eShop USA > DVD > 2001 - A Space Odyssey
2001 - A Space Odyssey
List Price: $19.98Price: $10.74 You Save: $9.24 (46%)Prices subject to change.
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Audience Rating: G (General Audience)
Binding: DVD
EAN: 9780790760117
Format: Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD-Video, Original recording remastered, Widescreen, NTSC
ISBN: 0790760118
Label: Warner Home Video
Languages: English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 5.1
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
MPN: D65539D
Number Of Items: 1
Publisher: Warner Home Video
Region Code: 1
Release Date: June 12, 2001
Running Time: 148 minutes
Studio: Warner Home Video
Theatrical Release Date: April 06, 1968
Related Items: Featured Listmania!
Editorial Review:
When Stanley Kubrick recruited Arthur C. Clarke to collaborate on "the proverbial intelligent science fiction film," it's a safe bet neither the maverick auteur nor the great science fiction writer knew they would virtually redefine the parameters of the cinema experience. A daring experiment in unconventional narrative inspired by Clarke's short story "The Sentinel," 2001 is a visual tone poem (barely 40 minutes of dialogue in a 139-minute film) that charts a phenomenal history of human evolution. From the dawn-of-man discovery of crude but deadly tools in the film's opening sequence to the journey of the spaceship Discovery and metaphysical birth of the "star child" at film's end, Kubrick's vision is meticulous and precise. In keeping with the director's underlying theme of dehumanization by technology, the notorious, seemingly omniscient computer HAL 9000 has more warmth and personality than the human astronauts it supposedly is serving. (The director also leaves the meaning of the black, rectangular alien monoliths open for discussion.) This theme, in part, is what makes 2001 a film like no other, though dated now that its postmillennial space exploration has proven optimistic compared to reality. Still, the film is timelessly provocative in its pioneering exploration of inner- and outer-space consciousness. With spectacular, painstakingly authentic special effects that have stood the test of time, Kubrick's film is nothing less than a cinematic milestone--puzzling, provocative, and perfect. --Jeff Shannon
When Stanley Kubrick recruited Arthur C. Clarke to collaborate on "the proverbial intelligent science fiction film," it's a safe bet neither the maverick auteur nor the great science fiction writer knew they would virtually redefine the parameters of the cinema experience. A daring experiment in unconventional narrative inspired by Clarke's short story "The Sentinel," 2001 is a visual tone poem (barely 40 minutes of dialogue in a 139-minute film) that charts a phenomenal history of human evolution. From the dawn-of-man discovery of crude but deadly tools in the film's opening sequence to the journey of the spaceship Discovery and metaphysical birth of the "star child" at film's end, Kubrick's vision is meticulous and precise. In keeping with the director's underlying theme of dehumanization by technology, the notorious, seemingly omniscient computer HAL 9000 has more warmth and personality than the human astronauts it supposedly is serving. (The director also leaves the meaning of the black, rectangular alien monoliths open for discussion.) This theme, in part, is what makes 2001 a film like no other, though dated now that its postmillennial space exploration has proven optimistic compared to reality. Still, the film is timelessly provocative in its pioneering exploration of inner- and outer-space consciousness. With spectacular, painstakingly authentic special effects that have stood the test of time, Kubrick's film is nothing less than a cinematic milestone--puzzling, provocative, and perfect. --Jeff Shannon
Customer Reviews
Average Rating: 
Rating:  - Emperor's New Clothes
For starters, I guess I'm similar in some ways to the "ADHD, new-age adolescents" that so many of you reviewers describe. I'm 21, I actually DO have ADHD, and my favorite genre is the comedy. And as a writer, that's basically all I write: deliberately cheesy comedies.
But contrary to what is implied by so many of you, I am totally and completely capable of understanding and appreciating a good, deep film or book. I'm a big fan of A Clockwork Orange (not for the shock value, but for the ... Read More
Rating:  - Winnmusic
This new 2007 Digital Transfer is the best home video version I have ever seen. Crystal Clear Quality even down to the correct aspect ratio that Stanley originally intended. The original print was not in 2.35 Anamorphic Widescreen. It was the same aspect ratio that was used in Clockwork Orange and Barry Lyndon. All the special features on the other disc is an absolute must too!
I think the quality is so good it looks like it was made yesterday! and I think if Stanley was around today he ... Read More
Rating: - Mesmerizing, Not Boring
Here's what stood out to me:
1. The music. On the one hand, duh. On the other, have you actually listened to "On the Beautiful Blue Danube" recently? It's 10+ minutes of constant enjoyment -- every melody is beautiful. Of course, another Strauss also has his moments. What most intrigued me, though, were the selections by György Ligeti. I don't usually appreciate atonal or unmelodic pieces, but the "monolith theme" is an awesome blend of the haunting, intense, and otherworldly. Notably, Kubrick ... Read More
Rating:  - Graduate College Student
I purchased this movie because it is supposedly one of the greatest American Films ever made and I enjoyed the book immensely. The movie itself was visually stunning and the direction of Kubrick was great. I found the storyline lacking from what the novel presented, however. The movie would not have made much sense if I had not read the book. That's why I only rated it three stars.
Rating: - Humanization, Dehumanization & Super-humanization
Much (perhaps too much) has been written about this beautiful yet sluggish, frustrating yet fascinating film. So I'll put in my nickel's worth (used to be two-cents'-worth, but inflation has hit everything these days) of speculation.
It's all in the title of this review. 2001, it seems to me, can be encapsulated in these 3 words.
First, the humanization comes when the Monolith appears to our anthropoid ancestors and nudges them to the next evolutionary level by teaching them the use ... Read More
Related Categories:
|
