Do you know who this robot is? This is Hal. Hal has got to be one of the first robot characters in film history. We like Hal. A lot. So this blog is a Film Geek Critique of 2001: A Space Odyssey (insert dramatic, stereotypical space echo here if you so wish).
For anyone who has ever watched 2001, you will understand the following summary. For those who haven’t… to try to completely and properly explain the plot summary of 2001 is like having someone take a 2x4 and smack you upside the head. Repeatedly. (leave you confused, perhaps angry if you are still conscious, and give you a splitting headache).
If you are still reading this. Terrific. Onto the Recap.
First thing you will see is monkeys. These monkeys, lucky us, are our ancestors (aren’t they adorable?). Our ancestors were violent. This is made painfully clear after a number of dialogue-less, slow paced shots of our monkey ancestors doing their monkey, ancestor things. In particular we are introduced to two “tribes” of these monkeys. Things get sad when Monkey Tribe A gets kicked out of their territory by Monkey Tribe B. But it’s okay because then Then this absurdly large, black rectangle comes out of nowhere (The intentionally ambiguous and slightly mysterious Monolith), emits some noise, the apes go bananas, and a couple scenes later they find a big bone. Then they go over to the Monkey Jerks who took their territory and start hitting them with the bone. And who said violence didn’t solve anything?
I’m going to go off on a tangent here to discuss the Monolith. I love the theories that surround this odd thing. Some say that it is actually a movie theater screen (since the Monoliths dimensions and appearance are very similar to a movie theater screen during the time the film was released). Some suggest it is a God Like figure that actually gave the apes the intelligence to discover tools and weapons (the bone which led to murder). Finally, some just agree that the Monolith was left to be an intentionally ambiguous and mysterious entity. Like my project partner, who wanted us to dress up in a cardboard box painted black and yell at the beginning of our 2001presentation “What am I?!!” to our Film 309 class. (the big black thing in the picture below that doesn't really look like anything.. oh well.)
End of part one. Yeah. Long movie. (“Fun” Fact: the transition where the ape throws the bone into the air which then magically turns into a space station thing is one of the most famous, and longest -- since it jumps over millions of years, Match-on-Action shot in film history!)
At this point, we are now far into the “future” (that is, the future for them back them, not what is potential our future now). We are in the space station, and we are told that we must journey to Jupiter because it is emitting strange frequencies.
This leads the Discovery One to travel to Jupiter, with Captain Bowman, his trusty sidekick Poole, and (most importantly) HAL!! I love Hal. Mainly because Hal is without a doubt completely and utterly mad.
…Kind of like us!
So Hal goes mad. And this is why I love him. He is the only character who shows emotion. And yes, I realise I had just critiqued Burton’s film “Frankenweenie” for his less than enthusiastic and well developed characters. But I swear, this is different!
Bowman and Poole (the only awake humans on the ship) have a completely role reversal with Hal. Where Hal shows concern, the humans don’t. Where Hal shows pride, the humans don’t. Hal lies. He cheats. He is extremely dynamic! His subtle spiral into insanity as his dangerous ego gets a hold of his better “judgement” is so well done, most won’t even catch the change! Hal is also an incredibly dark character, wish reflects the Kubrick style very well. In my opinion, Hal represents Kubrick’s style perfectly.
Kubrick has a distinct, pessimistic voice that criticizes the human race, all of which can be seen in Hal’s traits. And why I love this is because Kubrick allows us to examine on what he argues is our true human nature in a non-threatening objective way – because we never actually see these horrid traits on a human! The humans are the robots, where the robots (as well as the monkeys) are the violent ones.
Busted, human race!
While I may not agree with how pessimistic his views are… I just love Hal~~ <3
Now we can wrap up with the infamous Star Gate sequence……………………………………………………………………… No I can’t. The best I can explain it is that Bowman (the only survival after he dismantles the murderous Hal) inhaled some fumes since the Star Gate has never made any sense to anyone!
All you need to know is that Bowman reaches Jupiter, lives in a nice home, ages by his lonely self, and then the Monolith turns him into a baby….
Just watch it for yourself. I have watched that sequence about ten times over, and while I have my own theories, it’s just easier (and more entertaining) to leave the internet to their own devices. So have fun, and leave a comment if you like!
As a whole, a brilliant movie by a brilliant (if not somewhat disturbed) director.
The End!
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