2001: A Space Odyssey useless beginning? - Blu-ray Forum

Mystique · 05-13-2008, 06:44 AM

I just got around watching 2001: A Space Odyssey after buying it from Amazon's BOGO a few months or so ago and man that movie is pretty weird. What I felt was so useless was the first three minutes of the film, where the screen was blank and music was playing. What was the intent of that? To waste time? Overall the movie was pretty hard to get into and I never really did.

lgans316 · 05-13-2008, 06:49 AM

Depends upon your age. I am sure your grandparents or parents would have liked the beginning though it may put current generation people to sleep.

Marcusarilius · 05-13-2008, 06:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mystique

I just got around watching 2001: A Space Odyssey after buying it from Amazon's BOGO a few months or so ago and man that movie is pretty weird. What I felt was so useless was the first three minutes of the film, where the screen was blank and music was playing. What was the intent of that? To waste time? Overall the movie was pretty hard to get into and I never really did.

Watch Close Encounters. The intro is to build suspense. Sitting in a huge, dark theater...

horseflesh · 05-13-2008, 07:04 AM

Yeah, it was to waste time.
Same with Lawrence of Arabia and Seven Samurai, and some more crappy old movies.

Marcusarilius · 05-13-2008, 07:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by horseflesh

Yeah, it was to waste time.
Same with Lawrence of Arabia and Seven Samurai, and some more crappy old movies.

Right. If there isn't some morphing robots from outer space, its just a bunch of old crap.

JadedRaverLA · 05-13-2008, 07:15 AM

You have to understand how the film was designed to be seen. When 2001 debuted, it was released in HUGE Cinerama theatres (though it was shot and released in 65/70mm, not 3-strip Cinerama). In these huge cinemas with giant curved screens and multichannel stereophonic sound (which was state-of-the-art at the time), the film is designed to overwhelm the senses and make you feel almost like you are 'in' the film. On your home theatre, it's just a movie -- and you have to use some imagination as to what the effect would have been.

Also, as was common in roadshow and Cinerama presentations at the time, the film includes an opening overture and an intermission -- both of which were removed for the later "wide" release of the film.

In any event, 2001 is really a movie that was designed to be 'experienced' in a certain way... with the stereophonic music (5 front channels -- a mono rear that was primarily for effects) first drawing you in, and then the curtains over the massive screen eventually parting to reveal the opening sequence of the film. The Blu-ray is great, given that its the best way most people currently can experience the film... but it pales in comparison to the way it was meant to be seen.

MOONPHASE · 05-13-2008, 07:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mystique

I just got around watching 2001: A Space Odyssey after buying it from Amazon's BOGO a few months or so ago and man that movie is pretty weird. What I felt was so useless was the first three minutes of the film, where the screen was blank and music was playing. What was the intent of that? To waste time? Overall the movie was pretty hard to get into and I never really did.

no it was to show how life was like a long time ago before humans and then it goes on to the future with humans, technology, space travel, etc.

dixonhill · 05-13-2008, 08:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marcusarilius

Right. If there isn't some morphing robots from outer space, its just a bunch of old crap.

Am I hearing subtle irony?

Marcusarilius · 05-13-2008, 08:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dixonhill

Am I hearing subtle irony?

No. Subtle sarcasm.

horseflesh · 05-13-2008, 08:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marcusarilius

No. Subtle sarcasm.

I know I shouldn't be so sarcastic, bordering on patronising, but sometimes threads like this just break my heart.

I probably shouldn't be so melodramatic either

easyrider · 05-13-2008, 08:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MOONPHASE

no it was to show how life was like a long time ago before humans and then it goes on to the future with humans, technology, space travel, etc.

I think that the reference to the first 3 minutes is the overture - before the films actually starts with the "Dawn of Man".

Marcusarilius · 05-13-2008, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by horseflesh

I know I shouldn't be so sarcastic, bordering on patronising, but sometimes threads like this just break my heart.

I probably shouldn't be so melodramatic either

Ohhhhh. Come here....

Noshame · 05-13-2008, 08:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marcusarilius

Right. If there isn't some morphing robots from outer space, its just a bunch of old crap.

U're a genious!!!
By the way any moderator to delete this thread...it's offending and useless...

I hate to sound snobbish but...

dixonhill · 05-13-2008, 08:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by horseflesh

I know I shouldn't be so sarcastic, bordering on patronising, but sometimes threads like this just break my heart.

I probably shouldn't be so melodramatic either

Well, let's not be to harsh with them young folks

These old classics are in so many ways different from todays movies
regarding storytelling, action, pacing etc ... I'm not at all surprised
that younger people aren't warming for them.

Same with classical music.
My younger colleagues are simply bored with Bach, Chopin or Rachmaninoff.
To me it's an entire world!

EricJ · 05-13-2008, 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dixonhill

Well, let's not be to harsh with them young folks

Aw, c'mon, can't we be a LITTLE harsh with them young folks?
(Especially the HS/College ones being over-judgmental with the classics they've seen for the first time in their culturally-underexposed lives?)

Why, just the other day, I had to explain theatrical roadshow engagements and that big long "Overture" screen to my 9-yo. relative while she was watching an old classic on disk.
She is now more educated than the poster was when he wrote the thread.

Marcusarilius · 05-13-2008, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dixonhill

Well, let's not be to harsh with them young folks

These old classics are in so many ways different from todays movies
regarding storytelling, action, pacing etc ... I'm not at all surprised
that younger people aren't warming for them.

Same with classical music.
My younger colleagues are simply bored with Bach, Chopin or Rachmaninoff.
To me it's an entire world!

Let me put it this way. There are plenty of old movies from the 1930's and 40's (long before I was born) that I like. And if there is a title or two from that period that I do not like, I certainly don't call every movie from back then a buch of old crap. I just didn't like those particular titles. No big deal.

OK, I'm out! Thank you ladies and germs, I'll be here all week. Mod willing!

horseflesh · 05-13-2008, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dixonhill

Well, let's not be to harsh with them young folks

These old classics are in so many ways different from todays movies
regarding storytelling, action, pacing etc ... I'm not at all surprised
that younger people aren't warming for them.

Same with classical music.
My younger colleagues are simply bored with Bach, Chopin or Rachmaninoff.
To me it's an entire world!

Well, two of my 7 year old son's favourite movies are King Kong (1933) and The Adventures of Robin Hood, so maybe there's some hope!!

I listened to Bach last night to sooth me to sleep

Grubert · 05-13-2008, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mystique

I just got around watching 2001: A Space Odyssey after buying it from Amazon's BOGO a few months or so ago and man that movie is pretty weird. What I felt was so useless was the first three minutes of the film, where the screen was blank and music was playing. What was the intent of that? To waste time? Overall the movie was pretty hard to get into and I never really did.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overture#Film

hc666 · 05-13-2008, 11:56 AM

The beginning of black and noise means the beginning of time, where nothing existed... then poof... we have earth and apes.

Very awesome!

Blu Titan · 05-13-2008, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mystique

I just got around watching 2001: A Space Odyssey after buying it from Amazon's BOGO a few months or so ago and man that movie is pretty weird. What I felt was so useless was the first three minutes of the film, where the screen was blank and music was playing. What was the intent of that? To waste time? Overall the movie was pretty hard to get into and I never really did.

2001 is a "state of mind". An awesome film...

05-13-2008, 06:44 AM	#1
Mystique Expert Member Member since:Apr 2007 Location:Newark, CA Blu-ray collection:240 Blu-ray reviews:5 Trading Score:1	2001: A Space Odyssey useless beginning? I just got around watching 2001: A Space Odyssey after buying it from Amazon's BOGO a few months or so ago and man that movie is pretty weird. What I felt was so useless was the first three minutes of the film, where the screen was blank and music was playing. What was the intent of that? To waste time? Overall the movie was pretty hard to get into and I never really did.

05-13-2008, 07:15 AM	#6
JadedRaverLA Power Member Member since:Apr 2007 Blu-ray reviews:2	You have to understand how the film was designed to be seen. When 2001 debuted, it was released in HUGE Cinerama theatres (though it was shot and released in 65/70mm, not 3-strip Cinerama). In these huge cinemas with giant curved screens and multichannel stereophonic sound (which was state-of-the-art at the time), the film is designed to overwhelm the senses and make you feel almost like you are 'in' the film. On your home theatre, it's just a movie -- and you have to use some imagination as to what the effect would have been. Also, as was common in roadshow and Cinerama presentations at the time, the film includes an opening overture and an intermission -- both of which were removed for the later "wide" release of the film. In any event, 2001 is really a movie that was designed to be 'experienced' in a certain way... with the stereophonic music (5 front channels -- a mono rear that was primarily for effects) first drawing you in, and then the curtains over the massive screen eventually parting to reveal the opening sequence of the film. The Blu-ray is great, given that its the best way most people currently can experience the film... but it pales in comparison to the way it was meant to be seen. Last edited by JadedRaverLA; 05-13-2008 at 07:17 AM.

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05-13-2008, 06:49 AM	#2
lgans316 Blu-ray Baron Member since:Jul 2007 Location:RM16, United Kingdom Blu-ray reviews:17 Trading Score:498	Depends upon your age. I am sure your grandparents or parents would have liked the beginning though it may put current generation people to sleep.

05-13-2008, 07:04 AM	#4
horseflesh Special Member Member since:Jul 2007 Location:Dublin, Ireland Blu-ray collection:130 Trading Score:9	Yeah, it was to waste time. Same with Lawrence of Arabia and Seven Samurai, and some more crappy old movies.

05-13-2008, 11:56 AM	#19
hc666 Blu-ray Guru Member since:Nov 2007 Home Theater Gallery:7 Blu-ray collection:100 Blu-ray reviews: 26	The beginning of black and noise means the beginning of time, where nothing existed... then poof... we have earth and apes. Very awesome!

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