Message-ID: <190@decwrl.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 10-Dec-84 05:58:17 EST
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Posted: Mon Dec 10 05:58:17 1984
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There're two ways of looking at 2010: as its own movie and as
a companion to 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY. The latter first.

They say comparisons are odious, but here it's inevitable. Quite
frankly, as a sequel to 2001, 2010 just doesn't cut the mustard.
First of all, as primitive as 2001's effects look these days, they
look much better than the ones in the sequel. Many of the models,
as well as the Jupiter/Io/Europa mattes, did not look very convincing.
The biggest consequence of this for me was that I didn't have the
feeling of really being in space that I got with the first film.
	Secondly, I found the direction too ordinary. Kubrick was
very much a stylist, and though 2001's characters (and through the
characters, the implied sociology of our future) seemed dull, that
dullness was for a stylistic reason, to indicate a dehumanization
process. Mankind reaching a plateau in evolution that the events in
the film would help to overcome. In contrast, 2010's characters (and
implied sociology) seemed too much like our present-day. Maybe it's
more reasonable to suggest that life in 2010 would be pretty much
just like it is now, but it still doesn't give the sense of alieness
that was a part of the heart of 2001.

However, as its own film, I found 2010 to be very enjoyable. Peter
Hyams, while not a *bad* writer/director, didn't inspire much
confidence for me. And I certainly found many scenes in 2010 to be
handled very awkwardly (much of this being Dr. Floyd's "diary"
voice-overs), just as I'd expected. Where Hyams really brought this
off, however, was in the characters. The characterization and dialogue
were, for the most part, delightful, aided immeasureably by the talents
of a top-notch cast. Roy Scheider is an actor I admire, and he didn't
let me down. And John Lithgow --- words fail me. He isn't always
superb, and to be honest, his work in 2010 isn't among his best, but
I'm impressed by the *range* of his talent. I have yet to see him play
the same character twice! Contrast this with someone like Peter O'Toole,
who always plays the same brash, self-indulgent character. The real
treat here, though, was Helen Mirren. I wasn't all that taken with her
performance as Morgana in EXCALIBUR, but here she managed to convincingly
pull off the role as the Soviet mission commander.

2010 wasn't the greatest thing since sliced bread, but it was *far*
better than I had expected it to be, and I highly recommend it. On a
scale of 1-10, I would give this a 7.


--- jayembee (Jerry Boyajian, DEC, Maynard, MA)

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