2001 A SPACE ODYSSEY 4K WHY DOES IT LOOK SO GOOD?
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- Опубликовано: 6 окт 2024
- 2001 A Space Odyssey on 4K UHD Blu-Ray is regarded as one of the best 4K video releases thus far. Just why does this 1968 film look so good and does it stand up to all the accolades under scrutiny? We take a look into the large film format history of this classic which includes a fairly comprehensive look at the three-strip Cinerama process and 70mm film formats.
Thanks to Stuart Hillaker for the shotsfrom the 2016 British Film Collectors Convention.
To see the full Cinerama Smilebox trailer to 'This Is Cinerama': • "This is Cinerama". 20...
The visuals and special effects in this movie, have aged better than effects in movies that came out 10 years ago.
Couldn't agree more.
John.
Absolutely. Some of those carousel scenes onboard Discovery were quite confounding to the senses, especially when seen on a huge screen.
Agreed. Some of the sfx in Star Wars for instance are showing their age. 2001 is simply a masterpiece.
Or this year
Star Trek The Motion Picture also has great effects better than many of today's.
When I turned 10 years old, in 1968, my parents wanted to know what I wanted for my birthday... “I’d like to see this new space movie, 2001: A Space Odyssey.”
“...are you sure son? It’s playing all the way out in Hollywood, a 40 minute drive...”
Lol! I was adamant about it, and saw 2001 in its first run at The Cinerama Dome.
2001 is still my favorite film.
Great video, and thanks much!
Earl, you had great taste in movies from a very young age. And to think, you can still go to that same Cinerama theatre all these years later. The perfect venue for 2001 A Space Odyssey.
John.
I was 13, and had a similar experience. I came out of the theater in a daze--couldn't think about anything else for a very long time. And today it remains my all-time favorite film.
But I think your memory about it being shown in the Cinerama Dome might be mistaken. While 2001 was later shown at the Cinerama Dome, when it originally came out in 1968 it was shown at the Hollywood Pacific Cinerama on Hollywood Blvd (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hollywood_Pacific_Theatre), which no longer exists. If my memory is correct, one cool thing they did was to play the introductory music (before the start of the film and at the end of the intermission) throughout the lobby--not just in the theater itself--thus informing patrons it was time to get in their seats!
@@bobspies9 yes, I think you’re correct about the theater. I’ve always assumed it was at The Dome, but I don’t have any real solid memories until we were actually entering the theater, which was all red velvet curtains/etc…. And yes, I remember the music playing as we walked in.
Great info! Thanks!
@@earlgrey3461 Yes, I remember those red velvet curtains opening! We were sitting at the front of the balcony, and I remember a rush of adrenalin and being in absolute awe. I didn't fully understand the film on that first viewing, but it was still a religious experience.
Thanks.
@@bobspies9 I was 13 and it blew me away. I remember saying to my younger brother how great it was but what was it about?
I saw 2001 in 70mm in Chicago last year before the coronapocalypse, and it was as close to a religious experience as I've ever had at the movies.
This video could be called How I Learned To Stop Streaming and Love Large Format.
Perfect Eric. Thank you again.
John.
Forgive my ignorance (I don't have 4K), but how did you get the Cinerama "smilebox" aspect ratio on your television?
@Eric Peeper - At the Music Box? That and _Laurence of Arabia_ are amazing in 70mm, and I love the Music Box’s 70mm screenings. (Before they renovated their big theater’s screen, they had an actual silver-colored screen, and spent a month showing 3D movies on it that’d been shot using the old silver-screen process - _Dial M for Murder_ in the original 3D is something else!) Anywho… a while ago, when Christopher Nolan had something-or-another in theaters, for some reason a new 70mm print of _2001: A Space Odyssey_ was simultaneously commissioned and screened around the USA, and there were rumors it’d be screened in honest-to-God Cinerama in Los Angeles! I would’ve bought a train ticket and traveled to see it, but I could never nail down whether or not it was really going to happen. Ahhh, enormous curved screen…
@@danopticon Yes! It was my first time at the Music Box. Beautiful theatre. I saw a screening of Lawrence here in Indiana in 2019, but sadly it a digital print. Still great to see on the big screen, but I'd love to see it in 70mm.
Amen.
I saw 2001 in a IMAX on a 70mm print rerelease in 2018. Absolutely stunning. Nothing like it.
Well done James. Wish I'd been there too.
John.
Wow, you're lucky.
James, I agree!
Having seen the original movie (in 1968 on the Cinerama screen)… the IMAX version is even better (especially the sound and image resolution).
I don’t understand why they don’t keep showing it in IMAX every so often .
Cinerama Dome for the 50th Anniversary?
Not sure why this appeared in my recommended but very pleased it has, a fantastic gem, a brilliant video. Thank you
Thank you for taking the time to say so.
John.
That was my thought exactly. I just posted my own comment, before seeing this. Couldn't agree more.
I remember seeing this at the theaters when I was a kid. At the end of the movie I turned to my dad and ask him why I was being punished. 🤷♂️
@@Losttouchjs LOL! 😄😄😄‼️
@@Losttouchjs Your poor father. And now you're... an adult? 😏
Wow. I came in ready to answer the question of why it looks so good in 4K with "35mm is equivalent to about 5.6K." I had no idea this was shot on 70mm, and knew of "Cinerama" in name only. Thanks for the wonderfully informative video.
You are very welcome. And remember, when we're talking about 4K and the rest of it that is all compressed. Uncompressed and 35mm is off the scale... more than twice that amount for negative stock too.
John.
@@moviecollector5920
Rad.
I saw 2001 in Cinerama when it first came out with my Dad. I was 10 years old. Still remember it and both of us being baffled by the ending.
What a wonderful memory... even if you couldn't fathom the ending but then no one else could either!
John.
My college brother and his friend took me a 13 year old kid to THE FIRST SHOWING at a downtown theater.
3rd row slightly left of center balcony. 3 screens where you needed to turn your head just a bit to see all that analog magnificence.
I knew what we just watched was historic when we exited and there was almost no one speaking.
Then as we walked thru the doors to the outside we were met by 3 to 4 hundred people all asking the same question and not getting an answer from the opened mouth zombies.
One guy looked dead at me and asked.....was it good....I distinctly remember only being able to nod.
You, me and 7 billion others have been baffled by the ending!
The novel by Arthur C. Clarke is far more clear as to what the ending is about. Clarke and Kubrick reportedly clashed quite a bit over the story, so Clarke's book is not simply a novelized version of the screenplay but rather the story as he, Clarke, wanted to tell it. Had the final part of the movie been filmed the way Clarke envisioned it, it would have been a lot clearer as to what was going on (it would have been far more difficult to film however, given that this was decades before the advent of CGI). I recommend the novel for anyone who was baffled by the last part of the movie. The visual splendour of the movie notwithstanding, I prefer the novel in terms of story.
@@Markus_Andrew Agreed. Anyone who was baffled by the end of the movie (EVERYONE!!!!) needs to read Clarke's novel. It is NOT ambiguous. It tells you exactly what happened to Bowman and why. Then you need to read "2010: Odyssey Two" because it tells why HAL went mad. Don't bother with the 2 novels after that, they both just show that Clarke was losing his grip as he aged.
This is a magnificent movie, well ahead of its time, a true spectacle and one of the best movies of all-time!
Every new viewing format should use this movie as a bench mark. Don’t unveil it until you’re sure 2001 is well served by it.
Couldn't agree more.
John.
I'm an original release viewer -- I first saw 2001: A Space Odyssey in 1968 during its first run. I was a confused 9 year old and didn't see the movie again until I was 16. Over the next several years, I watched the listings for any showing of this move I could find. And each time I see it, in theaters or any other way, it is a fresh experience. This movie never gets old!
That sums it up well Brian.
John.
My art teacher gave his class the afternoon off school to go see the movie when it came out in 1968. One of the most important educational experiences in my entire life.
For people who just "got" the ending right away - It drives home the most important aspect of our existence. We are babies in space - growing up into a new world, not just metaphorically.
Well put Jeff.
John.
I never took it quite that way. The monolith represents an evolutionary leap forward for mankind whenever it comes into contact with us. In the beginning of the film, "Early Man's" contact with the monolith gave rise to his evolutionary leap in intelligence that saw the bone as a tool, and the initial instinct to use it as a weapon. And, that first tool gave rise to space travel in the famous jump cut. The starchild at the end simply represented the next big evolutionary step forward for mankind.
@@e.l.norton I sure hope to see you there when we make that jump. Can't hardly wait.
@Warren Elisha What’s the name of that website again?
My parents took me to see it in 1968 and I was impressed. I remember it as if it was yesterday.
A wonderful memory Nick.
John.
Same here, Nick - well, almost. I too saw it with my parents, but in 1969 (major-release movies took a while to make it out here to Australia in those days). I was 9 at the time and it left an indelible impression upon me. I've seen it many times since and it never fails to transport me.
Really like your reviews. What would be really good is, if you did a tour of your room, inc all equipment being used.
People have asked for that and I have been thinking about how to do it. I think it will be a surprise as to how simple it all is. The sound system is THX Ultra so too big for the room really but I put it all together for the British Film Collectors Conventions where it got used in a massive hall... and the hall shook.
@@moviecollector5920 you have another vote for a tour!
@@captainhaire I've actually done that one and it can be seen here: ruclips.net/video/jQ7uxYv3zbY/видео.html
@@moviecollector5920 Great timing. I’m glad to have found this channel.
I was 16 years old when I saw it opening weekend at the Hollywood Cinerama Dome. Unforgettable.
Whoa, I wish I'd been there for that. Maybe one day we'll both be at the Cineramadome for a recreation of that very night.
John.
@@moviecollector5920 That would be something.
I just discovered Movie Collector by watching this video and I couldn't stop watching his videos for about 2 hrs. One after another. He's so knowledgeable in regard to movies in general and I enjoyed his delivery as well as his ability to teach about cinema.
That's rather nice Richard. Thank you.
John.
There was a guy in Dayton Ohio (Neon Movies) who did build his own cinerama screen in his home. I saw how the west was won there in Cinerama and chatted with him for a while. Wish I could have been there when 2001 played.
I think I've seen him on a Filmtek DVD. If it's the same chap he knocked holes in a couple of bedrooms for the left and right projectors to have line of sight to the screen. Amazing man.
John.
The Neon Movies had a Cinerama setup for a few years. I saw a 2001 there and a few others. It wasn't at his home though.
I remember being amazed at the quality of sound and image when I saw How the West was Won. How did 2001 compare to the image version?
@@moviecollector5920 fantástico messias from Brasil
@@messiassilvadossantos6224 My Brazilian isn't that good Messias but I think I got the message. Thank you!
John.
Thank you again for this great video on the 2001 A Space Odyssey 4K bluray, and the history of the film on home video. I always feel enriched after watching each of your videos, please keep them coming!!
I'm planning a 4K vs. 2K video next cinemaniac as these reviews have caused me to think that maybe there just ain't so much in it as we would expect. I have a Blu-ray of the 1972 'Klute' en route which Criterion say is from a 4K master so I'll see how well that compares to other 35mm 4K discs of a similar nature. Also, titles such as 'A Few Good Men' which I thought were certainly better on 4K when I compared it to the Blu-ray upon first viewing so I'll see if that is still my opinion and perhaps ascertain why it is so much better on 4K when other titles are not.
@@moviecollector5920 I look very forward to the comparison of 4K vs 2K. I have not been able to resist constantly upgrading my movie collection of almost 2000 titles, starting with VHS & Beta to Laserdisc to DVD to Blu-Ray and I've recently been splurging on 4K Blu-Rays. If I'm honest with myself, many of these upgrades probably haven't been necessary as I only revisit a portion of my movie collection regularly. But the completist and collector in me has to get the latest and greatest, certainly with my favorite movies, and especially since I now watch movies on a projector. Can't wait to see what your take is on 4K vs 2K!
@@trueCinemaniac You have an even bigger library of films than I. At least there's no time to waste on television which is just as well with the awful state of it nowadays. I already have my theories on 4K vs. 2K but I need to get in the cinema for a few hours to test them all thoroughly before reaching better informed conclusions. It was the poor sequences in Terminator Dark Fate that started me thinking - the dark sequences where little could be seen. It may have been screened in cinemas that way but I can't believe they'd get away with that.
@@moviecollector5920 Indeed there is little time for TV, but I confess my roughly 2000 title library is actually a mixture of movies, TV series, documentaries, sports and music videos. But in the past few years after getting my projector, I have mostly just been watching blu-ray movies, and most recently my 4K upgrades. My Epson projector isn't a 4K projector so I'm not getting all the goodness, but my somewhat undiscerning eyes tell me that the 4Ks on the whole look somewhat sharper and more detailed. But if I'm being honest with myself, blu-rays on the whole look quite good projected and I'm not sure how much better the 4Ks are in comparison. Suffice it to say, I'm very much looking forward to seeing and hearing your findings!
I was amazed and stunned by its quality while watchin in 4k HDR on oled. Looks better than freaking interstellar, almost
Interstellar does look great but I was a little disappointed given how good it looks in its true 70mm IMAX form. Something gets a bit lost on the reduction to 4K somehow but I don't know what or how... yet.
John.
Exactly! I have about 50 or so 4K discs and this one was the one that really blew me away on my B6 oled and Panasonic ub820
I'm not the biggest fan of 2001: ASO, as much as I used to be, but I've seen it a dozen times and will probably watch it again. Interstellar, on the other hand... I saw it once, fast-forwarded the last third, and can't be bothered to ever watch it again. Frankly, it was boring, too long... and sucked.
For me, 2001 has always been the movie. My earliest memory of it comes from the 1980s when I was less than 10 years old. I remember watching it on the TV and how mesmerized I was by it, by every aspect of it. I didn't know much English yet back then, but the visual narrative of the movie was more than enough to transcend any language barrier. (Though I did know how to read and all the foreign movies are subtitled in Finland, so there's that.)
2001 has never felt like a long movie to me. It always manages to suck me in completely and with each viewing, I feel it reveals something new of itself. In some ways, watching it is like a meditative experience on the questions of humanity, life, the universe and time itself. It's a shame, I've never had the opportunity of seeing 2001 on a big screen.
Well when we've consigned this pesky virus to the history books TheTomimt, we are all going to have to fly into England and get to the Bradford Pictureville cinema when they are having a screening. Maybe we should all band together and hire the venue especially!
I love your summary of the movie by the way. Spot on.
John.
Such a great film! This was the first Blu-Ray I got after I got my first 1080p TV and PS3 and I was blown away by the increase in quality over my old DVD. I can't wait until I can afford to upgrade to 4K!
Unfortunately I've never seen it projected in the cinema. :(
The 35mm we borrowed for the British Film Collectors Convention is the closest I've come to a cinema screening sle2470. But one day I'll get along to the Pictureville in Bradford when they're showing it as a Cinerama presentation.
John.
My father took me to see 2001 A Space Odyssey on general release. We went to the Odeon in Woking, Surrey. I would have been 1; a bit young to appreciate the film, but I still remember being amazed by the special effects.
A treasured memory Mike and thank you for sharing it with me.
John.
I must have watched 2001 about thirty times and back in 1994 I watched in a cinema in Stevenage of all places and it was astonishing. The effects stand up today.
We've all got to get to the Bradford Pictureville next time they screen a 70mm print on the Cinerama screen Darth. A house packed with genuine fans of the film watching it in its original incarnation would be a wonderful experience.
John.
@@moviecollector5920 I’m here for it 👍🏻
I saw the road show version of 2001 in a Cinerama theater when it was first released. It had music playing when you entered the theater, an intermission and you also got a souvenir booklet which I still have.
The Super 8 Cinerama print I briefly show in the video has all that same introductory/walk-in music and everything else in place. Amazing really given how much those prints cost back in 1980 and essentially you were paying for minutes of black leader with just sound recorded on the stripes.
John.
Wow. Thank you for sharing your knowledge on this fantastic movie. I have this on 4k . Always look forward to your videos. You put do much work into them. 👍
I saw a 70mm screening in Karlsruhe two years ago. Jan Harlan, Stanleys executive producer, was there and held a chat, answered some questions to the guests. That was great.
Cor, what a special night that must have been.
John.
At the time, 2001 must have been mind-blowing with its incredible effects that hold up today. I always speed past the primates and get to the Pan Am space shuttle!
Ken, I think many of the comments with reports on when they first saw the film upon its original release have confirmed that it made a lasting impression on so many people. I was too young at the time and didn't see it but as the years have gone by I appreciate this film more and more. I too used to scoot through to the space shuttle sequence - that was easy with Super 8 as I put the opening primate sequence on reel 1 and then the rest of the film on two large spools. Still have it that way today.
John.
I cannot believe some of the comments I see on RUclips. The entire Australopithecus sequence is story brilliantly told in visuals and sound and music, of a species in starvation, under threat of predation, then inspired with the first conceptual thought, then overcoming fears and in command of their survival, and using their new conceptual thinking to dominate another tribe and take charge of their destiny. Kubrick once said of the film, that people who won't believe their eyes won't appreciate or understand this film.
@@moviecollector5920 In 1968, the film, and the stargate sequence, was popular with stoners. I kid you not.
Caught this video accidentally on my RUclips page.
I was about 8/9 years old in New York City when My GrandFather took me to see "2001" around the early 70s. That was when older movies were constantly re-released ( I think they were referred to as "Traveling Roadshows" back then). He fell asleep. I sat there totally transfixed to say the least. I then saw it a few years later when it was remastered for 70MM/Dolby during a limited run.
Recently had the experience of seeing it again a few years ago twice. Both in 70MM at The Village East and the AMC IMAX (the latter which I was truly praying for) on 68th/Broadway here in NYC. I think I saw it twice in the latter format due to a co-worker wanting to check out that theater.
I do own the 4K released. I've had it since last November (Amazon had a $9.99 sale of 4Ks that month). But haven't opened it.
I've been so used to seeing it on larger screens over the decades that unless a few friends come over and are interested, I guess it's just going to stay unopened. LOL
Thanks for this GREAT Video.
Side Note...
I hope due to The Pandemic,
Studios and Theater Chains realized that if they want the movie-going public to return en masse,
They are going to have to step up in regards to film presentation.
Epic films need to be seen on the largest screens possible.
Not little multi-plex auditoriums.
Thanks again.
My wife and I have been saying that cinemas need to get together and organize 70mm festivals to get people back into the habit of going to the cinema. Video projection is fabulous now but there's nothing like a large format film.
Thank you for sharing your wonderful memories of seeing 2001 A Space Odyssey. There's a documentary to be made just interviewing sensible people who can relate stories like yours of 2001.
John.
Great video, I enjoy listening to the technical side of your reviews, I like the attention to detail about aspects of the movie you are talking about keep up the great work and I look forward to more work from you 👍👍👍👍
The original 1974 Murder on the Orient Express was shot by 2001's cinematographer.
Another film I need to re-visit. The follow-up Death on the Nile (1978) is one of my all-time favourites.
John.
Great insight and a truly fascinating review.
I studied in Bradford during the 90s and caught 2001' in single strip cinerama whilst there. Pictureville was such a luxury to have on the doorstep. They did all nighter's and marathons quite regularly. Saw a 70mm print of The Thing and Apocalypse Now as well. In fact I might just move back up there...
I think I'll be next door!
John.
Very impressed with the a video and how you put it together I have worked in film and TV productions in the past . Really enjoyed it.
Thank you Mr. Stephen Grey. What a very nice compliment.
John.
I first got into HD with HD-DVD. The first TV I had was a CRT Hi Def 34". It took watching 2001 on it to finally appreciate and understand why the HD new formats were worth owning.
Glad to see its quality has moved forward into the 4K version.
It's a cracking 4K Dubious Consumption (great ID!) but the even better news is that some discs are even more impressive than 2001. Turning out to be a great format though these UHD discs.
John.
It was shot and 70 mm and 70 mm is often rendered at 4K when converted to digital so I’ve heard.Hello that the early 2001 dvd release and it looks fantastic for 2001 the year
Great comment Jacob. 4K is not considered to be up to 35mm quality but I think the clarity that is achieved with modern mastering means there is little or no perceptible difference but that may depend on the size of the screen. 70mm is about five times the quality of 35mm but I've been looking at 4K vs. 2K recently and on our small home screens it is often impossible to tell the difference. HDR is the obvious advantage with 4K but if you turn that off and compare a Blu-ray to a UHD Blu-ray I reckon you need a screen getting on for 20ft wide before you stand a chance to tell which is which. The same is probably true with 35mm and 70mm but as 70mm was intended for massive screens back in its heyday I think it would only be immediately perceptible how much better it is than 35mm on screens in excess of 40 or 50ft. At the Waterloo IMAX (one of only 3 genuine IMAX theatres in England) the screen is 90ft wide and having seen 2K video there blown up to fill the screen it is patently obvious how superior 70mm film is to that. I don't think I've ever seen a 4K video projection there because after that 2K fiasco I have always ensured they are screening a horizontal 70mm IMAX print before going.
Movie Collector I have been looking into getting a 4K system but given my present in income of $0.00 due to school I’ve put it off for a bit.
@@luckykennedy7364 That' s probably a good idea... leave it till next week!
@@moviecollector5920 I'll try
I first saw 2001 with my Dad, at age 10, in 1975, on the big 70mm wide screen Cinerama. It totally blew my little mind!
Another wonderful story. So many people have told us of their first time of seeing 2001 on here and so many were actually at a Cinerama theatre. Amazing. And analogue sound too!
John.
Wonderful review! I was fortunate to see this movie in a Cinerama theater in Indianapolis back in the day! I saw several films there including my favorite: "How The West Was Won"! I'll never forget the experience!
Wonderful memories. How The West Was Won is pretty terrific on Blu-ray but I suspect you'll already know that.
John.
I wish modern movies could be so visionary and cutting edge and such great spectacle and story telling.
Agreed. But 'Interstellar' was out there.
John.
Fabulous review and so much information to absorb in just one viewing! I am one of those who consider this the best 4K disc, but as I only have 16 or so there's not a lot of competition. Looking forward to the next review already.
The Christopher Nolan films shot with IMAX 70mm film are excellent quality Ged (Interstellar and Dunkirk) but I looked at them again for this and not quite up to the Murder On The Orient Express superlative quality.
Thank you for this great video and clear explanation of Cinerama. I haven't watched my 4K copy of 2001 yet but the packaging just includes the Blu-ray with special features; no Blu-ray of the film. I was lucky enough to see 2001 in its original release back in 1968 in a Cinerama theater in Baltimore and remember walking out of the theater stunned by the experience. The only second time that happened to me at the movies.
Brilliant Joe. When this video suddenly exploded about 18 months ago I was getting comment after comment about when people first saw 2001 and as a result of that it made me think that there is a documentary to be made featuring those stories. If the Bradford Cinerama ever puts it on on the genuine Cinerama screen and I can arrange to meet up with a group of enthusiasts who was 2001 on first release then I may be able to make that documentary.
John.
Extremely interesting video, thank you so much for uploading it!
You are welcome Markus. Should be Ad Astra next as that's tonight's Saturday Night At The Movies.
John.
At he ripe old age of 8, I had the opportunity to sit through an original Cinerama 3-screen presentation in Seattle. At the time, it was more a demonstration of the process than for content. In my case, a flying trip to the seven modern wonders of the world. The photography was designed to enhance the visual. Consider the Christ statue on the mountain in Rio. Consider filming from the nose of a B-29 bomber, flying toward the statute from the rear, buzzing over the statue, then going into a steep dive down the face of the mountain to skim over the city and out over the ocean. A lot of Cub Scouts were on the edge of tossing their lunch, and all had a death grip on the arms of their seats. Simpler times. They replaced that theatre with a new 1-screen process version for the Seattle Worlds Fair in 1960. Last time I was in town, it was still there, probably converted to straight 70mm.
Randall, you'll be pleased to know Seattle is still a genuine three-strip Cinerama theatre. Looks like you'll be able to re-live that fabulous experience you had at the age of 8. Maybe don't eat any lunch beforehand though! Thank you for sharing that wonderful memory with us all.
John.
Saw this by fluke, learned so much, fantastic video, thank you!
Thank you James.
I have watched this 4k disc several times and am stunned each time. I watched it on a 77"OLED with a good sound system and it is amazing... the contrast and clarity is something to behold. Very enjoyable- brings back the wonder I first experienced when I was four and watched this opening night with intermission in Manhattan. For watching at home this is as close as you can get to a 70mm theatre.
Unless you have a 70mm print and the projector to run it at home perhaps? A good friend has an original 35mm print but that has faded a little. The point is, the prints are still out there... some of them anyway. John.
I do enjoy your reviews and I would love to hear your thoughts on the 4K Lawrence of Arabia disc
I'll have to run the Blu-ray of that one for a refresher of how good that is. Some of these titles are exceptional on 2K and not obviously better in 4K... well, in my opinion. I think some of them need to be projected on identical equipment simultaneously to tell but if they're that close then maybe there is no point in re-purchasing a film when a 4K version comes out. Terminator Dark Fate is the obvious title that springs to mind there because I felt that the 2K surpassed the 4K in the darker sequences. Now that I think about it, isn't Lawrence of Arabia 4K only available in the new Columbia box for £100 at the moment?
@@moviecollector5920 yes it is but its worth it. it looks amazing and you can clearly see each individual grain in the film unlike the blu ray. HDR is great as well. I think the main benefit of 4K for older movies is the higher bitrate which allows you to make out more grain therefore giving it a more filmic look.
@@reviewgodusa9613 Very well said. It's great to have people like yourself commenting on here with such a good understanding of it all.
John.
@@moviecollector5920 fascinating. At what point can we not differentiate one resolution from another?
@@captainhaire Once we have a 20 foot wide screen I think. Something like that anyway. Even then it may be difficult or impossible with some releases but unless we can resurrect the British Film Collectors Convention I don't think we're likely to find out. That screen you see in the 2001 video with myself and my colleague/boss at the projector with the Super 8 print of 2001 being projected is 24 feet wide. If we can get a 4K video projector to display the different discs at a BFCC on that screen we could be onto something. Finding a new venue is going to be the difficult part once this pesky virus is consigned to the history books.
John.
Saw 2001 at its initial release on Cinerama screen at the Indian Hills Cinerama theater in Omaha, NE. To this day, unforgettable. Sadly, the purpose built Indian Hills Cinerama theater was torn down to put up a parking lot.
Lefkos, I could make a documentary of all of you that have posted on here that actually saw 2001 upon its original release. It's quite amazing the memories people have for this film.
We're losing cinemas in central London at an increasing rate in recent years. Soon people might start to notice but I don't think the virus has helped with the situation.
John.
Really interesting stuff! Thanks for the amazing video!
Thanks for the amazing comment!
So glad I got to see this at the Cinerama in Seattle before it closed down. Fingers crossed that it isn't closed permanently.
Oh, I hope not. The Seattle Cinerama is only one of three in the world.
John.
I've recently had the pleasure (and terror) of projecting a modern 70mm print of 2001. It is truly a piece of art and even this amazing 4k disc doesn't quite seem to capture it all. Part of it is definitely the physicality, as I don't think any digital format will match the feeling of holding a frame of the movie in your hand. HAL, the red room, any part of the stargate sequence; all on physical frames which you can wind to and look at on 1 of 10 reels. Sure, you can do the same thing with 35mm, but 70mm is so huge you don't need any magnification. You can just hold it up to a light table and look right at it. Magical, well and truly.
That is a darned good summary Thomas. Where were you projecting the print? Why wasn't I there??!?
John.
@@moviecollector5920 I am one of the student projectionists at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. We didn't advertise the showing all that publicly as we only have about 200 seats in our auditorium, and we were a little concerned about running out of space. We had a nearly full house both nights, so this turned out to be a smart choice. I was a little unsure how much interest there would be from my fellow students, but I was pleasantly surprised. It was definitely an extra special experience for everyone involved.
@@SplicesAndCelluloid I think that's wonderful Thomas. 70mm in a Polytechnic. And what a work of art to be showing too. There isn't much opportunity to see 70mm film anywhere today so next time you project a 70mm print perhaps the historic nature of what you are doing needs to be emphasized to the students on any internal promotion or advertising. The last 70mm film was Death on the Nile and it wasn't genuine 70mm as it had been struck from just a 4K video master which isn't even up to the standard of 35mm. It did look very good though and had the rich saturated look than only film can exhibit. It just wasn't as good as it should have been if the film had have been finished on film rather than video.
John.
@@moviecollector5920 We're doing our best to advertise the glory of 70mm every chance we get. It seems to be working, as across our 3 recent 70mm showings of The Hateful Eight, Interstellar, and 2001, attendance has been steadily increasing. We're hopeful that sometime next year we can get our hands on a 70mm print of Oppenheimer. While it's very hard to find firm data, I'm currently under the impression that we are the only university in the United States where *students* are actively projecting 70mm films. I'm aware of a couple universities with professionally run theaters on/near campus grounds with this capability, but as far as I can tell, we are unique in our all-student-volunteer projectionist staff. Of course with most things being digital these days, we have a digital cinema projector, but running 16mm, 35mm, or 70mm film is just much more fun. No platter either, all reel to reel with changeovers.
@@SplicesAndCelluloid Perhaps you'll find a way to get top people from the US film industry interested and come along to do lectures or talks and question and answer sessions with students. Christopher Nolan has made his home in Los Angeles I think so maybe he'd be able to fly in sometime. There are plenty of greats still around who I'd aim for with the pick of the bunch being the great John Carpenter who is probably the best when it comes to entertaining an audience. He's getting on a bit now but just the type of person a University should be getting in because he's not a 'yes' man and will encourage younger people to question everything.
As for screening a 70mm print of Oppenheimer, what a great idea. I hope to see it at the BFI IMAX as long as there are genuine IMAX prints stuck of the film which I feel sure there will be. I was lucky enough to see Interstellar there in genuine IMAX and I don't think I've ever seen anything else quite like it.
John.
I thought it was Todd AO after Michael Todd, Elizabeth Taylor's husband, not TOD-AO..
It was. Must have been a typo. Sorry about that.
John.
And the American Optical Co.
I saw 2001 the week it came out, at the Cinerama Dome in Hollywood. I sat in the front row, aisle seat where all you see is the floor sloping up to the screen. Fantastic experience.
What a treasured memory that must be Robert. And now here were are more than fifty years later and the film has a greater reputation than ever and you can even get the chance to see it occasionally at the Cineramadome again if you want to. Quite amazing really.
John.
I saw it in 70mm at the now departed Northpoint theater in San Francisco in the late '90s, which was a spectacular experience, and again at the Motion Picture Academy's Samuel Goldwyn theater in Beverly Hills at a special screening event in April of 2008, hosted by Tom Hanks, with Doug Trumbull, Keir Dullea, Gary Lockwood and special guest Buzz Aldrin. It was great to see it again in such a flawless theater with an incredible roster of guests - Angie Dickenson sat a couple of rows in front of us, which made the whole evening even more of a flashback to the late '60s.
Cor blimey sunspot42! What a treasured memory and a night that can surely never be surpassed. I met and spoke to Gary Lockwood over here when he first published his autobiography but I think that's my only claim to fame with all things 2001.
John.
this video only mentioned 2 of the 3 operating cinerama theaters in the world, the third one is in seattle and was bought and restored by paul allen when land developers threatened to tear it down to build condos. they regularly screen 3-strip cinerama movies as well as the later 65-670mm cinerama movies, i have seen 2001 a space odyssey there 4 times since the theater was restored.
Next time I'll be there with you marzsit! Thank you for filling in the missing piece from the video.
John.
Thank you for a very informative video. In Birmingham we used to have the Gaumont cinema with (reputedly) the largest screen, curved and one of the few capable of doing 70mm justice,in Europe. It was there that I first saw Star Wars and I wish I'd been fortunate enough to experience 2001 there
Wonderful memories Paul. So many people are coming forward with their first experience of 2001. It's quite an archive of first-hand great stories that we're getting in the comments on this video.
John.
Same reason Apocalypse Now looks so gorgeous. Because it had great cinematography and had a good transfer.
And that is another 4K disc I need to get sometime. 2001 had one up over Apocalypse Now of course and that was the 65mm cameras. Thanks Rob.
John.
The digital transfer is especially good for the HDR color range. During the anniversary run I watched it both in the Cinerama Dome 70mm and also in the Chinese Theater Laser IMAX. Despite my love and support for those who preserve the art of film projection, I gotta say, the Laser IMAX was truly awesome because of the insane contrast between light and darkness in space scenes. It was like being in a planetarium, just totally consumed by space.
Interesting. Thank you Some Rando.
John.
Is it just me or does the brightly colored furniture on the space station look like it would be at home on A Clockwork Orange? Love the movie and saw it during it’s release
You may well be right Alfa Vulcan. 1970s look perhaps?
John.
My dad always had a second job at a movie theater. I spent a lot of time in the projection booth as a kid. Sometimes I got to run the projectors. You still had to do the switch with more than one reel. Saw 2001 at a drive-in in Memphis....and just about every other movie from the 60's. After we moved everything went indoors. Never paid for a movie until the late 80's.
What great memories you must have IcantSignin (good user ID by the way). I've not been in many projection booths but those I have been in are among the top cinemas in the world. If only I'd always carried a video camera when I managed to blag my way in! Fortunately when I banged on the doors of the CineramaDome I was in California on a documentary filming trip so we had the main equipment in our backpacks. Fortuitous that the manager is a true film and film history enthusiast so he authorized a guided tour with Gariana the projectionist. Amazing really and a lovely lady too - so full of enthusiasm.
John.
@@moviecollector5920 We could see the drive-in from our house, but just barely. Sometimes we would walk there and back when mom didn't want to wait for dad to close up. Which, after watching Green Slime or Island of Terror, etc. made the walk home in the dark interesting for a 5-6 year old.
I worked at a video production place for a while. Weddings, TV commercials, corporate stuff.
We also converted old photos, slides or film to video or DVD. I can't remember now who, but there was a guy who collected movies, mostly of one actor.
He tracked down the theater reels and I got to watch them as I put them on DVD for him.
I also got to see a lot of film back to the first 8's. Original ordinary life stuff from folks who had the new fangled cameras. Scenes in Japan right after WW2 and some stuff during it filmed by soldiers.
For some reason, it seems that every single person who ever had a super 8 went to DisneyLand and took the exact same shots of all the exact same things. I've never been but I've seen everything.
@@yourhandlehere1 Funnily enough one of the things I do is transfer film to video using an aerial image technique which means I video the projected image in mid air through a series of optics formerly in a television company multiplexer. Just the other day I put a reel on and it was a stage of the 1976 RAC Rally. That sort of thing seems to happen quite often and recently I had 16mm film of Brooklands and Le Mans in 1930. For a classic British motoring enthusiast such as myself I'm always rather excited to get such films in and be the first person to see them in many years.
I think I can recall 'Island of Terror' which had a follow-up called 'Night of the Big Heat'. There was an immortal line in that follow-up: "I've found his body... he's dead!". Priceless!
John.
I watched it on a huge curved screen in VR recently. There is nothing like watching this on a huge screen.
I can imagine. Actually, maybe I can't so that will give me an excuse to watch it yet again... in VR.
John.
I first saw this film when I was only 9. I was mesmerized by it's imagery and still am. One of only a handful of films (and I've rated nearly 2000) that I give 10/10. A true milestone in cinema, even if no one understands the ending!
Let me explain the ending... then again, maybe not.
Agree with your ten out of ten there Raydio. I never tire of watching it.
John.
I'll give it a 9/10 for not having mass appeal. Just a very small nick from a mere masterpiece, compared to an all around masterpiece.
I totally agree about Murder on the Orient Express. Best looking 4K I’ve ever seen.
Yeah but too bad the movie is so bad
Some people don't care for the film Mark (thank you Matthew!!!) but there is little doubt it is the best 4K on both of my systems.
John.
I got to see the new restoration on a brand new 70mm in Toronto few years back, and it’s without a doubt the best looking image I’ve ever seen in my entire life.
I wish you'd invited me!
John.
Please do a little vid about vintage movie film stock sizes/formats for us less informed folks?
Loving your informative videos.
A few people have asked for that so I'll try to include more information along those lines.
John.
We still have a Cinerama in Seattle...and every once in a while, they break out the old projectors and show one of the few films produced in that format!
And they deserve huge patronage for doing so John. Every major city should have at least one cinema capable of showcasing these great formats from the past.
John.
I’ve visited the Cineramadome in LA and seen 2001 at the annual 70mm festival at the then worlds largest cinema - Kinepolis in Brussels. Great overview, thanks.
Well you should have taken me with you on both occasions Robert!!!
@@moviecollector5920 it would have been more fun for sure!
I saw this in a Cinerama venue when it was first released. I was stunned then, and even more so about 8 years later when I understood it more.
And fifty three years later we understand it even better... or maybe not... yes... no... oh Gawd, I don't know - it's just great to look at.
John.
I saw 2001 at the Arclight Cinerama dome awhile ago (2014?) while living in Los Angeles. Words cannot describe it.
Thank you for that Darth. I'm sure Fredrik Ekholm will now head for a Cinerama theatre asap!
John.
As a newbie I was glad to stumble upon your Chanel. You have a home theatre and presumably a Bio Box I might be jumping the gun but incorporating some shots of your projects would be great. Best regards.
I don't know what a Bio Box is Lord Humungus. Also, by shots of my projects do you mean the videos being edited in the software I use?
John.
Still an "Old School" Cinerama fancier here however your appreciation and knowledge of all film stock earn you....⭐⭐⭐⭐🌟
Thanks.
Jolly nice of you to say Ron. Thank you. John.
Thanks for the information, I never realised 2001 wasn't actually cinerama, so I have learnt a lot from the video.
You're welcome Geoff.
John.
2001 A Space Odissey the best Science Fiction movie of all,and also the sequel movie 2010 the year we made contact ...***** Stars !...
I love 2010 too. I saw it twice at the Empire Leicester Square and then purchased a Kempski 'Scope Super 8 print which is almost as good to look at as that premiere print at the Empire... but not quite!
John.
Top quality video as ever. Your knowledge and love for the medium is staggering.
Thank you Kieran. Pretty sure I replied to this a week ago but something went wrong. John.
YES some years ago saw 2001 at Pictureville..... OH IT WAS NICE.
Might see you there later this year if all goes well.
John.
I saw 2001 in London at the Cinerama cinema in Leicester Square. Fantastic. Quite a contrast to the life I was living in the East End as a visiting Canadian kid.
Wish I'd have been there too.
John.
We're very fortunate to see this film in such quality, as it remains one of the towering pieces of art. A product of genuine care and pure ambition. If only Kubrick had lived to see UHD...He would have had a ball overseeing the transfers of his films.
And I dare say Kubrick would have taken it to new levels, perhaps insisting on an 8K scan (or more) of this 65mm masterpiece and perhaps some of his 35mm titles too. John.
@@moviecollector5920 Apparently before he died he supervised some of his movie transfers to DVD and insisted they be in 4:3 which is interesting.
@@thribs My DVD of Eyes Wide Shut is 4x3 but I'm fairly sure it was 4x3 when I saw it at the cinema too.
Nice vid. You mentioned only 3 theaters that could still show Cinerama films (in the 70mm version)? I first saw 2001 in the premier run at the Warner Hollywood Theater, which Stanley Kubrik claimed was the finest venue to see his film. The Warner Hollywood is also where I saw my first Cinerama film in the original 3 projector presentation. How The West Was Won was visually and sonically spectacular. Was also the premiere presentation theater for Apocalypse Now, and those helicopter acoustics were amazing in that theater. FYI: Apocalypse Now set a record for the number of playback machines used for a mix - if I remember right, it was around 100 tracks (virtually all of the RCA playback machines at Universal). When I worked at RCA Photophone, they told me that all our machines starting up synced, made a very LOUD "CLUNK" 😳 in the machine room when they hit "PLAY". 😏 Digital has of course, made those 1980s machines museum pieces.
There are only three Cinerama theatres in the world today Robert: Bradford in England plus the Cineramadome and Seattle in the USA.
Apocalypse Now was the first X certificated film (i.e. you had to be 18 which I wasn't!) I ever sneaked in to see and although I was way too young to understand it I thought it looked magnificent. The sound was largely lost on me back then but it sounds better today in my home cinema. I've been asked to review the 4K disc so that sounds like a good excuse to me.
You've made me think about the 10cc track 'I'm Not In Love' which looped their voices hundreds of times using tape machines. Seems to be very similar to the work you describe on 'Apocalypse Now'.
John.
Really a great video and you have a great setup! Please keep uploading!!
That's the plan. Thank you James.
John.
Kubrick painstakingly had most effects done in camera to preserve quality
A genius and a work of art.
John.
Your channel was recently recommended by a friend and I’m glad he did - fantastic explanation of the technology and review! Thank you!
Thank you Gary. And please thank your friend for me.
John.
This is definitely one of the best looking film transfers I have seen on 4K. I also highly recommend Suspiria or Deep Red, my God do the colors look gorgeous on an OLED.
It's not really anything to do with the cine to video transfer Edward, it's because it was a 65mm shoot for 70mm release. There are even better looking 4K discs so take a look at Murder on the Orient Express, Tenet, Dunkirk, Interstellar and any other 70mm, particularly those IMAX 15/70's. The best 4K's all originate on large format film.
John.
This channel deserves waaay more subscribers. The best movie channel on RUclips!
Thank you Sir! About three months ago I had 708 subscribers so it's not been going too badly lately. John.
Brilliant video.
I remember when BBC2 premiered it on New Years Day, 1982. On our tv it was like watching it through a tank view port due to the black bars. Just glad BBC didn't pan and scan it to fit 4:3 tv's at the time. Since then have seen a 35mm print of it at the cinema back in the late 90's but one day hope to see a proper 70mm or Cinerama version.
The Prince Charles cinema just off Leicester Square may have a 70mm print as they have screened it many times. We should both be keeping an eye on their web site as they project a lot of film and not that video projection tosh! John.
Murder On The Orient Express was finished in the DI. The 2001 transfer is a scan of a photochemical finish. Same goes for Dunkirk and Tenet which I’d consider to be the ultimate 70mm home releases.
2001 is from a dupe negative but I have been unable to ascertain for certain how many generations down it is. I suspect it's a reproduction from the internegative because it was reported we're now three generations down from the original. Murder on the Orient Express is still in a class of its own even though Tenet is almost up there with it. Some people claim it's not so good on a television but that sort of thing is always going to occur because sometimes it's impossible to turn off all the digital options and know you're getting the cleanest unfiltered image.
John.
A beautiful review. My father made me grow up with this movie and changed me into a fan of Kubrick. As a projectionist (now digital but my Vic5's are still ready for action and play every month a bit of film to keep them in shape) my heart broke when I saw the 70mm copy of the Eye Museum and noticed the cables at the end and beginning of the reels but still it was quite a sight to see it on the big screen on that format (even though it was a small screen). When we were playing the 4K digitally restored version of the film I missed the warm picture a film projector gives but I still enjoyed it.
The funny thing is that a few weeks ago my father showed me this review (which was remarkable because a day before he showed me this review I just happen to stumble upon this review and wanted to tell him about it).
Please keep the beautiful reviews and stories coming and thank you for this beautiful gem. Using this channel as a guideline which 4K UHD Blu-rays I should buy.
I think 2001 A Space Odyssey has touched many of our lives Joris. I would like to make a documentary about that very subject one day because some of the stories about seeing the film through the ages have been beautiful. This film changed the world in some way and there aren't many films we can say that about. Star Wars is the undoubted top film in that regard but it isn't quite the thought provoking thing of beauty that 2001 A Space Odyssey is. There are two other films I rate as cinematic works of art - Apocalypse Now and Blade Runner - but neither of those two masterpieces had the long term effect on the world that 2001 has enjoyed.
Say "hello" to your father for me and thank you both for taking the time to watch, and comment, on my video.
John.
I've also had the privelege of getting to see Kier Dullea and Gary Lockwood in person when we had a fan expo where I live. It's amazing how they makeup accurately got right how Kier Dullea would look like in present day
Mr. Dullea does have a rather unique look but I sometimes confuse him with Alan Alda so the pair of them must have some similarities. I did meet Gary Lockwood and talk to him when he was over for a book promotion/signing tour and he was in the Cinema Book Shop on St. Martin's Lane. I turned up when everyone else had already left so had a rather nice private conversation. Quite a character.
John.
@@moviecollector5920 you're more fortunate than I am. I could only see them in person since I ran put of money for an autograph and photo.
@@pheunithpsychic-watertype9881 I'm not sure if I had the signed photo in the background while I'm talking in this video but before Gary came over he got Keir to sign them too so I've got both their signatures on it which is rather special. It was only much later that I realized Keir had signed Gary's autobiography too. You might still be able to get a double-signed copy of that if Gary Lockwood has them on the web. John.
I saw 2001 in 1968 at the Grossmont theater in La Mesa California USA. Growing up in California in the 1960s was the pinnacle of American lifestyle.
Sadly I was too young to see the film in 1968 and I've been telling my parents off for not taking me to see it ever since!!! I mean, we had London's premiere Cinerama theatre just down the road for crying out loud! John.
I saw 2001 in 70mm IMAX at the Ontario's Cinesphere (built in 1971): breath taking.
Must have been a stunner.
John.
It is gorgeous, the colours really pop. I was initially a little dissapointed during the opening scenes, thought it wasn't much better than the bluray but when the film takes to space, it is simply stunning.
Good point Sdea1903. It does look even better once we're out in space.
John.
I didn’t see 2001 in 70mm but I did get to see Empire Strikes Back and ALIEN in that format. Both were spectacular so if I get the chance to see this in the wider format, I will do that.
70mm prints of 2001 are still being struck to this day, such is the demand. I plan to get along to Bradford to see it on the Cinerama screen even though I know the film off by heart. It's simply timeless magic that I never tire of.
John.
Great, insightful, informative yet never really over-my-head with jargon or feel dumbed down.
Thank you John. I try to keep it all simple and where it's not I hope to fabricate or show the relevant film frames to illustrate what I'm saying. It seems to be working because a lot of people who comment now seem to know quite a lot about film. Mission accomplished l think! John.
Sweet video. Love to see some quality, knowledgeable discussion about movie videos to inform my future purchases.
Thank you Gilbert.
John.
Excellent video, so glad I found this channel. Thank you.
Thank you Max.
John.
Seeing that picture of Stanley Kubrick with the Panavision camera in the moon excavation set made me think about the vision he had for the finished product.
The master at work with a masterful piece of equipment. It's good that 70mm has made a small comeback in recent years but sad we no longer have Mr. Kubrick any longer.
John.
I'm sad that my 42" plasma has been on the blink for a few years and I can't watch my favourite blue rays on it. It was as close to a cinema screen in my lounge room as I got.
2001 and Robert Zemekis The Walk felt like I was at the movies playing them through my head phones. Amazingly immersive for home equipment. I hope to get my mum's old LG 42" plasma which still works.
It looks good because it was originally shot on 70mm film. Which is roughly equivalent to 8K resolution.
You should also check out Bakara and Samsara also 70mm films.
Samsara is available on 4k digital streaming, looks amazing 👌🏾
One day I will see them C A - thank you for the recommendations.
70mm is a lot more than 6K really. 8K scans capture everythng but these low resolutions scans are only that impressive because of the thoroughly successful algorithms. Uncompressed and they'd be astronomical in size at around perhaps 300MB per frame of negative. It will never happen of course and if they did nothing exists to get that much information on a screen - apart from film! - but the compressed versions are plenty good enough.
John.
2001 was and probably still is one of my favorite films because it is unique in so many ways, and about a year ago i accidentally discovered 2010 The year we make contact and fell inlove with that movie so much that I fall asleep to it often and memorized every single dialogue in the film, not intentionally, it's just so good! While I can't compare it to Kubrik's simply because 2001 is a masterpiece of epic proportions considering how it was shot and the FX in the film still hold up to this day, I loved 2010 as much, if not more, than 2001 because it's fantastic in it's own way and beside the solid cast in the film, it took a path of its own to set itself apart from 2001 while keeping the story solid as a worthy sequel, film is so memorable and gives the feeling of one of those scifi films you can always come back to watch and it will never get old or annoying, well maybe apart from watching the probe scene where dr Orlov is annoyingly spewing random numbers in Russian as the radar beep gets louder and more annoying. I wish someone like Christopher Nolan wud make a worthy sequel to 2010, and not just ripoff ideas from good scifi movies to create Interstellar, which I also loved, even thou it was a ripoff of 2010 in a huge portion of it
Ah, but Interstellar is so good that it successfully sets itself apart from everything that went before it. It's 2001 for a more modern age and I think it's wonderful that hardly anyone understands it which is a lot of the attraction with 2001 A Space Odyssey. I also love 2010 The Year We Make Contact. Perhaps 2010 would look even better if the negative is still good (which it should be) and MGM dig it out and transfer it at the highest quality possible to suck the best out of 35mm. 2001 was 65mm of course and Interstellar was a variety of different film formats with much of it being the ultimate 15/70 and that's why it's one of the best looking films ever made. But it needs to be seen in that original, genuine IMAX format to appreciate how good it really is. Only around 30 cinemas left in the world that can actually screen the original 15/70 prints though.
John.
I was lucky enough to see 2001 at the Pictureville cinema in Bradford a few years ago - suffice to say it was pretty spectacular. I'm just getting into 4K so this will be one of my next purchases.
I'll see you at the Pictrueville one of these days Mark. As for 2001 on 4K, you won't be disappointed but bear in mind some of the film has come from a duplicate negative. Subscriber Mike worked at one of the labs and was able to fill us in on a lot of the detail so the 'Dawn of Man' sequence in particular, the whole sequence is from the dupe. But apparently much of the original negative was able to be transferred.
32 prints of Death on the Nile have been struck so see if you can find a cinema screening one of those. I know the Odeon Leicester Square has got one and it opens on 11th Feb.
John.
I went to Catholic Military High School. I was in the band. We were called up to play for This is Cinerama. So I saw the original three projector version of Cinerama as it was intended to be seen. This was of course before the movies released in various degraded versions. The original "This is Cinerama" was a sort of travelogue. No story just film clips. In those days 3D seemed more likely to be the next new thing. But Cinemascope won out. The downtown Cinerama theater could only show special films, whereas everyone went two or three times a week to their neighborhood movie theater to see the newest movie. It was a stupid idea.
Later they released some of the movies originally mad for three cameras. They had big fuzzy sections where the cameras has overlapped. Not a good picture at all.
Great memories Patrick - thank you for sharing. The Blu-ray of 'How The West Was Won' is fabulous despite the vibrating combs where the film edges meet. Worth taking a look at to enjoy and to reminisce.
John.
Thank you very much for this very indepth analyses. I bought the 2001 4K special version today. I am only a poor guy with a PS5 and a Sony 4K Tv. So, sadly no expensive home cinema set. But I adore and love all movie lovers / experts. Greetings from the Netherlands
That disc will look good on everything Richard. It's not the best 4K home video ever issued but it's not too far off owing to its origins. Have a great time with it. John.
Very informative , thank you. 2001 is one of my top few favourite films ever. Your recent top 10 4K video popped up in my feed, so that's how I found your channel. That video referenced the Pictureville cinema in Bradford, so I've signed up for their email newsletter. So thanks for pointing me there.
I don't think I've ever seen any of these large format films natively in a theatre before, except maybe for a couple Nolan's film at the BFI IMAX, but would love to see 2001 in Cinerama. Hopefully I'll get chance to that at the Pictureville now.
I hoped I'd make a few people aware of the cinemas still able to screen large format film Dan. In my recent Death on the Nile at the Odeon in 70mm I feature a few of the top West End cinemas towards the end and if you haven't seen that one then you'll see that the Prince Charles on Leicester Place are screening a 70mm print of 2001 A Space Odyssey in April. But if it's on at Bradford on the Cinerama screen in Bradford in October I'll see you there! John.
While the World trade center was being built in NYC I took the ferry over to Staten Island and watched 2001: a space odyssey when it first was in theaters on large screen! It was amazing and I certainly would love a 4K disk of it!
So many wonderful stories of seeing 2001 for the first time have been coming in Robert. Thank you for yours.
John.
Awesome short documentary! Thank you for all your research and time.
Thank you for saying so Ariel. Much appreciated.
I saw 2001 at the Casino CInerama on a school trip (the science department said if the Arts pupils can go to see plays we should be able to see science fiction films). It didn't look anything as good when I saw it again off 70mm at the BFI Imax the screen brightness was much lower.
It was in the press that a lot of hippies went to see the Cinerama showings stoned for the sequences at the end!!!
I don't think the original negative can be used any longer Brian. I wouldn't be surprised if a low quality 8K scan has been made, restored and used to create the 70mm prints we see these days. Put the scan rate up to around 15K and they might be able to get close to what you saw back in the late 60s. Wish I'd have seen it there with you but I was still a toddler!
John.