Sci-Fi opening scene research

 2001: A Space Odyssey 

 

Made by Stanley Kubrick is 1968 despite the year 2001 in the title of the film. Produced by, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and Stanley Kubrick Productions, staring, Keir Dullea, Gary Lockwood and William Sylvester.  

 

This opening sequence of this incredible sci-fi film has alternative and science fiction conventions attached to it. As for this first part of the film we have no humans on screen, instead there is a group of apes, suggesting prehistoric time frame suggesting a pre-evolution form of intelligence. We then discover a large metal structure in which seems to trigger curiosity among the apes from the previous uncivilised manor of the apes. This film was marketed as a special movie event for the whole family due to its appearance and where it was advertised, it quickly revived criticism from people such as mothers branding it as ‘pointless’, therefore can confer the target audience for this film are Stanley Kubrick fans, as well as the fans of sci-fi films with high concepts of all ages due to the age rating of a U. Due to the change in behaviour among  the monkeys assumed to be because from the mysterious metal monolith, suggests a theme of science fiction showing us the genre of the film.  

 

 

The long shot used to show more of the surroundings, with an unobstructed view into the distance, with no buildings or any form of human intervention further suggests the idea that this event we are seeing took place before the time of humans, and/or be in an extremely remote area.   Through dialogue between the apes in the moments represented by the picture above show a very hectic group, who are uncivil and seem to be having some sort of confrontation. 

 

As this monolith appears , the apes seem to be more calm and collected as they seem curious over the object, there is little to no dialogue between the monkeys as they  almost seem shocked, almost  as if this structure has affected  the mindset of the apes. The editing through consists of long shit durations with a fixed camera, to give the idea that this is not a movie but as if you are watching these events happen as they would happen as in a similar way to how you would see it in real life, not putting anything  specific  in front of the audience but instead allowing the whole area to be viewed  for greater interpretations. This is also a similar reason to why I believe  they choose to not have any human speech in the first 25 minutes  of the film. 

 

 

This is what we are shown after the apes discovery of the monolith, they seem to be more aware and organised, with some holding tools, and having what look to be a meeting or some form of confrontation, their apes seem strangely intelligent and resourceful, in this short of a period of time with the only factor being the structure, we assume that it has affected them furthermore enforcing the theme and genre surrounding sci-fi. 

 

This opening sequence is done very well and uniquely as its clear that Stanley has not wanted to make anything blatantly clear he wants people to think about what they are seeing, instead of how many modern films show you what to think. It also adds a sense of curiosity to the plot line as when watching this its hard to imagine how this could turn into a space film. The concept surround this sequence is also very interesting, to suggest that a metal monolith could drastically change the minds and behaviour of out prehistoric ancestors, opens up people's minds to higher and more complicated concepts.