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Paradise Theatre
2009: A Film Odyssey
February 19, 2009
What do Don Glut, Martin Scorscese, Ed Wood, Roger Corman and Stanley Kubrick have in common? That's right, they're all filmmakers. (I figure even if you'd never heard of Don Glut, or maybe even Ed Wood or Roger Corman, the other big names would shout the answer.) Now for some harder questions to think about: As filmmakers, what unique quality do all these men have in common? What makes them different? What makes one filmmaker "better" than the other? Or for that matter, what makes one film "better" than another?Each of these men, as with all filmmakers, has something to tell us ...something teach us. And often the lesson isjust as much in the process as it is in the end product. Don Glut has never made a film on par with Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey. And yet, in his own way, he is a genius...a master at what he does. For the serious student of film and especially the budding filmmaker, I highly recommend watching I Was a Teenage Movie Maker to see what I'm talking about regarding Don Glut.The Den
For the major and nonmajor in film alike, now showing at the Paradise Theatre is Stanley Kubrick's masterwork among masterworks, 2001: A Space Odyssey.Be prepared, this is no action-adventure movie like we've grown accustomed to seeing the past couple decades. This film is a vision more than anything...yes, one articulated through maestro Kubrick, but ultimately spawned in the mind of visionary/hard science-fiction writer Arthur C. Clarke, the man who first brought us the idea of geostationary communication satellites. Coming from minds as great as these, this is a vision that deserves our closest attention.The evolution of man, past and future...of machines and computers and questions thereabout...where does life and mind arise therein...and out to the frontiers of the universe...what's ahead for us...even beyond death itself---that's what this film is all about. Most importantly, one must fully "get into" this movie for full effect, as its unusually abstract storyline invites viewers to project/impart their own meanings into things.A few things to watch for: One of the most compelling scene transitions in movie history. The dance of music and imagery. The special effects (years before the use of CGI). The ride of a lifetime at the end. Keep in mind, there's a lot more to this movie than initially meets the eye. If you don't get it the first time, don't be surprised or discouraged. After a dozen viewings or two, you may begin to scratch the surface. 
