• Log InLog In
  • Register
Liquid`
Team Liquid Liquipedia
EST 10:42
CET 16:42
KST 00:42
  • Home
  • Forum
  • Calendar
  • Streams
  • Liquipedia
  • Features
  • Store
  • EPT
  • TL+
  • StarCraft 2
  • Brood War
  • Smash
  • Heroes
  • Counter-Strike
  • Overwatch
  • Liquibet
  • Fantasy StarCraft
  • TLPD
  • StarCraft 2
  • Brood War
  • Blogs
Forum Sidebar
Events/Features
News
Featured News
[ASL22] Finals Preview: Sweet Victory!12[ASL22] Ro4 Preview: Mirror Mirror6[ASL22] Ro8 Preview: Within Reach5[ASL22] Ro8 Preview: In A Tizzy11[ASL22] Ro16 Preview: Holy Diver5
Community News
Weekly Cups (Oct 26 - Nov 1): MaxPax, herO, Solar win0Weekly Cups (October 19-25): Clem triples first in 5.0.175Evil Geniuses - shutting down23ISSL (IntoTheTV x SOOP SC2 League): Premier7Weekly Cups (October 12-18): 5.0.17 era begins1
StarCraft 2
General
No more SC2 streamers on team liquid? [D] Hacker peak in sc2 ? Liquibets sc2 season 30 Evil Geniuses - shutting down Weekly Cups (Oct 26 - Nov 1): MaxPax, herO, Solar win
Tourneys
SC4ALL: II Venue Change Announcement! Sparkling Tuna Cup - Weekly Open Tournament WardiTV Mondays ISSL (IntoTheTV x SOOP SC2 League): Premier Stellar Fest TWO the Moon (Dec 16-20)
Strategy
[H] ZvP Mid-Late Game: Stalkers Collossi HT
Custom Maps
[G] How to playtest arcade maps Starcraft 2 Advance [D] the control group Simple Questions/Answers
External Content
Mutation # 550 Graveyard Shift The PondCast: SC2 News & Results Mutation # 549 Endless Sparkles Mutation # 548 Shining Bright
Brood War
General
List of top players active on ShieldBattery BGH Auto Balance -> http://bghmmr.eu/ Rollback Netcode in Brood War sOs joins Best's team, Newcatsle University SC4ALL: II Venue Change Announcement!
Tourneys
[$1250] International ShieldBattery League [Megathread] Daily Proleagues Small VOD Thread 2.0 KCM Race Survival 2026 Season 4
Strategy
50,000-Word Terran Builds Memo 2026-10-22 Cliff Jump Revisited (1 in a 1000 strategy) Simple Questions, Simple Answers
Other Games
General Games
Stratus: Battle for the sky now on steam Early acc Path of Exile Nintendo Switch Thread Stormgate/Frost Giant Megathread Deus Ex 3!?
Dota 2
Dota 2 Champions League Season 3 Begins April 25!
League of Legends
[TL LoL EUW IHs] Teemo shall perish
Heroes of the Storm
Heroes of the Storm 2.0
Hearthstone
Deck construction bug
TL Mafia
TL Mafia Community Thread
Community
General
US Politics Mega-thread Dating: How's your luck? Artificial Intelligence Thread Trading/Investing Thread Things Aren’t Peaceful in Palestine
Fan Clubs
Fan Club Resource Thread Reynor Fan Club The Flash Fan Club
Media & Entertainment
Anime Discussion Thread Movie Discussion! [Manga] One Piece
Sports
Football (Soccer) Thread TeamLiquid Health and Fitness Initiative For 2023 MLB/Baseball 2023
World Cup 2022
Tech Support
Computer Build, Upgrade & Buying Resource Thread
TL Community
Recent Gifted Posts
Blogs
Why I built Repalyzer (1.1.…
BlueStar
Innovate or Game Over?
TrAiDoS
ShieldBattery on Mac
Kraekkling
[ASL22] Ro4 Day1 Ticket Giv…
bITt.mAN
Can Bots Beat Pros?? Starcr…
namkraft
Customize Sidebar...

Website Feedback

Closed Threads



Active: 9340 users

2001: Space Odyssey!?

Blogs > Paraclete
Post a Reply
1 2 Next All
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
1 2 Next All
Please log in or register to reply.
Live Events Refresh
IntoTheTV X SOOP
20:00
Premier - Quarterfinals
WardiTV376
LiquipediaDiscussion
[ Submit Event ]
Live Streams
Refresh
StarCraft 2
elazer 154
BRAT_OK 70
EmSc Tv 22
MindelVK 18
StarCraft: Brood War
Britney 36298
Calm 4127
Rain 1544
Mini 406
ggaemo 153
Dewaltoss 81
sSak 68
Pusan 65
Hyun 61
Last 59
[ Show more ]
Yoon 34
scan(afreeca) 31
Classic 30
Rock 23
Movie 19
ajuk12(nOOB) 17
sOs 17
Aegong 15
Sacsri 13
yabsab 8
Dota 2
qojqva2792
Dendi1435
420jenkins272
monkeys_forever225
Counter-Strike
jkaem63
Super Smash Bros
hungrybox157
Other Games
B2W.Neo898
Lowko514
Fuzer 237
DeMusliM219
PiGStarcraft170
QueenE99
Mew2King93
KnowMe57
NeuroSwarm37
Railgan30
fpsfer 2
Organizations
Other Games
EGCTV864
ComeBackTV 255
Counter-Strike
PGL106
StarCraft 2
EmSc Tv 22
EmSc2Tv 22
[ Show 16 non-featured ]
StarCraft 2
• poizon28 45
• StrangeGG 33
• AfreecaTV YouTube
• intothetv
• Kozan
• IndyKCrew
• Laughngamez YouTube
• Migwel
StarCraft: Brood War
• HerbMon 17
• Michael_bg 9
• ChaeLyn 5
• BSLYoutube
• STPLYoutube
• ZZZeroYoutube
Other Games
• WagamamaTV393
• Shiphtur334
Upcoming Events
IPSL
1h 18m
WorsT vs nOmaD
Dewalt vs andersOn
AI Arena Tournament
3h 18m
IntoTheTV X SOOP
19h 18m
IPSL
1d 1h
Azhi_Dahaki vs ggnore13
Double vs WIZARD
Replay Cast
1d 7h
Replay Cast
2 days
Sparkling Tuna Cup
2 days
WardiTV Invitational
2 days
YoungYakov vs Lambo
SHIN vs TBD
Percival vs Shameless
Solar vs TBD
PiGosaur Cup
3 days
The PondCast
4 days
[ Show More ]
KCM Race Survival
4 days
WardiTV Invitational
4 days
CranKy Ducklings
6 days
Liquipedia Results

Completed

Proleague 2026-11-05
Blizzard Classic Cup 2026
HCC Season 3

Ongoing

Acropolis #5
KCM Race Survival 2026 Season 4
International ShieldBattery League
BSL Season 23
IPSL Winter 2026-27
Calamity Cup Div. A Season 8
IEM Beijing 2026
PGL Masters Bucharest 2026
Stake Ranked Episode 5
1win Private Club #2
Thunderpick World Champ. '26
ESL Pro League Season 24
Stake Ranked Episode 4
1win Private Club #1
Logitech G Play Connect 2026
SL StarSeries Fall 2026
FISSURE Playground #3
BLAST Open Fall 2026

Upcoming

Sector 951
SC4ALL II: Brood War
BSL 23: Non-Korean Championship
HSC XXX
Stellar Fest 2: Lunar Cup
SC4ALL II: StarCraft II
Kung Fu Cup 2026 Grand Finals
RSL Offline Finals
Underdog Cup 2026 Div 2-3
PGL Bucharest 2027
BLAST Bounty Winter 2027
eXTREMESLAND 2026
PGL Major Singapore 2026
Stake Ranked Episode 6
BLAST Rivals Fall 2026
TLPD

1. ByuN
2. TY
3. Dark
4. Solar
5. Stats
6. Nerchio
7. sOs
8. soO
9. INnoVation
10. Elazer
1. Rain
2. Flash
3. EffOrt
4. Last
5. Bisu
6. Soulkey
7. Mini
8. Sharp
Sidebar Settings...

Advertising | Privacy Policy | Terms Of Use | Contact Us

Original banner artwork: Jim Warren
The contents of this webpage are copyright © 2026 TLnet. All Rights Reserved.