Is Project Hail Mary a better sci-fi film than 2001 A Space Odyssey?
Kubrick is obviously a master and I don’t think anyone with the exception of maybe Hitchcock is better at utilizing the visual and auditory medium to its fullest potential. That being said, 2001 like many of his films to me have a cold, aloofness that makes it hard for the audience to relate to the connect to the characters as “human beings.” Project Hail Mary I felt was trying to capture a similar visual style and also capture the overwhelming feeing of isolation that space conveys. Having only watched the film once, I feel like it hits many of the same notes as 2001, but with “more humanity.”
I still think 2001 is a better film and certainly will have a more long-lasting impact on the genre. However, I could argue that Project is a better “Science Fiction” film because one of the core issues at the heart of science fiction is an exploration of what it means to be human, and in that way I think Project is superior.
That being said, I only watched Project Hail Mary once, it maybe that if I watched it again I would find some scenes more cheesy than enduring.
Thoughts?