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The deactivation of HAL 9000, a scene that took over 6 minutes of running time, is one of the most indelible cinematic memories from my teenager years. I have n
by ak39 8y ago
The deactivation of HAL 9000, a scene that took over 6 minutes of running time, is one of the most indelible cinematic memories from my teenager years. I have never felt more conflicted with empathy for and gripped by fear of an electronic conscience since. In the scene at one point when HAL says "I'm afraid, Dave", I'd almost want to stop Dave, but I am also simultaneously aware and fearful that HAL may be manipulating the human!
I've watched many SciFi movies with similar themes - even ones where the artificial beings are given faces. But HAL's baritone voice and the precise controlled cadence did for evoking emotions what none could top. Douglas Rain's voice and how Kubric used is an example of craftsmanship mastery at its best!
RIP HAL 9000. I'll sing Daisy for you.
- sureaboutthis 8y agoHAL did not have a baritone voice.
- ak39 8y agoI think you’re right. I’m going to leave my embarrassment unedited for all of internet history. (If anyone knows Douglas Rain’s voice type, I’d appreciate some education.)
- ASalazarMX 8y agoI'd like to hear HAL in a baritone anyway. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING, DAVE?"
- ericfrenkiel 8y agoHAL did have a baritone voice as he was “dying” - the visual implication of pulling out various modules was causing damage to his ability to talk and then think. The drop in register was designed to add to the unsettling nature of the scene.
- sureaboutthis 8y agoWell, yes and no. His voice changed because it was electronically slowed down. In reality, probably by slowing down a tape machine, but that's not the same thing as having a baritone voice, though I might be nit-picking.
- bjnord 8y ago"I have never felt more conflicted with empathy for and gripped by fear of an electronic conscience since." There are several episodes of Black Mirror that explore that idea... what is ethical with respect to something ("just bits") that's also someone (a self-aware conscious being). They've done a good job filling that question with a lot of emotion; some of those episodes are really gripping.