2001 a Space Odyssey

[Conan_The_Barbarian]

For those who have seen the movie (or actually read the book you weirdos) what the hell happened in the end? What was the deal with the obelisks? Why the hell did the main character age a couple dozen years in a few minutes, die, and turn into a semi-transparent babylike thing that could travel through space. What the hell?

I got the feeling that the obelisks were like challenge markers put up by the universe itself for a species to eventually rise up and follow to eventually transcend the limiations of physical existence. I'm not entirely sure if I could defend that interpretation, it's purely intuitive speculation. Anyone else have any thoughts?

For those that have not seen it, you tube has the last 10 minutes or so posted. Come on English majors, this should be your moment to shine.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IV3sM2eElcI
He has just traveled through an incredibly trippy wormhole type thing and watched the formation of the universe and existence and ends up in the hotel.

[ForrestGump]

1. I haven't seen it in over 20 years

I am in no hurry to ever see it again.

I have no idea what happened at the end.

Or much recollection of anything happening in the beginning or middle, though I do remember thinking Hal was pretty cool.

And it's not that I am literal-minded, or unimaginative, or whatever -- I liked the way The Prisoner ended even if it was ultimately without meaning.

I think that what happened at the end of 2001 was the 'sixties.

Far out, man.

[Deja Q]

2. I recall the big fetus in space... and I recall the obelist... and it dawned on me...

Due to lack of funds, the final shot of the baby breaking out of the amniotic sac to go to the obelisk, put in a quarter, take out the can of pepsi, and drink it, burp, then say how refreshing it was had to be abandoned.

[sce56]

3. He was a Star Child or a furtherence of the evolution of Mankind!

You can watch 2010 it picks up the story 9 years later. And lastly I have the final book in that trilogy 2061 Odyssey Three just have not yet found the time to read it!
http://ec2.images-amazon.com/images/P/0345303067.01._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-dp-500-arrow,TopRight,45,-64_OU01_AA240_SH20_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg http://ec2.images-amazon.com/images/P/0345358791.01._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-dp-500-arrow,TopRight,45,-64_OU01_AA240_SH20_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

[sce56]

4. Opps I stand corrected 3001 Final Odyssey is also out there!

http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/0345423496.01._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-dp-500-arrow,TopRight,45,-64_OU01_AA240_SH20_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

[m_welby]

5. better to read the book to understand it

... but the monoliths represent alien 'presence' interfering/guiding human development. They are also signposts; i.e. the 'signal' generated when the monolith on the moon is unearthed (and is struck by sunlight for the first time) implies a message like 'they've made it this far'.

... the embryo (a 'transformed' Dave), floating above the earth represents a new 'guardian' of the human race. Someone 'on the job' more often than the obelisks tended to be.

Doesn't help much does it?

[sce56]

6. Would the term Un-Earthed be appropriate or would Un-Mooned be right?

http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/0451457994.01._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-dp-500-arrow,TopRight,45,-64_OU01_AA240_SH20_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

[Felix Mala]

7. Clark and Kubrick wanted audience to draw different conclusions

The monoliths, which may or may not be of alien origin, are symbolic of human imagination... Living things follow a natural course of development that takes them from one accomplishment to another as their development allows. The monolith at the entrance to worm hole suggests the next "step" in human development. If you can't imagine what that's might be... well, the they'll still need hot dog vendors back here on earth... (Just kidding.) However, C&K take it a step further, suggesting that the next step eventually leads human kind back to the egg, so to speak, and the dawn of a new kind of human (star baby)... Oh my god, the acid is creeping back into my brain... I can almost smell the the patchouli.

It's mostly an extrapolation of Einsteinian physics. If you read up on that and see it again, it won't be so hard to relate to.

Pretty stunning visuals still after all this time. See it in a theater some time if you can.