“2001: A Space Odyssey”, directed by Stanley Kubrick in 1968, can be thought of as one of the quintessential science fiction movies. It defiantly falls within the classification of being a classic thanks to the fantastic aspects done by Mr. Kubrick in the movie. The first aspect that makes 2001 a classic is a fantastic score that was used. The second and final aspect is the creation of the iconic villain HAL-9000. It is these reasons that “2001: A Space Odyssey” is a classic film.
The musical score of 2001 makes the movie a wonderful experience for the viewer even to this day. One of the first bits of iconic music comes from the scene where a monkey figures out how to use tools. This musical piece is called “Also Sprach Zarathustra” composed by Richard Strauss. The music builds up the scene as the monkey’s accomplishment is felt with full force. The advancement of intellect in the creature is made more effective thanks to the scores great building cords.
The points of calm and suspense is another example of how the score adds so much to the experience. In the scenes where we see a space station the score reflects a calm atmosphere and a happiness because we are in space and it is a fantastic thing. Seeing the advancement of humanity to that level would leave anyone in a state of wonder. But this feeling is then countered by the suspenseful moments in the film.
There a couple of scenes that show a black monolith that has an important effect on the plot. But whenever the monolith is on the screen the score adds to the mystery of what the monolith is and what it means. The added choir to the score helps by making a viewer feel that this moment is important but also that can be dangerous and should be handled with caution. Now with the music set, let’s look at a very intimidating villain.
HAL-9000 isn’t a typical villain by the standard concept. He isn’t evil or bad necessarily, but he doesn’t have to be. HAL is a computer that the characters use to help on their space journey. But when they start to think that HAL is up to something, HAL decides to fight back.
What makes HAL so intimating as a villain is that he is misleading and cold. He was made to imitate how the human brain works in the movie and that makes him so dangerous. He can understand how humans think and can counter the astronaut’s efforts to stop him. HAL-9000 is one of the first evil computer/robot villains found in cinema today and thanks to the creation of this character many other scary computer villains have been created.
Christians in the world today know that there are plants and stars far off into space. They know that there is a vast galaxy beyond our atmosphere and that idea can be intimating. The advancement of science reviles more and more about the world that God has created, and that expansiveness is a scary thing. Some Christians may worry that with more things being discovered that science could take people away from the faith.
“2001: A Space Odyssey” is a narrative imagination of what could be out there in the blackness of space. But Christians need to remember, God has given us this world and the entire galaxy to show his amazing power. Everything that can be found out among the starts is thanks to God. Christians need to see that it isn’t a bad thing to discover the majesty of God’s work. Instead, Christians need to be ready to discover these things themselves and to praise God all the while. We live in God world and he loved us enough to give it to us. We should embrace the world we have and continue to love God.
Will Arbuckle's Faith Based American Classic Movie Reviews 