2001 - A Space Odyssey (Limited Edition Collector's Set)

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When Stanley Kubrick recruited Arthur C. Clarke to collaborate on "the proverbial intelligent science fiction film," it's a safe bet neither the maverick auteur nor the great science fiction writer knew they would virtually redefine the parameters of the cinema experience. A daring experiment in unconventional narrative inspired by Clarke's short story "The Sentinel," 2001 is a visual tone poem (barely 40 minutes of dialogue in a 139-minute film) that charts a phenomenal history of human evolution. From the dawn-of-man discovery of crude but deadly tools in the film's opening sequence to the journey of the spaceship Discovery and metaphysical birth of the "star child" at film's end, Kubrick's vision is meticulous and precise. In keeping with the director's underlying theme of dehumanization by technology, the notorious, seemingly omniscient computer HAL 9000 has more warmth and personality than the human astronauts it supposedly is serving. (The director also leaves the meaning of the black, rectangular alien monoliths open for discussion.) This theme, in part, is what makes 2001 a film like no other, though dated now that its postmillennial space exploration has proven optimistic compared to reality. Still, the film is timelessly provocative in its pioneering exploration of inner- and outer-space consciousness. With spectacular, painstakingly authentic special effects that have stood the test of time, Kubrick's film is nothing less than a cinematic milestone--puzzling, provocative, and perfect. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

RIPPP-OFFFF!.......2007-09-10

I, too, saw this film in 1968, so I'm not an adolescent, and I remember very well the impact of the event. That being said, anyone interested in buying this movie as a 'home video', trying to replicate the original intended theatre experience, will be greatly disappointed.

Let's start at the beginning: Most movie versions of popular books tend to be rather incomplete or deviate wildly from their literary parent by the time it gets to the screen. Before men actually walked on the moon, the cinematic effort just to achieve the revolutionary visual effects we see here seems to have been all encompassing for the director, to the distraction of trying to involve us in the deep narrative that made the Arthur C. Clarke novel one of the most provocative and probing works of the age. While both realistic and psychedelic images combined with imaginative classical works are intended to impress the senses, the story-line is almost senseless in this telling, forcing the viewer to tax their own imagination in order to fill in the blanks. So large are the blanks that without the benefit of reading the book first, you would fall asleep, if it were not for the sonic and scenic thrill ride. Unfortunately, sitting through this disc, I found it very hard to keep my eyes (and ears) open.

First thing we need to get straight is that the word 'anamorphic' seems to be thrown around at everything that isn't made for standard TV. "2001:A Space Odyssey" IS NOT anamorphic and never was. It was shot in Super-Panavision 2.2:1; NOT Ultra-Panavision 2.6:1 which requires anamorphic lenses to display a little wider aspect ratio. What's missing is the deeply curved Cinerama screen this film was designed to be projected on, which makes it look wider and gives it a bit of 3D. You don't have that at home, and neither do I, so the extra depth and dimension required to complete the effect just isn't there, but would help this movie very much if such a thing becomes available for home use in the future. (NOTE: This picture would be a good candidate for the "Smile-Box" effect recently developed by Dave Strohmaier for rendering true Cinerama films to flat screens.)

Now, putting aside the men in monkey suits and outdated visions of space travel, my biggest problem with this 'newly remastered' DVD (with no extras!???) is finding the lowest quality picture and sound on disc that I have come across in many years. Whether you are a fan of Mr. Kubrick's original production or not, the technical rendering on this DVD is atrocious. The picture is fuzzy and dim, the sound is screechy, lo-fi, and just barely stereophonic.

My senses have been underwhelmed and I want my money back!!

When Words Fail..........2007-07-15

"You are free to speculate, as you wish, about the philosophical and allegorical meanings of 2001."
- Stanley Kubrick

What should film be? What should a good film accomplish? Kubrick challenged our very notion of those concepts in 1968 with perhaps the most brilliant piece of artistic science fiction ever created. 40 years later it's easy to see the polarizing nature of this film. The problem is one of pre-conceived notions about film's purpose. When artists push the envelope of what can be done in their genre, they're almost always met with resistance from the conservative old-school and cries of "genius!" from the forward thinkers. (Look at Stravinsky's Rite of Spring for an example in a completely unrelated genre.)

What makes film unique in the world of art? The ability to tell stories with a rich narrative can be done (better) in literature. The ability to evoke emotions and abstract thoughts can be done (better) by visual arts and music. Film's unique contribution is that of moving pictures. If a picture can say 1000 words, what can a 2 1/2 hour long moving one do? In a way, the "picture is worth" theory is representative of how futile words can be as a means of expression (no offense intended to the great authors and poets). Great films are those that can say something significant, from beginning to end using visuals. Music, sound, and dialogue should only exist to enhance and illuminate the visuals, not overpower and drive them.

Kubrick takes the idea of using moving pictures to state an idea to the extreme. He strips away narrative conventions and uses incredibly dense imagery, meticulously crafted scenes, an immense amount of abstract symbolism and allegory, and only a classical music soundtrack for guidance. Then he allows it all to speak by and for themselves. In a 2.5 hour film there's around 40 minutes of dialogue. That means about 75% or 3/4 of the film is told through its visuals alone. He crafts 3 "acts" (some argue 4) that reiterates a story in an increasingly visual and abstract manner, where every scene says something both singular while enhancing the big picture.

It's fair to say this film has almost no plot. If there is one, it centers around men in the future who are sent on a mission to investigate a strange monolith that is the first evidence of an extra-terrestrial, sentient life form. Is it boring? For those with short attention spans, a need to be spoon-fed an "entertaining story", and be lead by the hand at every step, then yes: by those standards, it is. For those with patience, good attention spans, and receptive minds, then no, it's not. Ultimately, 'boring' is relative. To really "get" 2001, one must be in a calm, meditative, "centered" state where you can receive and process information, without needing it handed to you. While most films put the puzzle together for you, Kubrick merely provided the pieces and leaves it to his audience to do the rest.

One enlightening critique from Nathan493 (IMDb) compares 2001 to Eastern and Western art techniques: "Western technique dictates a canvas to be completely filled with little or no untouched space left, while eastern art there is a strong tendency to leave large stretches of canvas blank, so that the void speaks as loudly to the observer as the subject matter. This is where 2001 is its strongest, the "boring" or "void" areas of the film are often as strong visually as the busy and "filled in" facets of the movie."

Kubrick indeed uses long stretches of "void" to allow the viewer to meditate on all that's being said. Without this void, a complex film would've likely turned into an incomprehensible mess. The extreme amount of time that Kubrick allows us to breath and analyze the scenes are a very large part of WHY this film works at all.

2001 is almost an entirely intellectual film. Art works on two obvious levels: the emotional (through which we connect and feel the implied emotions of a work) and the intellectual (through which we recognize and analyze the intentionally created work). Most want films that move them, not challenge them intellectually, but 2001 does just that. There will always be those who "don't get it" because they watch it with preconceived notions about what film as an artistic medium should be. For those who don't hold these notions, or are willing to let them go, 2001 is a monolithic epochal work of one's artistic vision about man's existence that was aeons ahead of its time.

For those who "don't get it", don't worry. There's more films made for you than there are for us, which is a personal lament and not an insult. "Masterpiece" has largely become trite, but I have to think the word was coined for works like this. For me, 2001 is a profound odyssey of the mind. It speaks volumes on where we've been, and where we might be going, and all the perils that will plague us along the way. It continually challenges the viewer to transcend complacency and evolve into something greater. It touches on almost every major element that pertains to humanity and existence. All the while being the best trip one could ever take while sober.

A Must-Have for your DVD Library.......2007-07-07

2001 is a melding of two great minds - director Stanley Kubrick and great sci-fi author Arthur C. Clark. Based on Clark's short story "The Sentinel", the pair were not out to make a guns-blazing, alien-slaying movie like the popular Star Trek series. Instead, they were going in a completely different direction - exploring what makes a human a human, and how what we think and do defines us as intelligent creatures.

The result is a very visual, thought provoking movie that earned itself the #22 spot on the AFI top movies of all time listing. If you're an impatient sort, you'll get bored quickly. The movie is over 2 hours long and less than half of that has people speaking, never mind other more strenuous activity. It is a movie about you - the watcher - reacting and thinking about the situations. They don't tell you what to think or how to feel. You see what is going on, and you draw your own impressions, and come up with your own conclusions.

That's a lot to ask of an audience, and how you react to the movie will have a lot to do with your personality. Some people just aren't interested in this sort of slow going thoughtful exercise. And that's fine - there are plenty of action space movies out there. For those who seek something more intricate, grab a glass of wine, a plate of cheese and fruit, and sit back. You're in for a treat.

It's best if you watch this movie once through without reading a lot about the plot or its multiple layers of meaning - that way you can see it with a fresh mind and draw your own reactions and ideas from what you've seen. Undoubtedly you'll have questions about some areas! At that point, search the web and find the MANY discussions about this movie, unravelling the symbolism. See if you agree or disagree with what's being said, then watch it again. This is the type of movie you can watch again, every year, and learn something new from it.

Highly recommended.

Simply Outstanding.......2007-06-17

If you like science fiction then there is no doubt that first, you have probably already seen this. If not, then I can guarantee you that this will captivate you beyond belief. I can find few movies from its time to compare to this masterpiece.

Some have been posting that the quality of this version is not as good as they expected, or not as good as the original. Since I have never seen the original in VHS format, all I can say is that it's totally watch-able. I cannot however note the precision of the transfer of the veteran viewers.

Stanley Kubrick is one of the most ingenious film makers of all time. The cinematography of the film is incredible in the way he uses the limited special effects that were available at the time, and especially sound. The sound is one thing that I find that Stanley Kubrick knew how to use best. The voices that he used in this movie for the monolith gave a tide of mysteriousness, curiosity, and the potential to freak someone out.

He begins the movie displaying evolution and highlights particularly how apes gained intelligence by figuring out how to use bones as weapons. The movie then leaps forward to the space age, where a crew subsequently discovers a large, black, and mysterious object, known as the monolith, on the moon. The only thing the crew knew about this object is that it was buried on the moon 4 million years ago, deliberately.

On a spaceship heading towards Jupiter, the flawless computer known as HAL 9000, makes its first mistake, and begins the worry the crew with its erratic behavior. Afterwards, the mysterious monolith returns, but this time not on the moon.

2001 - A Space Odyssey is one of the best films of all time that I could not recommend more. The captivation will glue your eyes and ears to the screen.

Kubrick's Magnum Opus.......2007-06-05

Few auteurs in film history possess the visionary talent that Kubrick had. His Space Odyssey, the first film of its kind, proves that. Invoking awe and wonder in new audiences and old, the film stands the test of time and continues to inspire.

The film is meant to be viewed on a large auditorium screen, and though Kubrick was an avid supporter for mono sound, today's modern sound technology provides for a much better experience. The hums and clicks of the spaceships, the vaccuum of space, and the brilliant soundtrack create an eerie aura, made more believable with surround sound. The best way to view this film is to do so in a theatre. Kubrick intended for his audience to view the Odyssey on the big screen. This way, the film transports its audience to space itself, and embarks on a timeless journey for the ages. There are many long shots of spacecraft and nebulae that a television set simply can't reproduce on the same scale of the theatre. It's like viewing the Mona Lisa on a mail stamp.

The story should be familiar to audiences by now. On the surface, the plot is one of Kubrick's more simple ones, but critics go very deep into its symbols, allegories, and other interpretings. Many filmgoers are turned off by its curious ending, but that is because they simply don't understand it. Just keep in mind that the ending represents man's evolution.

As for the DVD, many complain that the transfer quality is poor, but I hold no grievances whatsoever. I enjoy viewing the film in its original state, just like its first audiences saw it. It is clean enough to enjoy without distraction, and the sound was upgraded to Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound. If you are a true Kubrick nut, however, then you will want to alter the sound output to mono, but that option is up to your discretion.

The Sid Caesar Collection - The Buried Treasures - 50th Anniversary Edition

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Laugh, Laugh, Laugh
A "must own" for fans who have already purchased the 1st collection
Still Waiting For The YSOS Complete Seasons
Before Saturday Night Live there was Your Show of Shows

The Sid Caesar Collection - The Buried Treasures - 50th Anniversary Edition
Starring: Sid Caesar , Imogene Coca , Carl Reiner , Howard Morris , and Jack Russell (III)
Director: Nat Hiken , Max Liebman , and Clark Jones
Manufacturer: New Video Group
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00022FW7M
Release Date: 2004-06-29

Product Description

A comic genius who s had America laughing since the 1950s, Sid Caesar was the star and guiding force behind the Emmy® Award-winning "Your Show of Shows" and "Caesar s Hour." Now, 19 of Sid s legendary sketches have been unearthed from the vault, and can be seen for the first time since they originally aired in the 1950s. Dusted off and digitally restored, these buried treasures from the golden age of comedy are as hilarious and priceless as ever. Featuring Sid s most popular characters, the Professor and Progress Hornsby, this collection also includes him in such legendary sketches as "At the Movies" and "La Bicycletta." Capping off the fun is Sid s dream team of comedic actors, including Carl Reiner, Nanette Fabray, and Howie Morris. Dig deep into Sid s treasure chest of comedy gems and join him for 19 of his rarest sketches unseen since the 1950s and more priceless than ever!

SPECIAL FEATURES
Bonus Sketches: "Dancing Towers," "Chinese Food," and "Invitation to Murder;" Interview Extras with Sid Caesar, Neil Simon, and Nanette Fabray; Cast and Writer Biographies; Interactive Menus; Scene Selection

System Requirements:

Running Time 232 Min

Format: DVD MOVIE

Amazon.com

The DVD releases of SCTV, Kids in the Hall, and In Living Color, made 2004 a banner year for sketch-comedy aficionados. But this three-disc collection of vintage sketches from Your Show of Shows and Caesar's Hour is essential for those with an appreciation for the grand masters. We come to praise Caesar, not to bury him. This was the golden age of live television, and these were the shows to which comedy writers aspired. Caesar's dream team included (though not at the same time) Woody Allen, Mel Brooks, Selma Diamond, Larry Gelbart, Carl Reiner, and Neil and Danny Simon. The Sid Caesar Collection is a treasure trove of sketches, representative of the "knowledge, technique, and taste" of the show's creators: domestic sketches ("Nan Hires a Maid," "The White Rug"), spoofs ("Bullet Over Broadway," "German U Boat 749"), and pantomime ("Grieg Piano Concerto," "Pantomime Cocktail Party").

One reason why these sketches, some more than 50 years old, hold up so well, is Caesar's credo that "People are more interesting than things." The best sketches are universal, human comedy. In "Nan Hires a Maid," the writers meticulously establish wife Nanette Fabray's frustration with husband Sid's sloppiness, so when Sid comes home from work, we anxiously await to see him carelessly discard his clothes around the room, and for dutiful Nanette to explode, which she does "just so." Anything could happen on live television. Check out the "Bus Station" sketch, in which commuter Sid can be glimpsed wearing sandals he did not have time to change from a previous gladiator sketch. Other memorable sketches include "Toy Band" (which echoes the intricate teamwork of the Your Show of Shows classic, "The Clock") and "Bullets Over Broadway," which may have inspired the Boss Hijack sketches in the Caesar homage, My Favorite Year. In between the sketches, cast members and writers affectionately recall working with each other, and creating this classic comedy. Each DVD includes bonus sketches. Caesar also provides illuminating commentary on selected sketches. --Donald Liebenson

Customer Reviews:

Laugh, Laugh, Laugh.......2007-06-08

It was the best of times for television. If ever life seems unfair this collection will keep you laughing for a long time. Give this collection to anyone young or old and they will thank you forever.

A "must own" for fans who have already purchased the 1st collection.......2005-09-18

Not as uproariously funny as the 1st collection of 18 legendary episodes, but still far above most anything seen that is called comedy on television today. Here is a real master in the mold of Chaplain, Keating and, yes, the Marx Brothers.

Still Waiting For The YSOS Complete Seasons.......2004-12-14

Your Show Of Shows was a ground-breaking series, although what's left of it is admittedly in kinescope-type quality rather than good I Love Lucy film quality. But still, unless you can get these current releases at a great discount, I'll recommend that everyone wait until YSOS finally comes out on Complete Seasons DVDs.

That is because when it comes to a giant of comedy like the mighty Caesar, verily it shall be worth thy wait!

Before Saturday Night Live there was Your Show of Shows.......2004-08-25

This has to be what must have inspired Saturday Night Live. Only with this one the episodes are funnier. Even if you eliminate the time factor here...this show was produced in the fifties..it's still holds up as a great show that's actually funny to watch the second time around. That was the great thing about Sid Ceasar...if you notice his samurai skits were stolen from none other than John Belusi of Saturday Night Live. If you get the chance to see any of these classics watch Sid's impression of the japanese samuri and Belusi's...this is where he got his inspiration....

Average customer rating:

Beautiful European movie...perhaps simplistic at times
Gripping Spanish thriller-drama

Box 507
Starring: Dafne Fernández , Antonio Resines , Miriam Montilla , Félix Álvarez (III) , and Javier Coromina
Director: Enrique Urbizu
Manufacturer: TLA Releasing
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00027JY4O
Release Date: 2004-07-27

Description

Set in a small town among Spain's Costa del Sol, Box 507 is a stylish, gripping crime thriller. A band of professionals plan the robbery of a small bank run by Modesto, a respectable middle-aged man. The robbers lock him inside a safety deposit vault. While inside, he discovers a box that offers some answers to the mysterious forest fire death of his teenage daughter, which had been ruled an accident by authorities. This new evidence leads him to a world of corruption and foul play, which fuels his desire for revenge. Box 507 is an intricate and unpredictable mystery in the tradition of Hitchcock.

Customer Reviews:

Beautiful European movie...perhaps simplistic at times.......2007-01-21

Much like in card or board games, in the realm of movies,
there are different styles or classes, each with a
different flavor, different approach, different visual
presentation and layout, different intellectual challenge.

In fact, BOX 507 (la caja 507), is a professionally
made, straight edge movie, with no nonsense elements that
could get it in trouble with censors, unlike in many American
productions, ( sex, violence, degradation etc.) This is a
welcome decision, as sometimes the excesses are redundant.

Therefore, the viewer is confronted with a European movie, a
thriller with immense visual, musical elements that are
beautiful in themselves, coupled with a stimulating story.

In fact, the Costa del Sol, ( SE Coast in Spain) was
the locale chosen for this motion picture, bringing many
interesting elements of the outdoors, for those who
haven't visited the region. There is no sign of a megapolis,
such as NYC, LA, Paris, London, Amsterdam or similar, in
that area of Spain, which is actually a benefit, in my view.

We are told that, even in this spectacular area of Spain,
political corruption, payoffs and bribes exist, as well as
tight partnerships between some mob expatriates from Italy,
located in that Spanish area, and some bankers, newspaper
men, and local politicians.

It tells of ecological devastation, in exchange for
the construction and commercial development of
those areas, for purposes of tourism (marina, high rises,
shopping centers) and the willingness of some of the elite, to
partake in this state of affairs, by either enriching themselves
admitedly or by turning a blind eye to the whole insidious process.

All in all, a beautiful European movie, perhaps a bit
simplistic at times, that will leave its mark on the
viewer by its realism. Clearly, the actors will be seen
more and more, such as the lovely Miriam Montilla, and
the very charismatic supporting actors, too.

Gripping Spanish thriller-drama.......2004-08-22

Enrique's Urbizu's Caja 507 (Box 507) is a strong, perfectly-plotted thriller that fuses crime and political corruption seamlessly. A bank manager's 16-year old daughter perishes while inside a tent in a forest fire and, seven years later, as the result of the robbery of the his bank, the manager discovers documents in one of the safety deposit boxes (hence the title) that relates to his daughter's death.

In the meantime, the corrupt former police chief becomes aware of these now-missing documents. The two men each independently track down those linked to what they must find, and this tracking down is the core of this excellent thriller. Involved here are the Mafia, corrupt officials, a sick wife, and a helpful reporter. The relentless momentum of the plotting is truly gripping and hair-raising; this is a film that can easily stand as a brilliant model of how to write and direct a thriller.

Highly recommended.

La Caja 507 (Box 507) [PAL/REGION 2 DVD. Import-Spain]

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La Caja 507 (Box 507) [PAL/REGION 2 DVD. Import-Spain]
Director: Enrique Urbizu
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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