2010: The Year We Make Contact (1984) First Time Watching! Full Movie Reaction!!

I really hope you watch Sunshine; if you like these kinds of sci-fi movies you'll dig it for sure

Odd Thomas

I know it's been months since you've watched this, but just in case you read this I wanted to mention something about Hal. Remember Dave's last conversation with Hal when Hal says he's afraid, Dave says (paraphrasing) "Don't be afraid, you'll be here with me." We don't really know what happened to Dave exactly but he had some kind of continuing existence, and maybe the same can be true of Hal.

Brormorc

Absolutely! -Sam

TBR Schmitt

Thank you, Ron! I think it was important to go in with the right mindset :) Thanks for sharing and for the recommendations! -Sam

TBR Schmitt

Yes! TBR Schmitt didn't realize until editing! We had a long discussion about it haha Ah totally didn't realize that about the pods! We should have caught them seeing them so close in time. Thanks for sharing! -Sam

TBR Schmitt

Thank you, Mark! We enjoyed it! I've seen a few comments in regards to the allusion to the Garden of Eden and I hadn't put that together, but super interesting! -Sam

TBR Schmitt

I would also be interested in seeing more films! -Sam

TBR Schmitt

Hal's voice was so creepy from the first film! It was crazy to see Hal in a different light this film! -Sam

TBR Schmitt

Absolutely! We really enjoyed it! -Sam

TBR Schmitt

I’m glad you guys watched this and I’m glad this movie has been getting some respect over the years and not written off as a bad sequel or that it somehow hurts Stanley Kubrick’s masterpiece because it doesn’t. 2010 is a very worthy film and it’s a shame we never got to see 2061 and 3001 get turned into films because there is still plenty of story to tell between HAL and Bowman.

While it's nothing like the original, I still really like the movie for what it is and the way it tells its story. I'm glad that the two of you were also able to appreciate what Peter Hyams was able to do here. I can only imagine what a daunting task it was to take this project on (as writer and director). Fun Cameos: 1. In the scene on the benches in front of the White House, we see Floyd trying to convince Milson that Americans should go on the Russian flight. To the far left, there is an old man feeding the birds. That old man is the author of the 2001 series of books, Arthur C. Clarke! 2. In the hospital with Bowman's mom, the nurse at the desk is reading Time magazine. On the cover are the US president and the Russian premier: Arthur C. Clark and Stanley Kubrick! Finally, if you liked Roy Scheider in 2010 and Jaws, I think you might also like him in Blue Thunder (1983), The French Connection (1971), and All That Jazz (1979).

Ron

Also, in the scene where Floyd is sitting on a park bench in front of the White House talking to the NCA chairman, there's a wide shot and the old man sitting on the bench to the left is Clarke.

Arioch

I read 2061, and while it provides a tiny bit more insight into what's going on at Europa (and we see Dave/HAL again), there wasn't much "story" to it, and I think it would make for a pretty stale movie. According to the Wikipedia article, it was reported in 2000 that Tom Hanks had expressed interest in movie versions of 2061 and 3001, but that the project was not moving forward.

Arioch

I just wanted to clarify that Roy Scheider's character, Heywood Floyd, was the scientist in 2001 that went to the moon to study the monolith (we followed his spaceflight and he made a video call to his daughter). In the first film, Floyd was played by William Sylvester. In the early 80's, he retired from acting but even then, the decision was made to cast an established star with a more commanding presence in the role and it ended up being Scheider. The role of Dr. Chandra was played by Bob Balaban. You saw him before. He was Laughlin, the English-French interpreter in Close Encounters of the Third Kind. A little bit of trivia, there's is one significant continuity mistake with the first film. There shouldn't be any pod left in the bay. One was lost when Poole died. One was left adrift with its back blown off by Dave when he entered the airlock. Then he then used the third and final one to enter the giant monolith. The nurse that moniters Dave's mom has a time magazine with a drawing of the US president and the Russian premier. They are based on Arthur C. Clarke and Stanley Kubrick respectively.

ED209

I hope someday the other two books will get film adaptations too. I’ve not read them myself, only detailed synopsis, but their stories sound fascinating!

Nick of Time

Yes! I remember being in the theater as a teenager in 1984, and the moment we first hear HAL's voice again (and the fact they got the same actor) people in the auditorium with me gasped. It was quite a thrill, as well as seeing the actual Dave back again. They were going back to Discovery to explore it as a relic, and we were going back with them to this setting that was from 16 years prior.

Mark

I'm glad you guys reacted to this one - I really liked it in the 80s, and even got reproductions of those patches to stick on a jumpsuit for a con. One thing that strikes me this time is Clarke's strong allusion to Genesis and the garden of Eden where God tells Adam and Eve all these trees and vegetables are for you, except for this one tree that you mustn't eat from - that reminds me of the final message of "all these worlds are yours to use, but don't attempt to land on Europa." Looking back at the first film, we see a monolith there to stimulate growth from primitive apes to tool users; then the one on the moon which we clearly can't find until our technology has gotten to a certain level; and it's pointing at Jupiter, so it's like these monoliths are sort of shepherds of the development of life, and now with one on the primitive surface of Europa, I imagine it's there to stimulate the evolution of the basic cellular life that is developing there, too.

Mark

Unfortunately, there has never been a sequel to this in movie form, there are two more books, and each of the first two books go much deeper and explain many of the questions that you have: where did the monoliths come from? what is their purpose? what about the life on Europa? What happened to Dave and HAL?

Sarah

SInce you only saw the first movie recently, it's hard to describe seeing it in 1984 when the original was a classic from 1968. Seeing the Discovery again, the details of the interior was amazing. HAL was already by then this classic movie villain, and so hearing HAL's voice again was SUPER spooky.

Arioch

Thank you for watching this, 2010 is such underrated and overlooked film.

Marko Horvat

So cool! I love when you guys watch them for the first time with us :) What did you think?! -Sam

TBR Schmitt

Back to back, Roy! Thanks for sharing all those fun facts! I hope you enjoyed getting to see the end :) -Sam

TBR Schmitt

Thank you, Nicholas! -Sam

TBR Schmitt

Enjoy! It only doesn’t “live up” to the original in the sense that it’s simply not a Kubrick movie. But it is still a solid science-fiction film in its own right. 😊

Nick of Time

I saw 2001 a few times. I never saw the sequel. Years ago I saw reviews and they said it didn't live up to the original so I didn't bother. Until now... It will be my second time first time watching as I watch a first time watch! Yes!

Mr. Writhms

Oh, wasn't expecting this. You saw Roy Scheider at sea, now you see him in space. The Leonov inspired the design of the Omega-class destroyers on Babylon 5. That awkward scene right after they wake Floyd up reminded me of the dinner scene in Star Trek VI. I think there wouldn't never be a night, only certain times of the year. There are periods of time when Jupiter and Earth are on opposite sides of the sun, after all. We used to have this on a recorded VHS, but the ending cut out right after the ignition of the new star. I've never actually seen the very last part of this.

Texas Anla'Shok

Yay! You two continue to surprise me with your wonderful selections. Can’t wait to watch-along. :)

Nick of Time