2001 a space odyssey *** WARNING CONTAINS SPOILERS ***

[Ispoke]

Just finished watching this after not having seen it for quite a few years and must say that this film is a beautiful visual and sound experience in my opinion even today.

Now for my problem with my recollection on a sequence within the film where there is a problem with the Earth communication system

HAL: “Just a moment, just a moment.” - The most sophisticated computer detects a malfunction in the vital AE35 component in the communications system.

HAL: “I've just picked up a fault in the AE35 unit. It's going to go 100 percent failure within seventy-two hours.”

After receiving Mission Control permission to go EVA and replace AE35 unit prior to failure, Bowman leaves the ship and replaces the defective AE35 with a spare before it can fail. He returns with the defective unit to run diagnostic tests on it, but it appears to function perfectly:

Dave: “Well HAL, I'm damned if I can find anything wrong with it.”

HAL: “Yes, it's puzzling. I don't think I've ever seen anything quite like this before.”

HAL is puzzled and then calmly states:

HAL: “I would recommend that we put the unit back in operation and let it fail. It should then be a simple matter to track down the cause. We can certainly afford to be out of communication for the short time it will take to replace it.”

Now the fuzzy bit, my recollection of what happens next is

That the crew do put back the original AE35 ( though we do not see this actually happen in the film) and sure enough after 72 hours the AE35 fails and HAL proudly proclaims that he was in fact correct about his fault prediction.

It’s after this event that mission control announces that the HAL9000 has problems and things go on from there. I am aware that the film was cut by about 20 mins from its original 160 mins after its first screening, but I can find no reference to the sequence I mention. Am I going mad, did I imagine that sequence? It’s so clear in my mind, but obviously not in the film.

Anyone care to comment as it’s really bugging me.

[MOONPHASE]

the Blu-Ray version is only rated G

[Ispoke]

LOL... Now you are really trying to confuse me Would you care to elaborate on your comment

[GregBlu5]

I saw this film when it first premiered in Hollywood back in (what?) 1968. Now, it wasn't in the first week, mind, but not that long after the official premiere night. However, I do not remember them putting the unit back in and it fails--and HAL tells them he's right.

What happens in the film that I remember--even from nearly 40 years ago--is that when Frank goes to put the unit back in to let it fail, HAL whacks him off into space and Dave goes out and tries to rescue him and is locked out by HAL--just like it still happens all these years later.

When you think about it, where else would it have been prudent for HAL to go wacko and eliminate these two human threats to him and the mission? In addition, he clearly reads their lips regarding what they intend to do because they no longer trust him. Remember, too, the identical computer back on Earth has not concurred with HAL's interpretation of what's happening with the unit.

Maybe you saw or read something that I never did. I certainly grant you that possibility. But what happens as you describe it is not in my memory banks at all.

-Greg

P.S. I also have at my hand the orginal paperback novel that Clarke wrote based upon the screenplay by him and Kubrick. I could look something up if I knew where to look.

P.P.S. What do you know, I opened to page 169 and Dave is ruminating upon the whole notion that it was HAL's lie regarding the unit that probably caused the conflicts that lead to the computer killing Frank.

[Ispoke]

Keep going back a bit.............. Reading with interest. Maybe it was in the book

Waiting....Waiting.....

[GregBlu5]

Originally Posted by Ispoke

Keep going back a bit.............. Reading with interest. Maybe it was in the book

Waiting....Waiting.....

You aren't crazy. It's in the book. Page 137:

"The AE-35 unit has failed, as I predicted."

BTW, these pages are sure old and orange. And the book cost me $1.25 brand new in 1968!

[Ispoke]

Jesus h Christ............. Thank you very much Greg. I am sane after all

Now how the hell, it's so clear in my mind that I thought I had seen it in the actual film

Are you sure it was not in the original cut of the film? How certain are you that your memory banks are not corrupt from one of such a ripe age

[WickyWoo]

Read the book, they really should have subtitled the movie with it as an extra
it's a far far better experience

[Ispoke]

Going to pick the book up today, read it a loooong time ago and now Greg has clarified the text I need to read the passage for myself.

[Caligula]

I picked it up on Dec 31 2007 and i thought the movie was so boring, PQ is very good though. it is playing on ps3 and im here on this site.

[TheTenth]

it's just a trap HAL set to eliminate the crew