The Making of 2001: A Space Odyssey (Modern Library Movies)

A mind opening book. 2001 could be called the ultimate philosophical work. The meaning of the work is what you decide and it can change.

2001: A Space Odyssey is undoubtedly a milestone film in science fiction, but what is it all about? Well, don't read this book if you want a full explanation because you won't get one. However, you will gain a detailed insight into the processes that led to the films creation. The book is full of detail of the special photographic effects developed for the film, written mostly by the technicians involved. There are many interviews with all the main people, from Stanley Kubrick, Arthur C. Clarke, to the cast and production staff, as well as sections detailing the shooting process. The interview between Kubrick and Playboy magazine is particularly revealing. Clarke's short story "The Sentinel" which was the basis of the story is also included. It's not all an easy read; the section of reviews at the time of the films release can be hard going, especially as each reviewer seem to be trying to put their own subjective interpretation onto the film. In some places you wonder if they were watching the same film! However this is perhaps not surprising as the meaning of the film does vary for each persons viewpoint. The interviews with Kubrick constantly show him refusing to be drawn on the meaning of the film - he always leaves it up to the viewer - something that very few mainstream films do today. Overall a rewarding read. Those who prefer a more pictorial history may prefer Piers Bizony's (who contributes a couple of chapters to this book) excellent 2001: Filming The Future, or Jerome Agel's The Making of Kubrick's 2001.

No pictures if youre looking for production photos,you need to look for something else.Heavy going in the reviews.A gold mine of entertainment covers the rest.Well worth buying if you are a fan of Clarke or Kubrick.

I was hoping for a more structured story of how the film was made, the journey they went through etc. Instead it's just a collection of interviews, magazine articles and other bits that have been collected together, often barely related. It was interesting in places but not quite what i was hoping for.

a1

Superb. Made me want to see the movie again and read the book. No pictures, though.

If you're looking for a diary detailing the day-to-day, year-to-year production of Stanley Kubrick's magnificent film, this is not quite it. Which is not to say that this book is not a fascinating read. It is a compilation of articles, reviews, and commentaries that touch on the genesis of the project and its groundbreaking special effects, while devoting a few too many pages to the initial reviews. After four or five of these, it's clear that most film reviewers don't have a clue. The sections done by those directly involved with the film (Lightman, Trumbull, et al) are the most compelling; they often provide a better insight into Mr. Kubrick's approach than the lengthy and rambling Playboy interview that concludes the book. Excellent intro by Jay Cocks--would've liked more about his time spent with Kubrick. If this book seems occasionally disappointing, it's only because there are so many interesting anecdotes and observations.

I loved it and it gave lots of interesting picturs that I had never seen before. Very informative and helpful.

I liked most of this once I recognized that it is NOT a new set of analyses. Instead, most of it is VERY old stuff. Still, it was interesting, but there was little here that I really hadn't heard or read before.

Thorough, and unexpected info!Great!