‘2001: A Space Odyssey’ Download and Reviews
“2001: A Space Odyssey” Movie Details
2001: A Space Odyssey tagline: Let the Awe and Mystery of a Journey Unlike Any Other Begin
 2001: A Space Odyssey DVD Cover |
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Poole’s mother |
“2001: A Space Odyssey” Movie Review
“Two Thousand and One: A Space Odyssey” Plot Summary
Mankind finds a mysterious, obviously artificial, artifact buried on the moon and, with the intelligent computer HAL, sets off on a quest.
Magnificent and deliberately mysterious
Spoilers ahead.2001: a Space Odyssey is without a doubt the most challenging and successful film by the late Stanley Kubrick. This is not a film that you watch in order to be entertained or amused. Instead it provides you with a banquet of food for thought, images that linger in the mind’s eye long after the movie itself is over. It is a film that you could meditate on
The film intentionally offers us more questions then it can answer, it is made to puzzle and mystify, but leaves the viewer nevertheless with a sense of awe and reverence (that is allowing that he has engaged himself in the process of viewing it, enjoyment of this film requires some effort on the viewers part) the questions that it does pose are large and ominous, concerning the genesis and destiny of the human race, it’s ultimate place in the cosmic design and the existence or lack of some creative intelligence behind the structure of the universe itself
The first of the films Four Quartets gives us a distinct view of the species past. We see our distant ancestors, half-ape half human, in a state of near starvation. The climate has destroyed most of the plant life and the vegetarian beasts are near starvation. An extra-terestial object, a perfectly smooth and angular black monolith, appears and the animals are simultaneously inspired by it’s presence to tool-making and violence. They are transformed overnight into carnevores, and when two tribes encounter each other near a water source, the tribe that has developed tool making capacity, as well as beligerence, soundly destroys the neighboring tribe. The new chief of the winning tribe, empowered by the first vestiges of technology triumphantly throws the bone that he used as a weapon in the air. We see the bone transformed into a floating satellite, which contains nuclear weapons. We soon learn that the world is torn apart by nuclear paranoia. The characteristics inspired by the monument’s appearance that once helped us to survive now threaten our very existence
Once again humanity is in crisis, once again the unearthly presence represented by the black monolith will step in to aid humanity in the next step in it’s development. On an exploration of the Moon a monolith identical to the earlier one we have seen is discovered. The governments of the world, normally mortal enemies, have come together in secret to discuss the implications. A mission is arranged. the monument has been engaged in some kind of radio communication with Jupiter. A few men will travel to the destination of the transmission. Most of them will, for most of the time, be kept in a state of suspended animation. The pilot of the spacecraft will be HAL a super computer who has been programmed to imitate all of the traits of human beings
The film has many outstanding sequences. As usual for Kubrick the use of classical music is outstanding. Most memorable are ‘Blue Danube’ and ‘Also Spake Zarathustra’ (particularly appropriate given the film’s theme of transcending ordinary consciousness.) The cinematography is particularly excellent as well, after a single viewing the film’s final 30 minutes will haunt you for the rest of your life
The character of HAL is the most important from the view of the film’s central thesis. In imitating all the characteristics of human beings he comes to have their negative traits as well. The paranoia he develops which almost leads to the mission’ s ruin is an exact mirror of the paranoia that has allowed the political situation back on earth to reach a point of desperate crisis. The film suggests that these are the traits that we must leave behind if we are to proceed to the next phase in our evolution
The architecture of the film is also meaningful. The designs of many of the spacecraft are intended to suggest reproductive organs and the process of birth and rebirth, the central motif of the movie. The ending of 2001 is the most spectacular and triumphant ever filmed
This movie takes a view of life similar to that presented in the poetry of William Butler Yeats and James Joyce’s novel Finnegan’s Wake. It posits a pattern to history and human evolution that is cyclic, yet progressive, repeating the same events at large intervals, yet with the human race as developing according to the will of a being with a larger purpose in mind. Though we never learn what this purpose is, the film assures us that the human race is not meant for failure, it’s destiny is grand beyond it’s capacity to imagine. It continues to amaze me that in spite of this film many people continue to regard Kubrick as a misanthrope
This is a religious film, not in the conventional sense of adhering to any specific creed, but because of it’s invocation of wonder at the vast panorama of existence and it’s involvement with the deepest and most vital questions of purpose and truth. In the hands of any other director, this would all be perhaps a little too much. Hollywood’s view of life is too puny, usually to encompass the grandeur and intensity of a vision such as this one. But Kubrick was a visionary, he directs with utter confidence, not only that he can handle material of this kind, but that he is the only one to do it. The process of making this film used all of his creative resources. The writing partnership with Arthur C Clarke is the most fruitful in cinematic history. Kubrick had to invent some of the special effects that were used in the movie’s astounding climax. The resources to bring his vision to life did not exist at the time, so he brought them into existence.2001 is a absolutely unique movie experience. Those who miss out on it do so at the detriment of their own intellectual and imaginative capacities.
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‘Observe and Report’ Download and Reviews
“Observe and Report” Movie Details
Observe and Report tagline: Right now, the world needs a hero.
 Observe and Report DVD Cover |
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| Directors: Jody Hill | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| IMDB Rating: 6.1/10 out of 17,019 votes |
“Observe and Report” Movie Review
“Observe and Report” Plot Summary
Bi-polar mall security guard Ronnie Barnhardt is called into action to stop a flasher from turning shopper’s paradise into his personal peep show. But when Barnhardt can’t bring the culprit to justice, a surly police detective, is recruited to close the case. |
Very good, great messages in the film!
For those who didn’t like it, they probably don’t like dry comedy. The movie had some very serious undertones. The theme about fulfilling your goals and continuing to strive towards your dream no matter what the adversity is, are both positive and powerful messages which is a strong mix with some very crude but acceptable humor. This movie delivered some very positive messages and was very funny in the process, messages that wouldn’t have been as powerful had it been a film like 40-Year-Old-Virgin, which even itself had some serious undertones in it by the end of the film. There is nothing depicted in this film that you haven’t heard illustrated in a dirty joke, and people are taking it way too seriously.
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‘State of Play’ Download and Reviews
“State of Play” Movie Details
State of Play tagline: Find The Truth
 State of Play DVD Cover |
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| Directors: Kevin Macdonald | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| IMDB Rating: 7.3/10 out of 27,380 votes |
“State of Play” Movie Review
“State of Play” Plot Summary
A team of investigative reporters work alongside a police detective to try to solve the murder of a congressman’s mistress.
Good Political Thriller
This movie is worth seeing just to watch great actors like Russell Crowe, Helen Mirren, & Rachel McAdams practice their craft. Add in a very good plot and a well written script and what you end up with is an excellent movie
I’d read that Brad Pitt was originally supposed to have the starring role of the veteran newspaper reporter played by Crowe but declined the role at the last minute due to artistic differences with the Director over the script. Not sure of the details, but the movie certainly didn’t suffer from Pitt’s absence. Crowe was great as the lead. Some critics carp over his funny ‘American’ accent, but I thought he was very good in the lead role
Rachel McAdams was very good as the cub reporter. I’m not sure if she’s the next Julia Roberts (as some opine) but she certainly is the ‘it’ girl and fills the bill nicely
Helen Mirren was excellent as the imperious publisher/editor of the newspaper
Ben Affleck was good as the politician at the center of the storm
As political thrillers go, this was pretty good. I’d say go check it out, grab a bucket of popcorn and soda, and enjoy.
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