2001: A Space Odyssey – Celebrating 50 Years

By Reggie's Take on April 4, 2018

Stanley Kubrick’s, 2001: A Space Odyssey celebrated its 50th Anniversary on Monday as there are some who considered it the greatest science-fiction movie of all time and inspiring for future filmmakers.

2001: A Space Odyssey had its world premier in Washington, D.C. on April 2, 1968. The movie initially had a running time of 161 minutes, but after its premier Kubrick took out nineteen minutes of footage from the film before its general release to the public.

The original release of 2001: A Space Odyssey was in 70mm format that played continually for more than a year in several venues and for one hundred and three weeks in Los Angeles. The general, wider release of the movie was in 35mm anamorphic format.

To celebrate its 50th anniversary, Warner Brothers is opening its archives with a theatrical re-release of the movie to select theaters on May 18th. Warner Brothers will reissue an “unrestored” 70mm new printing that was made from the original camera negative. In a statement from a Warner Brothers studio representative “This is a true photochemical film recreation. There are no digital tricks, remastered effects, or revisionist edits.”

Director Christopher Nolan, will get to make an introduction for the new 70mm print when it makes its debut at the Cannes Film Festival. If 2001: A Space Odyssey is one of your favorites then you’re in luck when a fully restored version of the movie will become available on DVD and Blu-ray sometime later this year.

Reggie’s Take:
2001: A Space Odyssey is celebrating 50 years this year and it might be recognized as one of the best science fiction movies ever made, but in all honesty, I do not like this movie.

I watched it once and I had a extremely hard time sitting through the movie. Sure the special effects for its time are good and its directed by one of the greatest directors of all time, but that still doesn’t change my opinion of the movie.

Some of you maybe sitting there reading this and thinking, what the hell is my problem? How can I call myself a science fiction fan and not like 2001: A Space Odyssey? For me there’s more to being a science fiction fan then having to like one particular movie.

I’m sure some where in the world sits a man or woman who hates Star Wars and Star Trek, but loves Kubrick’s, 2001: A Space Odyssey. Would that make a person any less of a science fiction fan? No. We all have different taste in movies and just because one movie is celebrating a milestone anniversary doesn’t mean someone like myself has to like it.

If your a fan of 2001: A Space Odyssey and your to young to have seen in 1968 or you weren’t born yet then you have a chance to watch it theaters.

“Open the pod bay doors”