The star child is what david bowman becomes after his experience through the star gate, in the jovian system, in arthur c. The soundtrack is known for its use of many classical and orchestral pieces, and credited for giving many classical pieces resurgences in popularity, such as johann strauss iis 1866 blue danube waltz, richard strauss symphonic poem also sprach zarathustra inspired by the writings of friedrich. York and started hashing out a story that became 2001. However, there is another point of view which i encourage you to explore. Clarke has many degrees that allow him to give depth to the plot. A space odyssey ending explained by stanley kubrick. The first one pushed us from protohuman to humans and gave us the idea to use tools, the second one was found on the moon and pushed us into deeper space. Movie endings dont get any more iconic or enigmatic than the final 15 minutes of stanley kubricks 2001. In a newly unearthed interview, the ending of 2001. Mar 03, 2016 when writing the earlier posting on the movie, 2001.
Stanley kubrick explains the mysterious ending of 2001. The meaning of the ending of 2001 according to stanley kubrick. So whats up with the title is that clarke is saying, that old greek dude went on a long voyage and had adventures way back when, and so heres a story about the future of 2001. The following content is mainly based off of arthur c. The same is true, i believe, of stanley kubricks parable 2001. The book goes hand in hand with the 2001 space odyssey movie. Like a piece of fine art or a classical symphony, its appeal has only grown over time.
Which is, ultimately, never true of a film that costs that much money laid out by a major studio mgm, in this case, though ill concede that if by difficult one means the ending is a deliberately obscurantist explosion of borderline. A space odyssey is possibly the most famous computer in cinema history and one of the most cryptic fictional characters of all time. A space probe with a landing and exploration of the moon and mars. A space odyssey is a 1968 science fiction novel by british writer arthur c. In rob agers analysis on his youtube channel collative learning 2001. The meaning of the ending of 2001 according to stanley kubrick posted by jason kottke jul 11, 2018 still, when it came to 2001. Jul 06, 2018 hear stanley kubrick explain the 2001. A space odyssey is 50 years old this year, and people have been wondering about its enigmatic ending ever since the film blew audiences minds.
Yeah, we hear you say, of course there are screens everywhere. David bowmans journey into the vortex has spawned countless fan theories and discussions about what exactly happens to the character, but it now appears the most important voice of all has weighed in on the ending. In a 1969 interview with joseph gelmis, kubrick explained the plot in a very straightforwar. What is the meaning behind the opening scene of 2001. So whats up with the title is that clarke is saying, that old greek dude went on a long voyage and had adventures way back when, and so heres a story about the future of 2001, when some other dude is going to go on an awesome voyage also. Clarkes novel 2001 a space odyssey, his short story the sentinel, and kubricks famous film, 2001. A space odyssey is the sort of movie that frequently gets called difficult. The star gate brings bowman to a replica of a hotel room. Clarke, and was inspired by clarkes short story the sentinel and other short stories by clarke. A video has surfaced which appears to feature stanley kubrick himself explaining the end of 1968s 2001. Clarke and kubrick worked on the book together, but eventually only clarke ended up as the official author. Get a full month of mubi, a handpicked selection of cult, classic and awardwinning films, for free.
A space odyssey has finally been explained by the 1968 scifi movies director, stanley kubrick, himself. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Clarkes novel, which was developed concurrently with the film. A space odyssey is based on the final version of the script for the 1968 motion picture, but, even so, in some regards they differ due to late changes made by director stanley. A strikingly unique film, it captivated a generation of. The unbearable pathos of hals disconnection scene, one of the most. The monolith is somekind of step to a higher evolution level made by aliens. Nonetheless, in july 2018, kubricks interpretation of the ending scene was presented after being newly found in an early interview.
Jul 05, 2018 movie endings dont get any more iconic or enigmatic than the final 15 minutes of stanley kubricks 2001. Learn exactly what happened in this chapter, scene, or section of 2001. Well, that isnt made clear, we just assume its some kind of space vehicle in a threemillionyear jump cut. A space odyssey is one of my favorite films and my favorite scifi of all time, i ve committed far too many hours of my. Hearst mens and enthusiast media group a part of hearst digital media. A space odyssey meaning of the monolith revealed 2014 update he states that he believes the monolith represents the movie screen itself. I am not saying they were wrong, just not how i interpreted it. Stanley kubrick was less inclined to cite the book as a definitive interpretation. The screenplay was written by kubrick and arthur c. Editor matt is the culture editor at esquire where he covers music, movies, books. A space odyssey, if you really want to know a recently discovered interview sees kubrick dig deep into the famed scifi films conclusion. The ending is largely symbolic, so take all of this with a grain of salt. Kubrick liked to work from books, and since a suitable one did not yet exist they.
This free synopsis covers all the crucial plot points of 2001. In a timeless state, his life passes from middle age to senescence to death. A space odyssey has been analysed and interpreted by numerous people, ranging from professional movie. Clarke and stanley kubrick teamed up on the mindblowing 1968 film 2001. Clarke has also written a lot of books, like the space odyssey series, childhoods end, and many more. About careers contact faq media kit press accessibility help. The book ultimately came out a couple months after the movies april 1968. The ending is largely symbolic, so take all of this with a grain. There is something almost taunting about the movies pace. Last week, for the 3rd time, i saw 2001 but this time in 70 mm and i left the theater both stunned and pretty confused. After you have read the story of lazarus in the bible, you dont need anyone to explain it to you.
The odyssey is a long greek poem by homer about a dude named odysseus who goes on a long voyage. A space odyssey, the films narrative trajectory pointed inexorably toward a big ending, even a revelation, but kubrick. A kind of zoo of humans for aliens where they can see you, but you cant see them i remember that in the book, the decoration was similar to a hotel, but with low definition, you couldnt read the labels of the food neither the books. Ive come a long way from cowering in fear when id hear the opening brass of thus spake zarathustra.
A space odyssey, in which astronaut david bowman keir dullea, after. Its worth noting this description is not very different from the events of the 2001 novel by arthur c. The manapes of the world, who lived by gathering berries and nuts, were facing a lack of food. After david bowman discovers the jovian monolith, he travels through a star gate of unknown space and time. A space odyssey s ending is famous among strange film endings, and when you consider that the competition includes magnolia, mulholland drive, and rockadoodle, thats sayin something. A space odyssey, i came across several interpretations of the cryptic ending that consists of only images with no explanatory dialog, and i agreed with none of them. Well explore the events in the book, discuss and analyze its main themes, and finish with a short quiz. But these debates over meaning may all change now that kubricks own. Movie endings, theyre usually pretty straight forward right. Here is the interpretation i learned in my film class and always thought was the most widely held. Rating is available when the video has been rented. A space odyssey ending explained by acid flashbacks.
Someone please explain the ending to me like im a 5 year old. The ending of 2001 a space odyssey explained by stanley. Kubrick has stated that he inteded to make 2001 open for discussion. It took many years to figure out the meaning of the ending alone. The director of the film, stanley kubrick, and the writer, arthur c. Among those in whom the monolith took an interest was moonwatcher, the only manape who walked fully upright.
Did stanley kubrick finally explain the films ending. One of the more common reactions to stanley kubricks 2001. The monoliths are structures that were placed in the solar system to speed up human evolution. For many people, 2001 is an enigma, its meaning cryptic and obscure. Were now 18 years past 2001, weve never been to jupiter, and the enigmatic ending of the movie still haunts the generations who watch it. The making of a myth, described the bonetosatellite sequence in the film, saying the bone goes up and turns into what is supposed to be an orbiting space bomb, a weapon in space. Apr 07, 2018 the interactive transcript could not be loaded. Bowman ends up in a room somewhere in one universe or another, and we have no idea where. It seems to explain the ending of the film more clearly. Sparknotes is here for you weve got everything you need to ace or teach. In the scene above to protect human life on board dr.
This may be stanley kubrick himself explaining the end of 2001. Instead of trying to give my opinion of the what it means and what my idea of 2001 s meaning in general is, id like to discuss the fact that the ending serves to leave the movie openended. This is done on purpose to make the connection that, in the world of 2001, there is no god and the aliens are the highest. A space odyssey movie features bizarre colours and the main character appearing in a bed, then becoming an old man and finally a fetus. I decided to pass that information along to you with this explanation and analysis of the book. A space odyssey is a 1968 epic science fiction film produced and directed by stanley kubrick. A giant monolith appeared on earth one day and began to experiment with many of them, probing and developing their minds.
Ive come a long way from cowering in fear when id hear the opening brass of thus spake. A space odyssey was a film aboutwell, what is about. All right, now that ive explained the monolith and what its purpose serves i can explain the ending in detail. It was developed concurrently with stanley kubricks film version and published after the release of the film. A space odyssey, which had so tormented me in my youth, is my favorite movie of all time. A space odyssey, david bowman enters in a room decorated as a hotel. As bensons book suggests, in a way the release of 2001 was its least important milestone. A space odyssey explained were now 18 years past 2001, weve never been to jupiter, and the enigmatic ending of the movie still haunts the generations who watch it. Clarkes novel explicitly identifies the monolith as a tool created by extraterrestrials that have been through. A space odyssey is wait, what the hell happened exactly. Upfront, somewhat of a refinement on some of the other answers.
In 1969, kubrick told joseph gelmis you begin with an artifact left on earth four million years ago by. Demet originallly published in dfx, july 1999 more than thirty years after its initial release, stanley kubricks 2001. A space odyssey ending in a rare, unearthed video the director famously refused to give his interpretation of the scifi masterpiece. It being my 2nd favorite film of all time, i needed to figure it out in. Stanley kubrick talks about the 2001 a space odyssey. For 50 years the films ambiguous ending has been the subject of debate among fans, with numerous theories providing a possible explanation. Kubrick liked to work from books, and since a suitable one did not yet exist they would write it.
At the films conclusion, a monolith looms again, when the ships sole. A space odyssey, this amazing book was written by arthur c. Behind every man now alive stand thirty ghosts, for that is the ratio by which the dead outnu. Clarke, wanted to leave the film open to philosophical and allegorical interpretation, purposely presenting the final sequences of the film without the underlying thread being apparent. The ending of 2001 a space odyssey explained by stanley kubrick august 7, 2012 8 comments this one goes out to all the folks that love 2001 a space odyssey but still dont know what the hell was going on at the end. A space odyssey has fascinated audiences for years. A space odyssey has been analysed and interpreted by numerous people, ranging from professional movie critics to amateur writers and science fiction fans. Also, kubricks explanation is closer to what happens in arthur c. A space odyssey was a visual effects pioneer 2001 casts an enormous shadow on the last halfcentury of pop culture, let alone the sciencefiction genre. There are many people who think 2001 is about the afterlife, or how nothing really matters. Summary of 2001 a space odyssey and personal response essay.
The acclaimed director then goes on to explain the final scene of 2001. I always found this a pretty disappointing end to the. Poole hal appears to become increasingly devious throughout the second act. It entails the nature between man and the unknown while giving life to the universe around the main cast of characters. Feb 04, 2016 youtube explained is a mix of analytical and comedic content covering youtube videos duh, movies, songs and pretty much anything that can be explained. A space odyssey and its mysterious ending, he did attempt to.
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