2001: A Space Odyssey
I saw this film several years ago. It was OK, but it was much too long, over three hours!
shareThe length & measured pace of the film is quite intentional, in order to make the viewers feel the immensity of space & time: the essence of infinity, really. And also to reminder the viewers that all of human history is but the blink of an eye against that immensity. Yet we also have the potential to understand & grasp far more of that immensity than we might imagine. The question is, will we ever realize that potential?
Yes, 2001 demands more than most films do. But it also rewards more than most films do, at least for those who are willing to immerse themselves in the experience, give themselves over to it. The fact that it's the rarest of things, the pure Art film that was also a popular success, invites rather than excludes the general viewer. But it respects the intelligence & depth of feeling of that viewer, too: no spoon-feeding of answers, no concessions to formula. And that in itself reflects the essence of the story being told: we must rise to the challenge of the unknown in order to evolve & grow, as humanity does in the film.