2001: A Space Odd-ysee

2001: A Space Odyssey is a classic film. You can often hear it brought up in Sci-Fi conversations. Really. Sure, the first line of dialogue doesn't come until 25 minutes and 58 seconds into the film (I looked it up), and it is pretty easy to completely forget everything that happened during the movie when you're watching the Stargate sequence...and there ain't no dialogue during or after... But it's a pretty big deal.

The film was confusing. It was a little ridiculous (and I'm not referring to the futuristic inferences - those aren't Kubrick and company's fault) and the opening and ending are just...well...weird. This could just be to the conditioning of 21st century cinema.

Despite that, there was plenty of discussion to be had about the implications of technology and it's relationship to man. Technology is what...well, separates us from the apes, so to speak. It allows us to rule the Earth despite our poor senses, weak bodies, and lack of naturally developed weapons (poisons, camoflauge, flight, etc). Overall, we're pretty pathetic. Yet, here we are, able to kill anything, in control of all we inhabit. Technology allowed us to get there. Sure, it helped ancient man to be in groups, but animals have been doing that for forever. What really allowed us to keep up with greater hunters was the spear, fire, the club, the bow. Now it is the gun, the car, the plane, the cage.

Can technology, which has blessed us so, truly make us it's tool? Is HAL really a vision into the future? I don't know. Perhaps that is the implication - that, like the kindly ape destroying to defenseless skeleton - we are incited to become more greedy and aggressive by our ability to, thanks to our technologies. Maybe the video, who's flickering could be a possible indication that a dying and weakened HAL is trying to make one last attempt to get Dave to forgive him. If he does want Dave's forgiveness, which he apparently does, it is because he thinks that is efficient or because he truly feels? He admits he has been acting funny lately, and that that won't be going on for long (implying it is bad). How much does he really feel? Fear, maybe.

There are a lot of maybes. We can't really say. But here is what I think, succintly:

1) HAL feels. He IS afraid. He is prideful. He is offended by the suggestion of him making a mistake. He cherishes his life. He likes Dave.

2) The video is HAL's attempt to explain himself.

3) Technology is only as dangerous as those who use it.
3b) If and when technology gains free will, it will no longer BE technology - it will be its own being, as much the creation of humans as I am of my parents.

And one last theory...if HAL didn't intentionally launch the video, it DID launch when HAL when shut down, and opened with a congratulations at reaching Jupiter. This could be a sign that reaching Jupiter would trigger HAL's shutdown, in turn activating the video. Maybe it was deemed they wouldn't need HAL on planet, and then with all the others revived, a full crew. HAL could just be practicing self preservation. Crazy, I know.
And that is why The Sandlot is the pinnacle of modern film.