explored in A.I.

(lleena love the avvie and sig)

JDINTERACTIVE said:

We studied the ethics of artificial intelligence at college and this is my opinion.

why do you ask?

starkitty said:

Exactly!

Lleena said:

I was just curious as to whether it was Kubrick's official interpretation.

JDINTERACTIVE said:

it looks like the link that sweeny posted gives this, but it took too long to load and i'm impatient.

as far as AI goes, i liked it, i enjoy the journey of a good movie. you could see how it shifted pace between directors, though.

Sweeny79 said:

ok I get it! It's about man's evolution, and how technology thwarts it!

Phew that shit was more hard to understand than Mulholland Drive!

LittlePill said:

You would have really hated this movie!

JDINTERACTIVE said:

I get the apes now... the end was a bit off if you ask me too but i like the end of Clockwork Orange and I REALLY love the end of FullMetal Jacket. M-i-c-k-e-y M-o-u-s-e that was brilliant!
Man looking for innocenc after atrocity.

starkitty said:

Cool! Thanks... I know what you mean it is maddening.

Sweeny79 said:

As much as "Showgirls"?

JDINTERACTIVE said:

So you're saying I am regurgitating Kubrick and that I couldn't possibly formulate any opinions of my own? when I saw the movie for the first time I thought this.

Lleena said:

That's the only part of the movie I got



I think Hal was the best part of the whole damn movie....

When he is being shut down...

" I feel my mind going....Stop... I .... can.... feel..... it...I'm .....afraid"

Wow that was powerful

Sweeny79 said:

i cannot bring myself to watch clockwork orange. i am freakishly drawn and repelled at the same time.

hey, anyone here seen Bottle Rocket? i love that movie.

starkitty said:

Actually, A.I. didn't explore the dangers of computers experiencing emotions...it explored the true nature of love and what it is exactly that makes us human.

starkitty said:

AI blew.... that movie was boring and way too long.

No matter how artful, Kubrick's movies are just too damn slooooow if you ask me...

Eyes wide shut was just...horrible...

Actually, the movie 2010 clears up a few things about 2001, and it's much easier to understand. (different director)

Lleena said:

No, not at all.

LittlePill said:

Showgirls would be your favorite movie compared to this.

starkitty said:

WATCH A CLOCKWORK ORANGE! or better yet read the book.... It is AMAZING

Byron said:

yeah yeah yeah Pinnochio ... I really thought that movie was crap

Byron said:

The difference between us and an artificial intelligence is our ability to experience emotions!

Sweeny79 said:

Of course it was, it was scifi!

teller said:

Kubrick does tend to be slow...but i'ts usually worth it.

Eyes wide shut was pretty to watch but it didn't really resonate with me at all either.

2010? I might have to check that out.