2010 (1984)

Michael Jackson was all over the premiere of this one...

Genre: Adventure Mystery Sci-Fi Thriller

Starring: Roy Scheider (Marathon Man; Jaws), John Lithgow ("3rd Rock from the Sun"; Raising Cain)

Directed By: Peter Hyams (A Sound Of Thunder; The Presidio)

Overview: In this true sequel to 2001, the crew that sent the ship 'Discovery' to Jupiter is sent there to learn what happened on that first mission.

Acting: The cast and crew are as professional as you would have expected, even the kid was a good choice. Top notch professional production. Of course it's not directed as well as the original, but that's Kubric for you.
Rating: 8

Cinematography: The images are far less like the high art of the original 2001, but there's much more story, so in all fairness... The future looks pretty cool though, with the fancy spaceships and the SAL9000 (sequel to HAL). There's some pretty good special effects and the ships really keep you in the zone.
Rating: 8

Script: Not only are the interactions between the programmer and the silicon intelligence very original, but the whole angle of the Russian Cold-War feeling throughout and the lines, though sometimes a little trite is really good.
Rating: 8

Plot: The story is, as stated above, a true sequel. They go to where the old ship was, but obviously this is an adaptation of a novel that was not too molested by Hollywood. You can see the originality, and that's why this is a good sequel. It's so hard to make the next one good, but this has it's own tales and it's own lessons, making it a worthy film.
Rating: 8

Mood: The setting, the mystery, the fear and the bravado of space travel, it's awesome. Really seems realistic. I mean you get that sense of "Oh my God, no one's ever done this" and that carries you through to the terrific ending. Really plants you solidly with the rest of the crew, be they Reds or Red, White and Blues.
Rating: 8

"It's true, playing catch in space with live nukes definitely spices up the game!"

Overall Rating: 80% (A Good Sequel, But See the Other One First)

Aftertaste: This is one of those films that makes you glad to see the sequel as a tale completer, as a depth adder to the last one. But if you're not really into 2001 in the first place, I know it's different enough to stand alone, but why bother seeing the sequel to a movie you never liked in the first place? I won't presume to stay it's broken out of the mold. I think it's good, but not too may people will see this, and I guess that's life :P