Friday, November 6
OK, if you haven't seen 2001: A Space Odyssey, get to the nearest video store now. And don't listen to your friends who tell you it's boring. Try to imagine seeing it in 1968 in the midst of the "Space Race," and try to imagine you've never seen Star Wars, whose visual effects were a direct result of those in Stanley Kubrick's movie.
With that bit of evangelism out of the way, let's talk HAL. Yes HAL, the spaceship computer system whose calm, icy voice (well, actually it was Douglas Rain's voice) made him one of the most terrifying villains in movie history. Rather than include a spoiler, we'll simply say that at a crucial moment, HAL starts singing the 19th-century ditty "Daisy Bell."
For those who've seen the movie: Ever wondered why Kubrick and author Arthur C. Clarke decided on "Daisy Bell" as the tune of choice? Well, according to a recent article in Switched.com, the choice was the result of a trip Clarke made to Bell Labs in the early '60s. There, programmers introduced him to the IBM 704 — the first computer to "sing" — and a performance of "Daisy Bell." Inspired (or perhaps disturbed) by what he heard, Clarke decided to work the song into the script for 2001, which he co-wrote with Kubrick.
One last observation: HAL served as a warning against the dangers of technological advancement ... and this computer rendition sounds like a precursor to that lovely thing we now know as Auto-Tune. The horror!
Posted 11/6/2009 by Rich Z
Related: Stanley Kubrick | 2001: A Space Odyssey | Arthur C. Clarke | Douglas Rain
Wednesday, March 19
Legendary science fiction author Arthur C. Clarke passed away at 90 yesterday at his home in Sri Lanka. Clarke wrote such famous works as 2001: A Space Odyssey, which he later adapted to the screen for Stanley Kubrick's classic film version. His novels elevated the sci-fi fiction novel from its pulp origins to respected works of literature.
Clarke's Rendezvous With Rama has been long-gestating as a potential project for director David Fincher with Morgan Freeman in the lead role. No official confirmation on that project as of yet, but it is rumored to be in pre-production for a potential 2009 release.
Posted 3/19/2008 by reelz
Related: 2001: A Space Odyssey | Arthur C. Clarke