Analysis of 2001:A Space Odyssey, Part I

My name is Amir Mohammad-Zadeh, and I am a big science fiction fan.  I would like to talk about the film "2001: A Space Odyssey," directed by the late, great Stanley Kubrick.  It is based on the science fiction novel of the same name, written by Arthur C. Clarke.  I feel that this movie is by far THE most important science fiction movie of all time, and one of the rare, TRUE science fiction movies ever made.  1

"Whoah, wait a minute," you might say in response, "what do you mean by 'true' science fiction?"2

That's a very good question, if you indeed have asked it, and as well as you should.  There are always films being released under the label of "science fiction."  One such example is "Pitch Black".  The movie takes place in the future, on an alien planet, and the spaceships are flying.  So, yes, while the film has the label of "science fiction," in my humble opinion, it is not a true representative of the genre.  A true science fiction film can indeed have spaceships and alien planets.  However, these devices should only be the background of the true story at hand, NOT the story itself.  The purpose of science fiction is to comment on the human condition without being overtly obvious.  The message of the film, as it progresses, becomes very clear.3

Stanley Kubrick's film has been the subject of much discussion since its initial release in 1968.  Several people I have talked to about the film have complained that the film is too long, too slow, and utterly pointless.  I wholeheartedly disagree with every one of those complaints.  It is in the slow pacing that we see the human drama unfold.  Every moment of every character is essential in this type of story.  This is what I call the natural progression of events.  The dialogue itself is slow and deliberate, as it reflects talk of every day life in every day people.  My following interpretation of the film will show as thus.4