See ‘2001: A Space Odyssey’ the Way It Was Meant To Be Seen (and Works Best): On a Big Screen

Continuing the 50th-anniversary celebration of 2001: A Space Odyssey, Warner Bros. Pictures has brought Stanley Kubrick’s science-fiction masterpiece to the Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk for a four-week IMAX theater run, ending Nov 11.

The film’s star, Keir Dullea, was on hand at the opening, Oct. 19, and afterward met fans and sign autographs.

— an announcement from the Maritime Aquarium

This special anniversary release of 2001: A Space Odyssey marks the first time ever that moviegoers have the opportunity to view the seminal film in the IMAX format. The Maritime Aquarium has the largest IMAX theater in Connecticut, with a screen that’s six stories tall.

Its 70mm film-projection system combines the brightest, clearest images at almost 10 times the resolution of standard-projection formats with powerful, laser-aligned digital sound and customized theater geometry to create the world’s most immersive film experience.

Following its Oct. 19 premiere, 2001: A Space Odyssey will play at the Maritime Aquarium on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Nov. 11. All show times are 7 p.m.

 

Tickets for 2001: A Space Odyssey are $15 ($12.50 for Aquarium members) went on sale on Monday, Oct. 1 at 10 a.m. They can be purchased at www.MaritimeAquarium.Org/Imax or by calling (203) 852-0700, ext. 2206. Seating is by general admission.

Dullea will meet with fans following the Oct. 19 premiere in the theater inner lobby. Signed 8×10 photos will be available for purchase.

Widely considered among the greatest films of the 20th century, “2001: A Space Odyssey” was originally released on April 4, 1968, igniting the imaginations of both critics and audiences.

With the film, Kubrick redefined the limits of moviemaking and cemented his legacy as one of the most revolutionary and influential motion-picture directors of all time.

“2001: A Space Odyssey” was directed and produced by Kubrick from a screenplay he co-wrote with legendary science fiction author Arthur C. Clarke. The film stars Dullea, Gary Lockwood and — a computer named HAL 9000.

The Chicago Tribune called the movie “a spellbinding experience” and said: “Kubrick designed ‘2001’ for a huge screen — he originally intended it for Cinerama and finally released it in Super Panavision 70 — and it only gains its full impact when you can see it in 70mm on a vast screen in a large theater. It is a movie that must overwhelm you to convey all its meanings.”

 

And The Village Voice wrote: “Sometimes people tell you that a movie becomes an entirely different thing when you actually see it on a huge screen. (I am often one of these people.) Often, they’re (we’re) exaggerating; the movie may play better, and you may watch better, but what’s actually onscreen rarely changes. ‘2001,’ however, is a different thing.

It’s a film made for that huge screen, for absolute immersion. There are fine details in the image that are nearly impossible to see on a TV. The level of obsessive minutiae that Kubrick and his fellow wizards put into every shot is bewildering …”

This IMAX engagement follows a successful “unrestored” 70mm film release of “2001: A Space Odyssey,” which was overseen by acclaimed filmmaker Christopher Nolan, a lifelong admirer of Kubrick.

The IMAX 70mm film print was created from the recently released “unrestored” 70mm print — a true photochemical film recreation struck from new printing elements made from the original camera negative with no digital tricks, remastered effects, or revisionist edits.

View the trailer for 2001: A Space Odyssey and learn more about The Maritime Aquarium’s IMAX movies, exhibits, programs and special events this fall at the aquarium’s website.

Editor’s note: This article was first published Oct. 2. The time stamp has been changed to put the article back on the home page.