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2001: Space Odyssey!?

Blogs > Paraclete
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Paraclete
Profile Blog Joined January 2011
United States100 Posts
September 19 2011 20:06 GMT
#1
I just finished watching 2001: Space Odyssey for the first time. Overall I thought it was an interesting movie, however, I have no clue whatsoever of what the ending is supposed to mean! I'm assuming it relates back to the beginning with the apes and that it's symbolism for something but I just don't get it. Any help on understanding it would be appreciated, Thanks

*****
jacen
Profile Blog Joined April 2004
Austria3644 Posts
September 19 2011 20:13 GMT
#2
On September 20 2011 05:06 Paraclete wrote:
I have no clue whatsoever of what the ending is supposed to mean!


This is intentional.
If you want to get presented one of the more popular interpretations, watch 2010. Even though it's quite different, it expands on some of the concepts of the later stages of 2001.
(micronesia) lol we aren't going to just permban you (micronesia) "we" excludes Jinro
Hakker
Profile Blog Joined May 2010
United States1360 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-09-19 20:16:10
September 19 2011 20:15 GMT
#3
I had no idea either, so I watched the sequel, which pretty much ruined the philospohical/alegorical/mystical aspects of it but atleast gave an explanation.
Weemoed
Profile Joined August 2010
Netherlands741 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-09-19 21:18:53
September 19 2011 20:15 GMT
#4
The movie has different interpretations, but in general I believe it's related to Friedrich Nietzsche's philosophical tract Thus Spoke Zarathustra. Basically, the movie talks about the evolution of mankind; starting with apes, then Homo sapiens and finally the super human (or 'star child') seen at the end of the movie. The final room, completely in neoclassical style and classical art, represents the (second) Age of Enlightenment that allows the evolution to the super humans.

In the end, Bowmen raises a finger toward the monolith, a gesture that alludes to the Michelangelo painting of The Creation of Adam, with the monolith representing God or the passsage towards evolution.

In the end, the 'Star Child' represents the birth of the super humans; a concept much bigger than earth and its entire population.

This can be seen in a different way in the movie as well; the first proto-humans conquer their local environment and reach a stable population, the humans begin their first primitive steps into (local) space as earth is conquered and finally embark on the great journey towards Jupiter only to gain knowlegde to evolve to the super humans that is much more connected to space (and immortal?). Similar to the concept that if humanity managed to create fast space travel and establish colonies we, as a species, become immortal.
Bring me to space, and let me wander there forever
Sotamursu
Profile Joined June 2010
Finland612 Posts
September 19 2011 20:15 GMT
#5
Some scenes in that movie give me the sickest nerd chills.
ReturnStroke
Profile Blog Joined July 2011
United States801 Posts
September 19 2011 20:26 GMT
#6
The "Star Child" is supposed to be a further stage in human's evolution. The monolith is to accelerate evolution I believe. This is why it is at the beginning of the movie and the apes learn to use weapons.
ShoCkeyy
Profile Blog Joined July 2008
7815 Posts
September 19 2011 20:27 GMT
#7
Watch it tripping out and you will understand a whole new meaning to that movie.
Life?
Paraclete
Profile Blog Joined January 2011
United States100 Posts
September 19 2011 20:29 GMT
#8
Thanks for the responses you guys! I might end up watching the sequel then. btw I had a feeling it had something to do with the evolution of mankind
Paraclete
Profile Blog Joined January 2011
United States100 Posts
September 19 2011 20:30 GMT
#9
On September 20 2011 05:27 ShoCkeyy wrote:
Watch it tripping out and you will understand a whole new meaning to that movie.


HAaha I was thinking that when the 10 minute long random color scene was going on at the end
TheAmazombie
Profile Blog Joined September 2010
United States3714 Posts
September 19 2011 20:38 GMT
#10
I love the film. It is a very art-snob style space movie and is vague at times, but overall it is about a human mystical journey to the next stage of evolution.
There is a lot more explained also in the book. I am not trying to say one is better or not, but just more explained and of course, not visually or metaphorically.
We think too much and feel too little. More than machinery, we need humanity. More than cleverness, we need kindness and gentleness. Without these qualities, life will be violent and all will be lost. -Charlie Chaplin
Weemoed
Profile Joined August 2010
Netherlands741 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-09-19 21:14:12
September 19 2011 21:14 GMT
#11
On September 20 2011 05:29 Paraclete wrote:
Thanks for the responses you guys! I might end up watching the sequel then. btw I had a feeling it had something to do with the evolution of mankind


Don't watch the sequel or anything else. It just ruins the image you get from the original movie. Just like you should only watch the Twin Peaks series and not the movie.
Bring me to space, and let me wander there forever
Paraclete
Profile Blog Joined January 2011
United States100 Posts
September 19 2011 21:16 GMT
#12
On September 20 2011 06:14 Weemoed wrote:
Show nested quote +
On September 20 2011 05:29 Paraclete wrote:
Thanks for the responses you guys! I might end up watching the sequel then. btw I had a feeling it had something to do with the evolution of mankind


Don't watch the sequel or anything else. It just ruins the image you get from the original movie. Just like you should only watch the Twin Peaks series and not the movie.


Alright I'll take your word for it.
Fatze
Profile Blog Joined March 2011
Germany1342 Posts
September 19 2011 21:16 GMT
#13
On September 20 2011 05:15 Hakker wrote:
I had no idea either, so I watched the sequel, which pretty much ruined the philospohical/alegorical/mystical aspects of it but atleast gave an explanation.


Totally agree. It was a pain in the ass :X -.-
Comfort from bottles, cheers from beers the guitars are our weapons and we know how to kill!
ShoCkeyy
Profile Blog Joined July 2008
7815 Posts
September 19 2011 21:22 GMT
#14
On September 20 2011 05:30 Paraclete wrote:
Show nested quote +
On September 20 2011 05:27 ShoCkeyy wrote:
Watch it tripping out and you will understand a whole new meaning to that movie.


HAaha I was thinking that when the 10 minute long random color scene was going on at the end


That 10 minute scene lasted forever, pretty intense stuff.
Life?
Osmoses
Profile Blog Joined October 2008
Sweden5302 Posts
September 19 2011 21:43 GMT
#15
I thought it was pretty shit once the space voyage actually got underway. Before that, I liked.
Excuse me hun, but what is your name? Vivian? I woke up next to you naked and, uh, did we, um?
Paraclete
Profile Blog Joined January 2011
United States100 Posts
September 19 2011 21:48 GMT
#16
I enjoyed the part where Hal took over but it was way too short
Trumpet
Profile Blog Joined October 2007
United States1936 Posts
September 19 2011 22:04 GMT
#17
On September 20 2011 06:48 Paraclete wrote:
I enjoyed the part where Hal took over but it was way too short


100% agreed.

I had to rewatch the movie 4-5 times because I kept falling asleep. I don't understand the hype.

On the upside, the next mindless action movie you watch will be a 10x better experience.
sob3k
Profile Blog Joined August 2009
United States7572 Posts
September 19 2011 22:10 GMT
#18
I think it was just a bad movie
In Hungry Hungry Hippos there are no such constraints—one can constantly attempt to collect marbles with one’s hippo, limited only by one’s hippo-levering capabilities.
Paraclete
Profile Blog Joined January 2011
United States100 Posts
September 19 2011 22:19 GMT
#19
I definitely agree it is over-hyped. But I guess if you think about it there weren't a lot of space movies back then, and it was right before the moon landing so i can see why it became kind of like a sci fi classic. So today we might think it's not that amazing of a movie like Star Wars is, but it was essentially the beginning. Star Trek, Star Wars and others kind of just took that and ran with it. Or at least the way I see it, I could be way off as I am just a adolescent boy. But one thing we can all agree on (hopefully) is that it had kick ass music! (as in the one song they played through out the entire movie)
bN`
Profile Joined May 2009
Slovenia504 Posts
September 20 2011 00:36 GMT
#20
Apart from what Weemoed wrote another question posed in the movie is the right of artificial inteligence to exist and how Hal tries to defend himself after he finds out they're going to try and deactivate him, although this topic in particular has been well covered in scifi(by Asimov especially).

I disagree with Paraclete since apart from some visuals star wars and star trek have little to do plotwise with 2001 and star wars in particular has a lot more in common with older westerns.

Overall I took from the movie the idea that human evolution has been helped by a misterious outside source in certain parts of history, can't say I agree with that completely but it made me think.
The music of the film is amazing and made me get more into classical music in general. The long shots from a single angle is something I really enjoy but that's just a personal preference, I tend to like "slower" movies more.

"I can't let you do that Dave."

"It's just a ride." - Bill Hicks
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