Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site bbncca.ARPA Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!ihnp4!bbncca!sdyer From: sdyer@bbncca.ARPA (Steve Dyer) Newsgroups: net.movies,net.sf-lovers Subject: 2010 review--non spoiler Message-ID: <1193@bbncca.ARPA> Date: Mon, 10-Dec-84 01:30:39 EST Article-I.D.: bbncca.1193 Posted: Mon Dec 10 01:30:39 1984 Date-Received: Tue, 11-Dec-84 02:37:40 EST Organization: Bolt, Beranek and Newman, Cambridge, Ma. Lines: 31 Xref: watmath net.movies:5162 net.sf-lovers:5350 2001 was one of the few movies which was richer in allusion and subtlety than the book. Unfortunately, 2010, the movie, continues this seemingly inexorable progress towards literal-mindedness. It begins with a "computer printout" summary of what "happened" in 2001 (just the facts, ma'am) worthy of the 3 minute synopses which begin the episodes of made-for-TV mini-series extravaganzas, and proceeds with some horrendous expository dialogue for the next 40 minutes or so. The characters here don't talk to each other, they explain the background of the plot to the audience. This is static stuff, anti-cinematic really, and the director (what's his name, who cares?) does nothing to help. In fact, this movie really is TV quality: the characters are thinly drawn--non-dimensional, perhaps. The Soviets (you've all seen the plot summaries, right?) are cold war zombies, and our hero Roy Scheider knows it all, in the best US tradition. As tensions increase on earth, with a war brewing between the superpowers, things begin to "heat up" on Jupiter. "Something wonderful is about to happen!" claims a resurrected Dave Bowman, late of 2001, to Scheider. Indeed! If you gagged on "Close Encounters", you'll choke on 2010. There are a very few good scenes, especially those involving the HAL 9000 computer and Chandra, HAL's programmer, but they do not a movie make. Many people have argued that 2010 should not be judged against 2001, one of the most influential movies of all time. Perhaps it IS an unfair comparison, for 2010 is inferior in almost every respect. -- /Steve Dyer {decvax,linus,ima,ihnp4}!bbncca!sdyer sdyer@bbncca.ARPA