I was there when it opened, as an NYU film school senior.
There are a short list of films that of which it can be said…
“There was cinema before and after…”
Mr. Kubrick’s 2001 is one of them. In your face. In spades!
To have the opportunity to view it (without drugs) in 70mm on a huge screen, is one of these life altering experiences.
Is it on par with watching the Stars and Stripes being raised at Iwo Jima?
Doubtful.
But in the world of cinema, it doesn’t get much better.
And neither could this high definition disc, for which I set aside the opening game of the World Series this evening to preview. The game actually went on without me.
This is one of those “few words” that is short, sweet and to the point.
The original 65mm negative of 2001 has been over-loved during the decades.
Over-printed, with dupes scattered about throughout, it comes to to this new DVD in nearly transparent condition. My assumption is that this transfer is derived from a 35mm interpositive produced several years ago, and it has yielded a superb master.
Warner Bros. has done a beautiful job with Mr. Kubrick’s magnum opus.
Image and audio quality are superb. And while we are viewing what is essentially the soft cover version of a film which was designed to be seen on a huge screen with audio blaring…
We finally have a version of 2001 on home video of which I believe Mr. Kubrick would be proud.
And then he would change the conversation to baseball, and the World Series.
2001 is a beautifully stuck disc from Warner, which I screened on Blu-Ray. I have no doubt that the HD version will be equally as pleasing.
On the short list of the most important classic releases of 2007…
2001 may well be at the top.
Just beautiful. Hats off to the archival crew at Warner Bros.
2001: A Space Odyssey is Unhesitatingly Extremely Highly Recommended!
RAH
Robert has been known in the film industry for his unmatched skill and passion in film preservation. Growing up around photography, his first home theater experience began at age ten with 16mm. Years later he was running 35 and 70mm at home.
His restoration projects have breathed new life into classic films like Lawrence of Arabia, Vertigo, My Fair Lady, Spartacus, and The Godfather series. Beyond his restoration work, he has also shared his expertise through publications, contributing to the academic discourse on film restoration. The Academy Film Archive houses the Robert A. Harris Collection, a testament to his significant contributions to film preservation.
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