A Little Late
The first thing wrong with this 40th anniversary screening and celebration of Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey on October 12th in downtown L.A. is that it's about six months too late. The classic stoner-mystic sci-fier opened in early April 1968, and so staging a 40th anni tribute three weeks from today is like...whatever, staging one in November 2007, or six months too early. You have to be serious about dates when you're raising a glass -- you can't fuck around.
The second thing wrong is having At The Movies co-host Ben Mankiewicz co-host it. He might be an okay guy on his own terms, but that new show is a gross defiling -- ask anyone -- and Mankiewicz has made himself into a philistine of the first order. Herman and Joseph are twitching in their graves.
The third thing wrong is that the print shown at the Edison will apparently just be a run-of-the-mill 35mm anamorphic, as the invitation obviously makes no mention of a 70 mm version, much less the Edison's capability to show such a print. The only way to have seen 2001 in years past was in 70 mm, which has happened, I'm told, at the Arclight twice this year.
And isn't it time for an IMAX print to be made? I strongly agree with rgmax99 that "if Warners had some brains and/or respect, they would have prepped a 2001 IMAX print and opened it nationwide." Although my guess (and I could be 180 degrees wrong) is that Ned Price and George Feltenstein did consider making an IMAX version and decided against it out of fear that the under-30s wouldn't attend.
Posted by Jeffrey Wells on September 22, 2008 at 12:31 AM
comment #1
Edward Havens
says ...
Just like it took Warners until late December of 2001 to get the film into theatres that year.
Posted by Edward Havens
at September 22, 2008 12:48 AM
comment #2
Markj74
says ...
Poor Ben. Vivian Kubrick will eat him alive.
Posted by Markj74
at September 22, 2008 2:01 AM
comment #3
Deathtongue_Groupie
says ...
Um, if you really want to bitch about something, what's the deal with The Edison? It seems like its mostly a lounge/bar, so just how big is this screening room of theirs anyway? They couldn't do this at the Cinerama Dome, especially on a Sunday of all days?
And didn't the Aero or Egyptian run this in 70mm back in the spring anyways? Which means you are bitching that they are doing several 40th Anniversary screens. Shouldn't that be a good thing? That is if you worship the film. Never been overly impressed with it myself.
Posted by Deathtongue_Groupie
at September 22, 2008 2:39 AM
comment #4
Markj74
says ...
Deathtongue_Groupie: You're not impressed by 2001?
Posted by Markj74
at September 22, 2008 4:35 AM
comment #5
MPNeeb
says ...
The Arclight has run 2001 in 70mm twice so far this year.
Once in January and once in September.
Both sold out and both were well presented.
In a perfect world, someone would have resurrected the Old Warner Hollywood and 2001 would have played there to re-open it (where it originally opened in 1968).
Posted by MPNeeb
at September 22, 2008 5:56 AM
comment #6
actionman
says ...
My father saw this in 1968, opening night, while under the influence of peyote.
I envy him. Big time.
Posted by actionman
at September 22, 2008 6:41 AM
comment #7
Movie Watcher
says ...
It would be nice to show it all across the country. What are the chances of that?
Posted by Movie Watcher
at September 22, 2008 6:53 AM
comment #8
rgmax99
says ...
If Warners had some brains and/or respect, they would have prepped a 2001 IMAX print and open nationwide.
Missed opportunity. Always a 50th anniversary opportunity, though.
Posted by rgmax99
at September 22, 2008 7:22 AM
comment #9
p.Vice
says ...
Pretty soon noboby will have the chance to see classic films like this in theaters, so late or not you should take what you can get. It won't last forever.
Posted by p.Vice
at September 22, 2008 9:40 AM
comment #10
MickTravis
says ...
If a film is shown within the year of the anniversary, it still can be called an anniversary. Had it been showed in November it would have been in 2007, a year early. Nitpicky, nitpicky ....
I want to set fire to the cowboy hat that sits atop the Full Sail d-bag's head. Fuckin' dumb-ass poser non-dirty cowboy hat.
Posted by MickTravis
at September 22, 2008 10:23 AM
comment #11
kingofnails
says ...
I hate the edison. Seriously. Fuck that place.
Posted by kingofnails
at September 22, 2008 10:36 AM
comment #12
Cadavra
says ...
The Academy had a 40th Anniversary screening in April, hosted by Tom Hanks. And it was a new 70.
Posted by Cadavra
at September 22, 2008 11:24 AM
comment #13
televisiontears
says ...
Deathtongue, I can understand not particularily caring for 2001 (different strokes, I guess), but even people who can't stand it at least allow that it's "impressive". I'm not calling taste into question, that's a subjective thing, but it seems a lover of film can't ignore the monumental feat, at least technically, that the film is.
I mean, you can hate "Bitches Brew" with a passion, but it's tough to deny that it's an impressive album.
Posted by televisiontears
at September 22, 2008 12:57 PM
comment #14
Edward Havens
says ...
"If Warners had some brains and/or respect, they would have prepped a 2001 IMAX print and open nationwide."
What would 2001-era IMAX technology have done that would have been different from the 70mm prints that did go out in December 2001?
I'm glad I got the chance to see 2001 in 2001, in 70mm at a real single screen movie theatre like the Astor Plaza, than in some cold cookie-cutter IMAX screen that looks and feels like any other IMAX screen at any other megaplex.
Posted by Edward Havens
at September 22, 2008 2:20 PM
comment #15
scooterzz
says ...
as long as you're being a stickler for dates, it was exactly eighteen years ago today that 'showgirls' was released....now, THERE'S cause for celebration!.....
Posted by scooterzz
at September 22, 2008 5:30 PM
comment #16
MickTravis
says ...
Yep, exactly 18 years. Give or take 5.
Posted by MickTravis
at September 22, 2008 5:49 PM
comment #17
rgmax99
says ...
Edward,
I agree for the most part. I'm probably showing my ignorance, but aren't all IMAX prints 70mm? My main point was that a properly marketed IMAX national release would bring lots of new viewers to 2001. Most folks under 30 have no idea what 70mm is. An 'IMAX-Experience,' however, is a marketing tool with which young auds are familiar.
Posted by rgmax99
at September 23, 2008 7:44 AM
comment #18
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