2001 Filming the Future

Rating:
Summary: The future is here
Review: Although Jerome Agel wrote a book called "The Making of Kubrick's 2001" back in 1970 [long out of print] that collection of essays can't hold a candle to this beautifully illustrated and informative work. Each aspect of the creation of this film is discussed with color frames from the film, and pictures of the sets and special effects set ups. The book also includes all of the famous MacCall advertising paintings, and several paintings of the spacecraft done specially for it. The book also contains interesting information on working with the obsessive Kubrick [who, of course, did not provide any personal input, although many others who were involved in the project did] and an analysis of how the real future turned out to be [dissapointingly] different than the Kubrick's still compelling vision.

Rating:
Summary: A satisfying account
Review: I have read many books and chapters on "The Making Of 2001" and this book was by far the most enjoyable and satisfying. Mr. Bizony went to great lengths to get a well rounded account of the movie's production without ever letting the text get overburdened with details. Of course, the ample photographs and sketches make the book worthwhile in themselves. After reading this book, I watched 2001 again with new eyes. I had a much broader appreciation for the technical and artistic achievements of the film.

Rating:
Summary: A satisfying account
Review: I have read many books and chapters on "The Making Of 2001" and this book was by far the most enjoyable and satisfying. Mr. Bizony went to great lengths to get a well rounded account of the movie's production without ever letting the text get overburdened with details. Of course, the ample photographs and sketches make the book worthwhile in themselves. After reading this book, I watched 2001 again with new eyes. I had a much broader appreciation for the technical and artistic achievements of the film.

Rating:
Summary: An In-Depth Look at the Monolith
Review: Piers Bizony's great work in putting the pieces together of Stanley Kubrick's masterpiece 2001: A Space Odyssey. Probably one of the most complex look at any film that I have come across in full detail. The book is in large format with slick pages and color photos everywhere to give you a behind the camera view of the work being accomplished. This book is highly reccomended for film students, movie lovers and Stanley Kubrick fans.

Rating:
Summary: Should be on the shelf of every 2001 enthusiast
Review: Recently, while at a nearby book store, I picked up a copy of Piers Bizony's 2001: FILIMING THE FUTURE and decided to purchase it. It was not a bad choice. This is a very extensive book on the making of Stanley Kubrick's sci-fi masterpiece. There are dozens of photographs in both color and black and white that show images from the movie as well as a look at the making of it. There are sketches of the spacecraft in the movie, which were drawn up from film stills, as well as pre-production sketches of some of the earlier design models. There is also an interesting introduction by Arthur C. Clarke, who wrote the novel and co-wrote the screenplay. Finally, the text is well detailed and informative. For those of you who do not want to know how the groundbreaking special effects were made, stay away from this book! Model work, live action and stunt work formed the key elements of most of the visual effects work.

The book also discusses about how it was like to work with Stanley Kubrick. Most cast and crew admit that it was difficult but rewarding because Kubrick pushed them to their limit and made them work better. Kubrick did get mad at them, but he rarely yelled at them. He also got respect because he knew what he wanted and would not stop until he got it. Kubrick was also a perfectionist; after his work on Spartacus, he was determined to have full creative control over his movies and worked over every aspect of his films, demanding the absolute best from the people who worked for him. Stressful no doubt. But this is what made Kubrick one of the best and acclaimed filmmakers of all time. His genius and ambition shows in 2001: A Space Odyssey and this book is a superb tribute

Rating:
Summary: An ESSENTIAL addition to the library of any Kubrick fan.
Review: Stanley Kubrick, God rest his soul, is my favorite director, and "2001: A Space Odyssey" is my favorite film of all time. For many years the definitive tome about this movie was "The Making of Kubrick's 2001" by Jerome Agel, but that book, alas, has been LONG out of print. It's a real pity, too, since that humble paperback boasted an excellent 96-page photo insert! Get that book back in print!

"2001: Filming the Future" is actually the very first item I ever purchased from Amazon, and it's a tribute to Amazon that I was able to get the book at all. I first learned about this book about 5 years ago from an ad in a science fiction anthology magazine, but I couldn't seem to find it in any bookstore. I tried special ordering it through my local WaldenBooks, yet every time I checked to see if my order was in (over many months), they told me it hadn't arrived. You can imagine my frustration.

Well, about this time I began hearing more and more about an online bookseller called Amazon.com, and seeing how I had only recently begun exploring the World Wide Web, I decided to visit Amazon's website and see if they might have the book available. Much to my delight they DID, so I ordered it online with my credit card, and the book was in my hands in less than a week. Thanks, Amazon!

Anyway, Piers Bizony's "2001: Filming the Future" is a handsome, lushly illustrated, large-format paperback book that belongs on the coffee table of any fan of Stanley Kubrick. There are all sorts of stills from the film and the sets, outtakes, rare production artwork, and plenty of details about how Kubrick went about making this groundbreaking movie as well as how it was received. The final chapter of this excellent book is a reflection on how things have changed since 1969, when "2001: A Space Odyssey" was released; it's a sobering, even depressing essay about how changing military, political, and cultural priorities crippled our sense of wonder about space exploration. I cannot recommend this book highly enough.

Rating:
Summary: Viritually identical to previous edition except for...
Review: This new edition to mark the 2001 years is virtually identical to the the previous classic edition, with the exception of a new forward by Arthur C. Clarke expressing is sadness of the death of Stanley Kubrick. There are a few new photos previously not published, however room for these new photos are made by omitting previously released photos....SO this new edition MAY be of interest to die hard Kubrick fans who have the older edition.

A must book for those interested in the behind the scenes creative development with plenty of photos and original drawings.