2001: A Space Odyssey extras

[venusiansky]

I watched 2001 last night and when it was over, I had some time to kill until the Pens/Avalanche game came on, so I did decided to check out the extras. I must say, they may be the best extras ever included on any disc. I didn't get to watch all of them, but what I did watch was excellent. There is a piece about 2001's influence on today's directors and films with interviews from Lucas, Spielberg, Cameron, Pollack and others. Another extra talks about 2001 itself and what Kubrick's intentions were and may have been with the story. There is also a nice piece with Keir Dullea reading excerpts of various interviews with Arthur C. Clarke and other scientist about importance of space travel. There is also a nice concept art "slideshow".

Another great thing I like about having the movie on Blu-Ray disc is that the movie and all of the extras are on one single disc. I was never too inclined to watch extras when they were on a second DVD disc.

[CJS234]

hey, did any of those features you watched explain what the meaning of "the wall" is? You know, this wall shows up at various points throughout the movie. I have no idea what it means. Kubrick knew what it meant, but now he's dead. RIP Kubrick

[venusiansky]

From what I watched, they discussed it a little. I think Kubrick's whole point was to make people question the relevance of the monolith at the end of the movie, as we were doing in the other thread. One might say that it portrays a "god" as a higher intelligent life-form from another...wait, I am not starting another one of these threads.

[SamInNorthCakalakey]

Thanks for the review. Always good to get other opinions before spending $25-$30 bucks.

[theNothingComes]

Originally Posted by venusiansky

I watched 2001 last night and when it was over, I had some time to kill until the Pens/Avalanche game came on, so I did decided to check out the extras. I must say, they may be the best extras ever included on any disc. I didn't get to watch all of them, but what I did watch was excellent. There is a piece about 2001's influence on today's directors and films with interviews from Lucas, Spielberg, Cameron, Pollack and others. Another extra talks about 2001 itself and what Kubrick's intentions were and may have been with the story. There is also a nice piece with Keir Dullea reading excerpts of various interviews with Arthur C. Clarke and other scientist about importance of space travel. There is also a nice concept art "slideshow".

Another great thing I like about having the movie on Blu-Ray disc is that the movie and all of the extras are on one single disc. I was never too inclined to watch extras when they were on a second DVD disc.

I haven't had time to see the extras yet but looking forward to it even more so because of your post.

Drove 35 miles to the nearest Best Buy and purchased 2001 & The Shining the day they came out. It was a tough choice to make but I went with 2001 to view when I got home. I've owned it on VHS, DVD and now Blu.

It took me back to my early college days (1974) when a group of us sat at a true large screen theater (sold out) lit up, sat back and was blown away by this amazing film. Thanks to Blu it was a true experience again & I was 18 for a few hours.

[ehorrell]

I'd love to watch it, but Warner HV won't get around to shipping it to me.

[Seretur]

The Wall is usually called the Monolith, and it's a tool of a superior alien intelligence who controls the evolution of the human race (according to Clarke), or a rather more vague representation of the Beyond, in the movie itself.

I can't WAIT to get my copy of 2001. Although, to be honest, I find the best extras package of all time to be the CE of Cronenberg's The Fly, which I have yet to double-dip on. That package has just about everything that anyone could ever want.

[Dotpattern]

For me (and I may be wrong), the key has always been that first scene that introduces the Monolith. It is the first time "man" becomes curious. One of them approaches the Monolith and touches it, and then they all do. They have all just gained some knowledge. You could call them the first explorers. And shortly after that we witness the first inventor, and they become meat eaters. They go from being prey, to being the hunters. Then we see the first murder along with the first weapon. It is the evolution of man.

[davidPS3]

I watched the movie the other night, amazing is a understatement. The picture was clear and crisp. The colors were bright. At the end, I just had to say, WOW..

[tiger roach]

My copy has finally shipped.

Thanks to the OP for bringing up the extras - I would not have noticed otherwise since I rarely view extras. I will check them out in this case.

Can't wait - this is my most anticipated BD so far.

[DrinkMore]

I personally think Kubrick was on crack when he made this.

[SamInNorthCakalakey]

Crack kills but right before that, it makes great movies.

Originally Posted by DrinkMore

I personally think Kubrick was on crack when he made this.

[Kristin Simard]

To me, the monolith is a metaphor for transformation. I generally don't like to assign literal this-means-that symbolism in this film. But that's just me

[DrinkMore]

Originally Posted by SamInNorthCakalakey

Crack kills but right before that, it makes great movies.

I bet it does. However in 2001, I just don't see it. It was a very painful movie to watch.

[CJS234]

Originally Posted by SamInNorthCakalakey

Crack kills but right before that, it makes great movies.

rofl. Also great music, great paintings, great everything lol CRACK IS GOOD FOR YOU...for a little while...then you die....

Oh and thanks for the explanation of the Monolith. Im gonna go with thte alien interference theory

[VernR]

If you are really interested in the meaning of the monolith, remember the movie was based on a book and there are actually 4 books in the series (2001, 2010, 2061 and 3001 all Space Odysseys). All in paperback at Amazon.

[Kristin Simard]

Originally Posted by VernR

If you are really interested in the meaning of the monolith, remember the movie was based on a book and there are actually 4 books in the series (2001, 2010, 2061 and 3001 all Space Odysseys). All in paperback at Amazon.

The movie was loosely based on a story. The film is really Kubrick's vision and was made without the thought of having a guidebook to explain it. The book of 2001 was based on the film, if I am not mistaken.

[Grisle]

What are the chances of seeing the other novels made into movies?

[DevilsFan]

Originally Posted by venusiansky

There is also a nice piece with Keir Dullea reading excerpts of various interviews with Arthur C. Clarke and other scientist about importance of space travel.

The most interesting thing about this extra was how no crew member noticed (or bothered to do anything about) Keir Dullea's incredibly bad dandruff.

[sfmarine]

Holy resurrection tread Batman. lol