2001: A Space Confusion

[HomerSimpson]

I just saw "2001", and though it was a great movie, I really didn't get the ending. Can someone smarter explain it to me?

[Tuukka]

It's impossible to understand the ending, if you haven't read the original novel by Arthur C. Clarke. I don't remember it all, but it was something like this:

The main character goes through the stargate and travels through different alien worlds. In the end he wakes up in an alien spaceship. The aliens are never shown, but they change him physically and mentally so that he first becomes an old man, then changes into a baby. Then he is sent back to earth as a messenger (thats the baby you seen in the end)

It's been more than 6 years, since I read the book, so I'm not sure if I remember everything right... The book is not so good as the film, but the space trip in the end is better. Of course in the time when 2001 was made, effect technology wasn't able to capture all of Clarkes visions.

[HomerSimpson]

Thanks Tuukka!

[Mankato]

Couldn't there be more explanations for it? 2001 is such a deep movie that there could be much more explanations drawn from it. I've come up with a couple of other explanations from myself about the monolyth and how it means more then just eveloution.

I think the Monolyth represents the knowlege that we as men are always trying to grasp. It is never enough and we are always trying to gain more, and more of it. And when Dave saw the monolyth in the end he just then realized how insignificant we really are in the universe. And also how self-centered we actually are.

That's another thing I got from the movie... did anyone get this out of the movie too? Preferably people who didn't choose to read the book.

/ubb/smile.gif

[csmoose]

Insightful, Mankato. One of many possible explanations of the monolith.

Homer, any explanation that you come up with is as valid as any other. One of the best things Kubrick did with this film is not to force his own philosophy on you. It could be that the baby is the rebirth of the human race or a messenger sent back to earth or the second coming or just a baby in a space bubble. What makes this film so powerful is that it can't be explained. There is no definitive understanding of 2001.

I haven't read the book, but that will help you understand what Clarke was trying to express. However, Kubrick was known for substituting his own vision in place of the author's.

Homer, what do you think it meant?

[HomerSimpson]

Ahhh, so it's one of those movies you have to "interpret". I really don't like those kinds of movies. I hoped that watching 2010, the sequel would make me understand the movie better, but the truth is, it just confused me even more! I got what the meaning was: the Russians and Americans were fighting, and the "star child" brought the message of peace to them, so I guess all that Dave went thru was planned from an alien race that wanted to keep the piece on Earth... maybe, the alien race wanted to make up for what they had done, maybe they had messed up by introducing violence to the human race... maybe.

What really confused me in the sequel was how Dave kept switching his appearance (from young to old to the star child), how did he appear on the TV screen, how did he appear infront of that scientist guy (I can't remember his name)? What happened to that Russian guy who got sucked into the monolith? Did he die, or did he become a star child too?

I guess those 2 movies are just too complicated for me.

[This message has been edited by HomerSimpson (edited 06-27-2000).]

[Scarface]

OK. My guess is as good as yours on this one but i heard somewhere that Dave's "journey" was like a journey inside himself or humanity or something like that. He went inside himself because that is actually what life is about and thats the answer to eternal life. Because after he dies he is reborn again or something like that. Basically he went on a journey into space which, in reality, was an exploration of himself and mankind as well.

I did my best. /ubb/biggrin.gif

[QUENTIN]

Hey Homer, you said in your Terminator 2: Judgment Day (great movie) review that T:2 was the greatest Sci-Fi movie of all time do you still think that? I mean do you really think T:2 as great as it is, is better than 2001: A Space Odyssey and Dark City?

p.s. also you said Die Hard With A Vengeance was the best of 1995 and the only good movie of 1995 does that mean you think it's beter than Braveheart, Leaving Las Vegas, and Se7en?

[HomerSimpson]

Quentin, I wrote the T2 review BEFORE I saw Dark City, or 2001. However, I still prefer T2 than 2001, but Dark City is my favorite sci-fi film.

Same thing goes for picking Die Hard With a Vengeance for #1 film of 1995. That was before I had seen Braveheart or Se7en and I still haven't seen Leaving Las Vegas. I didn't love Se7en, I give it a 7/10 sorry but I don't see why everyone thinks it's great. I liked the performances, the premise was okay, and the ending was pretty good, but it's not a great movie.

I need to get those pages updated.

Hey QUENTIN what do you think of my site?

[QUENTIN]

I liked it. I think when it's done it will be better though. And I think you need to write longer reviews but I still liked it a lot and I visit it every couple of days to see if there's been any new updates.

[HomerSimpson]

Thanks, Quentin. I extended my movie review lenght for "Me, Myself & Irene" and from now on I will try to write all my reviews in that lenght. When can I see your reviews in The Green Room?

[Mr. Meat]

2001 is on my top 10 list of favorite movies. I think there is no 1 answer to the ending and generally the film itself. We all know the end hinted to immortality, but is that it? We see a pattern in the movie: shock and suprise. Even the apes express shock as we see in the beginning. Maybe the point of the film was that life is about suprise and diversity, and in time we have to accept it because basically we are little specs of nothings compared to the whole universe. Also, I just rented Leaving Las Vegas. It was some sad stuff. We care deeply about Shue and Cage and know something tragic is going to happen. They are 2 hurt souls trying to find a new life in Las Vegas. But in time they realize that they cannot help each other, that maybe their souls are hurt permenetly. But it was true love nontheless. The movie wasn't really about love, rather than how to cope with loss and pain and try to realize that you aren't meant to be alone. (sobs) (sniffs)

[QUENTIN]

Homer, you won't see my reviews in "The Green Room" but you can see our reviews (Now that you and I are working together) and other movie related things here at: www.geocities.com/dani_koev/movies.html (http://www.geocities.com/dani_koev/movies.html) I ask anyone who has even the mildest intrest or respect for either me or Homer to go there. And remember we just started doing this so everything there that sucks can be blamed on our inexperience, and everything that's great can be considered beginners luck.

[This message has been edited by QUENTIN (edited 06-12-2001).]

[Scarface]

Ya pretty much what Quentin said. Except for the reasons you like it and dislike it.

If you like it its because of me (Mark). If for some reason you hate it or simply dislike it, blame it one Quentin (TJ).

Thanks!