American director Stanley Kubrick, everyone says, is a legend. One of the most successful independent directors to have worked in Hollywood, and later in Britain, Kubrick’s name is hissed with reverence by film buffs.
As a kid, I have longed to watch 2001: A Space Odyssey. What a title! I didn’t think there was another movie with a more fascinating title. I have read the screenplay to this movie by Arthur C Clarke, which is based on one his short stories, The Sentinel.
I saw the movie on DVD much later.
By this time, Kubrick had already made a visually appealing Roman epic, Spartacus, besides two classics – Dr Strangelove and Lolita. He was in his creative peak. The announcement of his collaboration with Clarke was made amidst unprecedented hype. The movie, besides turning out to be one of the best science fiction movies ever made, ensured that Kubrick’s name would always be associated with the genre.
The Phoenix Rises 