Description

"2001: A Space Odyssey" is a film based on a story developed from a yet shorter story, 'The Sentinal' by Arthur C. Clark. With a plot that unfolds extremely slowly (yet encompasses a theme no less than the development of life itself), the film is of the sort that cannot be described but must be experienced. Following a prologue in pre-historic times, in which groups of apes learn to use tools and discover an unusual structure (a "monolith"), 21st century technology is displayed in painstaking detail (to the tune of 'The Blue Danube Waltz' and with the emphasis on space travel and exploration). In the year 2001, a team of astronauts is being sent to Jupiter to investigate the destination of a radio transmission from yet another monolith discovered buried on the Moon. When the on-board computer begins to function strangely, this forces the surviving member of the team to shut down the mission computer HAL and complete the mission himself. As he approaches his destination yet a third monolith is discovered, a star gate, and he is hurtled towards the unknown.

Description

Peter Hyams' sequel to Stanley Kubrick's groundbreaking "2001: A Space Odyssey" opens nine years later as an American team led by space agent Heywood Floyd sets out for Jupiter to find out what happened on the 'Discovery' space ship's disastrous voyage. In order to accomplish their mission, the Americans join forces with a group of Soviet astronauts, even though on earth, the governments of the two super-powers are readying themselves for all-out nuclear war. The two crews try to overcome their differences as they seek answers to the central questions raised in "2001": What is the meaning of the black monolith? Why did HAL 9000 mutiny and will it do so again if resurrected?