noblecarbon

To those who play the game Kerbal Space Program, love The Martian, or astrophysics, this is a must see. Contrasting to the mystery of its predecessor (2001: a space odyssey), 2010 offers answers to the questions it posed. Based on the equally excellent novel "2010: Odyssey Two", it sticks to fairly accurate science (with some assumptions grounded in science). Notably, it deviates in some subplots from the book, simplifying the plot, which works just fine. Unlike the classical pieces used in 2001, the music is mostly original work (except for the franchise-defining use of "Also sprach Zarathustra"), composer David Shire does a great job capturing the sense of distance and grandness of space exploration. Arthur C. Clarke also wrote two further squeals, though they do not completely follow the exact same continuity between each other.

The premise shows promise, but time and time again the plot is incoherent, jumping from scene to scene without really introducing who is there, what are they doing, and why. Not only are most of their motivations clouded in strange cinematic shots including hallucinatory flashbacks/time travel and time gaps, the story suffers from what seems to be a lack of direction or loss of critical information. The addition of numerous sex scenes adds little to the plot ("Sex sells, Morty") and would present itself no worse without them. (One of the minor characters has multiple sex scenes to show their lifestyle, which ultimately detracts from the main story.) As a fan of science fiction, I am disappointed, though I can see the allure to non-sober viewers.