MELBOURNE AUDIENCES: 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY AT THE ASTOR THEATRE
Poor Athens, GA. We don’t really have anything good. Except music, Mark.
You certainly don’t have “2001” projected in 70MM on a curved Superscreen, that’s for certain.
I guess some people really do hold grudges.
No matter what the modern opinion is, I still regard 2001 as a ridiculously creative film. Wish I wasn’t on the other side of the globe from Melbourne.
^^for sure.
2001 is one of those films that you absolutely must see on the big screen at least once in your lifetime.
I’m so jealous!
Do you know if there’s a Sydney leg? Actually, I might just go ahead and relocate.
We’ll never see this in Perth, that’s for sure.
I was in Sydney over the New Year’s weekend and made the journey to the Cremorne Orpheum. It is indeed a wonderful cinema, but I do wonder why at least one screen is not constantly dedicated to nostalgia films. The Orpheum has pictures of Hollywood icons all ovet the place, so why no theatre dedicated soley for nostalgia classics?
If I were living in Sydney, I’d demand this from the Orpheum…heck, I might do it anyway. Sydneysiders ought to start some sort of petition. They gave “The Red Shoes” a run but that was some time ago, now. I reckon they should run “2001” at least once per year in Sydney.
Five years ago I was in Perth and visited the Luna in West Leederville, a good cinema, but alas unlikely to play “2001”.
The legend is George Florence got the current Astor SuperScreen so he could watch “2001” on it in 70MM format. If I were outside Melbourne, I’d seriously travel to Melbourne a few times per year just for the Astor Theatre. It actually irks me that sci-fi fanboy/girl types in Melbourne do not appreciate this film. The special effects in this film are as slick as anything you shall ever witness anywhere else in cinema, but more importantly, this is a sci-fi movie with such an extraordinary sense of wonder, and a SOUL. Also, HAL 9000 is truly a terrifying character—the film definitely lurches into the realm of sci-fi horror, even if only for one unforgettable scene. George Romero can make zombie movies all he wants, but he shall never match the feeling of horror one feels when HAL 9000, shall we say, goes into business for himself.
Imagine being trapped in space, at the mercy of a super sophisticated computer, who is beyond reason and kills with no emotion, no remorse—now THAT is horror! Something a lot of cinematic bloodmongers just don’t comprehend—horror working on a psychological level. Also, who else but Stanley Kubrick could make such an uncomforting and sophisticated G-rated film? Just call him “The Master.”
Who else thinks maybe this film should have been titled “2100: A Space Odyssey”? The space travel in the film is 100 years ahead of NASA even today and the film itself has still not been surpassed. Admittedly, I was somewhat baffled the first time I experienced it (and it IS an experience), but it just grows in meaning and stature with each subsequent viewing, the sign of a true classic.
People are surprised to find out a modern day hippy like me doesn’t drop acid—or any other type of mind-bending substance, for that matter. That’s because Stanley Kubrick and Arthur C. Clarke’s masterwork, “2001: A Space Odyssey”, is STILL…
THE ULTIMATE TRIP.
^^the C.O is a more impressive looking cinema than the Astor imo. b ut i prefer the films at astor.
I must admit that as much as I don’t understand Mark publicizing film screenings here that are pertinent only to a very small minority of posters here who live in Melbourne and Sydney (maybe you could start a rolling thread like people from other cities do), I am quite impressed (and even jealous) at Australian cinemas.
I still haven’t seen a film with better Special Effects than 2001. I probably never will.
“Admittedly, I was somewhat baffled the first time I experienced it (and it IS an experience)…”
That’s the beauty of it. It’s usually one of the first films an aspiring cinephile watches on the road to cinematic bliss and one’s initial exposure to it will inevitably be a little mystifying, but that’s what I love about it. There is meaning to be derived from it and that makes it that much greater. It’s right on the borderline of accessible and challenging – few films achieve that.
MARK IS SUSPENDED IN GAFFA
“This presentation is without a doubt the best I have ever seen “2001” look. And I was there for the opening…"
Keir Dullea at a Q&A after a special presentation of “2001” at the Astor Theatre, September 2006.
“2001” returns Sunday January 16th 2011 to the Astor (corner Chapel Street and Dandenong Road) at 2:30PM and 7PM. Stanley Kubrick’s 1968 masterpiece presented in 70MM print with six-track sound on the SuperScreen. “2001” collectibles also shall be on display in the foyer.
Melbourne audiences: spread the word and get down to the Astor for this very special cinematic event! If you’ve never before witnessed “2001” on the big screen, this is your opportunity to do so!
STILL THE ULTIMATE TRIP.