It was only just over a year ago when The Film Vault launched their exclusive first wave of four 4K UHD releases (see them all here, and my Goodfellas 4K UHD review here) and I’m delighted to say they’ve returned with Wave Two which includes some stunning Special Editions from the Warner Bros. Discovery and Universal Pictures catalogues that comprises of Jaws, The Shawshank Redemption, Apollo 13, and today’s focused review: Stanley Kubrick’s unforgettable 2001: A Space Odyssey.

If you’re even slightly like me, you’ll know it’s tricky to resist a good-looking boxset and The Film Vault team certainly up the game here. As well as 4K UHD versions of the film in question, plus excellent extras (not just on another disc) here you’ll also get a collectible set of in-world bonuses. This is a proper Premium Collectible that arrives in a rigid clamshell box, it’s super high quality and comes with shiny replica lobby cards, posters and more – I’ll come back to those later – all to help you experience the trip of a lifetime, plus they look great on the shelf!

“I’ve got a bad feeling about him…”

In terms of the film in its own right, Kubrick co-wrote 2001: A Space Odyssey with Science-Fiction royalty Arthur C. Clarke – based on the latter’s own short story The Sentinel. From the off, the sheer audacity and mastery of a 2-minute black screen for the overture puts the audience in its place, emulating older films and making sure you’re concentrating. I always remember the opening sequence with the hominins extensively unsettling me in my youth and that feeling continues today. It then sets the uneasy precedent after the arrival of a mysterious monolith, one of the hominin tribes ends up being pulled in by its grand strangeness, and this somehow gives them the power/idea to learn how to use bones as weapons, and eventually drive out a nearby rival – but what is the monolith, and what did it do to them?

The distressing howling and high-pitched sounds from the monolith, integrating Strauss’s now iconic ‘Sunrise’ remains a unique mix of natural alarming noises, and gives an early indication of what’s to come in the rest of the film as it’s a visual journey, with sparse dialogue – the first chat not heard until 25 minutes in. Nothing but unconventional, it’s an excellent example of Kubrick’s vision in many of his movies and so inventive. Better still, 2001 isn’t just some throw away Sci-Fi because it’s also far ahead of its time (in some ways even it was today) as it’s also accurate in its scientific depictions of life in space, in both a technical and human sense.

“Open the pod bay doors, HAL.”

Although not specifically mentioned in this release, I assume this 4K UHD version (and don’t forget you need a 4K UHD setup to watch it) is the one that arrived a few years ago. Taken from the original 65mm negatives, it was hand-cleaned and tidied up and rebuilt using the original colour notes and references – and, man, it looks bright and focused, and retells us of the quality created. It says a lot for the craft from the entire team.  

The funny thing is, despite the trip of 2001 as a film, it carries a basic story through the middle, even if it requires context and scope to reveal it. There’s an animal-level dependence to exist, to power over something they perceive is below them, and try to lead their way for every main character we see onscreen. And that’s evident from the opening power game sequence, and is even reflected in that timeless jump cut from the bone to the spaceship.

Other iconic scenes in Kubrick’s vision include the realisation and creation of the corridor sequences, which might be my favourite of all – mainly because I look at them now and have no idea how they look so convincing. I also love the silence, the solitary truths of the story and the growing existential fear over the onboard computer system, the Hal 9000. We travel through time, space, and the mind with themes including… Life. Food. Questions. Mysteries. Lying power-hungry AI machines (who actually admits he’s a conscious entity to the BBC 12 reporter – which I think is often overlooked). Isn’t this the type of films we love today? It really could be from now in many senses. Also, don’t forget to read your zero-gravity toilet instructions, keep a distance from your shiny-eyed leopards, oh and simply experience the ‘Beyond the Infinite’ section, just let it in and don’t analyse.

If you’re a casual viewer, there’s an argument that 2001: A Space Odyssey is all about revelling in the cinematic and technical elements and could feel ‘slow’ (a statement I dislike), whereas if you film lover of all genres then you’ll appreciate what’s created here, and the wealth of influence it has on movies even to this day. For me, this is a wider discussion piece and one that’s complicated to deliberate without bias. I find it difficult to view Kubrick’s film today without context, both because I live in the modern world and can see those aforementioned impacts on many major filmmakers and even the industry itself.

“Alright Hal. I’ll go in through the emergency airlock.”

That being said, there’s no way you take away from the world that’s created in 2001. It’s believable in the scope of civilization, and this is backed up by the scientific environments and the A.I. discussions we’re having in 2023 – something that many people are frightened off, even if the truth is a lot more intricate. You’ve got great human performances led by Kier Dullea’s Astronaut Dave Bowman, who’s restrained and smart, focused, fearful and then determined to fight back – just when he needs to. There’s something about his performance that can’t be undervalued, the work he does to captivate is just as iconic as the film and without him at the centre, we might not have the same overall admiration.

Moving on from the movie, The Film Vault also excel with these releases because of the refreshingly beautiful extras you get as part of the package. As well as new artwork from the excellent Matt Ferguson and Florey from Vice Press, you get original artwork – included as fold-out mini-posters. Inside your ‘Logic Memory Center’ is a selection of high-quality film-still postcards, like the lobby ones you can pick up these days but nicer, and an exclusively numbered crystal-display plaque, which has a nice physical weight to it.

“Just what do you think you’re doing Dave?”

Alongside the film 4K UHD, there’s a wealth of Special Features on an additional Blu-ray that includes insightful commentary from stars Keir Dullea and Gary Lockwood, plus Channel 4 Documentary 2001: The Making of a Myth that talks to a host of filmmakers and creatives. There are also four additional featurettes: Standing on the Shoulders of Kubrick: The Legacy of 2001, Vision of a Future Passed: The Prophecy of 2001, 2001: A Space Odyssey – A Look Behind the Future and What Is Out There? Furthermore, there’s 2001: FX and Early Conceptual Artwork (self-explanatory), Look: Stanley Kubrick! (a short doc about his photography when he was a photojournalist) and an Audio-Only 1996 interview with Kubrick by Jeremy Bernstein.

These kinds of boxsets often promise much but are underwhelming, yet this one gives you genuine quality for the price. The Film Vault has given Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey a celebratory and a totally fresh release that an iconic film like this deserves.

2001: A Space Odyssey 4K UHD from The Film Vault can be ordered now: https://amzn.to/3ETW5P8

Also check out the Warner Bros. 100th Anniversary Studio Collection 4K Ultra HD Review right here!