Sudbury

A visual masterpiece, with some very thought provoking scenes. Unfortunately the intentionally dry characters and the slow pace makes it difficult for most viewers to sit through this film. Some of the scenes appear to be made more for visual interpretation rather than understandable meaning. The lack of space sound effects (though uniquely realistic), ultimately leads most viewers to more confusion. Though visually stunning, this is arguably one of the must boring films ever made.

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For the cinematic experience it's a 9.5. But for the story development and how it plays out, an 8. This movie started it all, you can see the influence everywhere in other movies. It's like a ballet in outer space with the background, visuals and scoring beginning with the evolution to how far mankind has achieved by going off to Jupiter in pursuit of a monolith, symbolic of how God was present from beginning to the end. The instructions on the usage of the space toilet is something else!

The most confusing and one of the best films I've ever seen.

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Seriously, this is the most boring movie I have ever had to sit through... yes it was a first but the only exciting part was when HAL started trying to kill them, other than that it was painfully BORING!!

This movie is still a masterpiece of science fiction, after 44 years. AFI (American Film Institute) ranks it at #22 in the top 100 films of all time. Great visuals, great music, thought-provoking story.

This epic classic is one of the finest achievements of cinema. This is definitely the best sci fi movie of all time because it deals with man's origins to its potential future. It is a must see for anyone who wants the ultimate movie experience.

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Pure genius. This was the film that put large scale space sci-fi on the map. Kubrick was incredibly forward thinking at so many levels. E.g. There's a scene in the waiting area of the space dock were a man is using a tablet device not unlike an iPad - in a film from 1968! Despite its overwhelming brilliance, I've never liked the edit. It's too slow and ponderous in places.

This one's for those who really THINK about what they're seeing. Kubrick expects that of you, and that's the only way to enjoy this. Long before computers were involved in cinema, this still stands up today... even in the shortened-version. Actual running time is longer than that. I'm actually surprised that this is in re-release: 70mm negative, panavision anamorphics... where can it be shown and see the whole frame?

Breathtaking. One of cinema's greatest masterpiece. This film is over 40 y old, yet it still looks futuristic, the special effects are still impressive and it is the only film that seriously ponders about our place in this universe.

The production design, pacing, and plot have inspired artists and storytellers across the globe. If you're a film student, it's a must see. Even if you aren't, the film delivers a sumptuous visual feast for the mind and soul that is rarely caught on film.

What else is there to say - a definite classic and is one of my favourite (Sci/Fi) movies.

Two genius worked together to produce this masterpiece (Clarke and Kubrik) A must see.

A masterpiece, but flawed by one or two long, unnecessary and rather indulgent sequences. It's unfortunate, but for some reason we're treated to many minutes of Heywood Floyd snoozing in his chair while on the way to the moon, and a flight attendant carrying a food tray to his table. But that's a minor complaint compared to all the great moments in this stunning and ambitious movie. What I like most about it is its scale--it literally tells the story of humankind, in pictures. Don't miss it, but be prepared for a few boring sequences immediately following the Dawn of Man sequence. Oh, and it also contains the single greatest transition in all of moviemaking, but I don't want to spoil it for you if you haven't seen it.

Amazing film, slow yes, but still amazing. Classic Kubrick it's a must see.

One of the best special effects movie for that year! Worth while watching!

Be prepared for slow, thought provoking reflection. This is a layered movie with intentional themes through metaphor and symbol. If the movie doesn't make 'sense' to you, try the book version. This is really more of an artistic way of reflecting on the history and future of mankind than it is an entertaining movie. It's stood the test of time, so give it a chance.

One of the best films ever made. Period. If you've never seen it you should see it in a theatre as it is truly why cinema was invented. One note: beware of bad prints as there have been many floating around over the years.

I purposely starve myself from the experience of this film for years at a time--and my [...] god, the waiting paid off--it's in [...] theatres!!! You're an [...] if you regard this film as anything below absolute masterpiece. The layers of meaning blow me away. You won't find movies like this anymore. No, you'll find hackneyed attempts at depth and profundity, which only succeed at obfuscation with no meaning. Much like the opening to Friedrich Nietzsche's book, Thus Spoke Zarathustra, this movie is for everyone and no one.

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The scene where the blood-stained bone becomes a spaceship is a stunningly profound comment on the nature of technology, yes? If anyone has ever come across a more ingenious scene, please to tell me. No Barry Lyndon, but still better than all non-Stanley Kubrick movies.

To those rating this movie anything less than a 10, I suggest you reflect on where your education, intellect, and artistic sensitivities have failed you... Throw yourself a bone.

A very thought provoking movie with a lot of twists.

If you are a fan of sci fi movies it is not for you. If you are an art lover this is the ultimate masterpiece.

An incredible movie, very intense. It's very difficult to understand, there's so much in it.

The visuals in this movie blew me away. I loved it. Some great famous lines as well...

One of the most advanced movie of all time. A masterpiece from the director Stanley Kubrick. A movie who will take a lot of time for reflection about the human behaviour, the space in his infinite, imagination and beyond... Could seem boring by some parts of it, but there is something to think about our future.

I was only eight years old when I saw this movie, but it has stayed with me for thirty-eight. Way ahead of it's time. A true masterpiece.

I love many Stanley Kubrick Films :Dr. Strangelove, Lolita, The Killing, Paths of Glory, Barry Lyndon, clockwork orange. And great Directors like Kubrick always try to surpass there existing art. They don't play it safe. Can't expect them all to be good. This one imo is way over rated. Seen it 4 times since 1960's. It is just dull. It was then and it has not aged well.

It was the type of movie, that have alot of "GREAT" meaning to it.

This movie kept my attention all the way through. The ending was surprising.

This movie shold be rated as one of the most over - rated movies of all time. You expected so much and when you are done watching it - you say to yourself - that was it?

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2001: A Space Odyssey is not a masterpiece of a conventional sort. It barely carries any of the expected elements of a classic film. It is a movie that steps away from all that is expected from a science fiction masterpiece and moves into its own brilliant realm. The film begins with a caption reading ‘The Dawn of Man’. A tribe of humanoid apes feasting on meat in a sun-bleached wasteland are shown. Suddenly, without warning, another tribe of apes wanders into their territory and the two tribes screech and roar at each other for two minutes. The intruding tribe backs away. Later on, an ape is shown picking at the bones of his meal. He picks up one of the bones and sees the potential of a club. This is a very typical Kubrick moment. The ape proceeds to smash the carcass to bits with his makeshift club while the triumphant main score blasts boldly. The scene is a reflection on human nature and an ingenious portrayal of discovery. The movie zooms forward millions of years in time to an amazingly real-looking spacecraft floating its way gently through space while ballet music plays beautifully in the background. Stanley Kubrick directed Odyssey much like a composer conducts a beautiful piece of music. It is a film that tweaks at the senses of the viewer, taps into their emotions and triggers some deep thought. It does all of these things, and yet leaves one wondering how it did them. It doesn’t matter how. A two some hour gorgeous display of surreal, chaotic art is what this movie, in essence, is. The way the memorable, often eerie score ties in with the bizarre, stimulating visuals is something I have never seen in a movie. Odyssey doesn’t have a basic story structure, although (as with all stories) it does have a conflict. The conflict is in an uncomfortably independent computer that turns on its human masters and ultimately causes more harm than good. The movie could have had a typical science fiction ending, with explosions and grisly deaths and edge-of-your-seat thrills. But Kubrick decides to do something much more daring. He closes his masterpiece with a blazing, jaw-dropping crescendo of lights and music that leads to a murky, slightly creepy ending. To explain why 2001: A Space Odyssey works so well is impossible. The best analogy I can think of to use is to compare it to a particularly powerful piece of classical music. It yields great power and triggers many feelings, and everyone can have a different reason why..

Always a great movie to watch. Great music and wondeful shots for the time! Set's up the stage for 2010.

If you want light sabers, and a futuristic story of mankinds struggle with "evil" go see the Star Wars movies. (For the most part they were great movies) This movie, argueably, is better than any one of those. At the beginning you start to wonder just what it is you have picked out to watch as you see a rendition of a "caveman" discovering violence for what appears to be the first time. I now understand the revelance of this scene as it depicts the evaloution of violence in mankind. The presence of mind for a film of its' age to anticipate the making of a "super-computer" which devlops the will to survive on it's own, (long before anybody even knew the power of our modern day computers) was a stroke of genius. Personally I would love to see this movie re-made, with todays special effects and CGI, not to mention the outstanding acting talent avaiable, it would become a block buster release. Not to take away from the original, but a re-make would be cool. (for the love of God, KEEP THE ORIGINAL SCORE!! )

No, it's not full of explosions. And no, the narrative won't lead you to a nicely tied up conclusion. And no, you won't be spoon fed answers. Yes, it brings up questions that relate to all people. Yes, it tackles tough questions. And yes, it makes you think.

"2001: A Space Odyssey" is an epic and an always present-day masterpiece In this moovie there is the conflict between the man and the computer already present in the '70th, the name of computer is HAL, if you subtract one letter you have IBM, is-it a case? Anyway... don't waste a precious opportunity to see it, that's better than a lot of present-day movies.

A real quality piece, even in todays standards!!!

Outstanding movie, now I have to see it again.

I didn't understand this movie the first time I saw it, but now, after a few years of university physics, I understand it and love it. One of my top ten favorites. Even without the physics training, viewers will enjoy this film, if only for the great space shots and the budding 'personality' of Hal...

Clearly the best movie of all times. Kubrick and A. C. Clarke, two masters of the 20th century working together. In a time when Sci. Fi was considered as a 2nd order genre, they decided to achieve what they called "a legendary good science fiction movie". They did just that.

This is a thought provoking cinematic journey that touches on many themes; The evolution of man, survival, isolation, man's invention of tools and who's in control, man or machine? , time travel and the mysteries of death/birth. Spielberg, Lucas, and any sci-fi movies of today borrow from this classic. The effects still hold up today and this movie is over 35 years old! The effects genius Doug Trumbell went on to do Close Encounters of the Third Kind and many other top notch sci-fi films. 2001, an EPIC MASTERPIECE that put Kubrick on the map as on of the best filmmakers that ever lived..

My favorite movie! It presents a realistic picture of what travelling in space would be like. The voyage or odyssey through time and space is philosophical and intellectually chalenging. The role that the Monolith plays in the life of Moon Watcher and David Bowman (possibly the reincarnation of Moon Watcher)is that of a spiritual presence. Furthermore, the movie opened the door to "space age" speciale effects.

For a movie that was made in the early 70's, it was ahead of its time, mixing an element of relegion with science fiction. The special effects were very good and the sound track excellent.

A Classic and a must see for all. It makes you think and along the way you relate to yourself and your life.

Great.

I did enjoy it right to the end.

Perfection!!!

Fantastic! Kubrick is, to this day, the only director to realize that explosions don't make any noise in space, nor do rocket boosters! As great as this movie is, it is not for "most" of todays kids. If you need an explosion every 30 seconds (what I refer to as the 30 second crowd) then this is not for you. If however, you enjoy a movie where the necessary time is taken to DEVELOP A STORY LINE, the movie is highly recomended.

Excellent movie.

This movie follows along the regular path of story-building a la Kubrick. Although a bit too slow at times, we are invited into this strange world. Although adapting to new technology, humans still seem to have the urges and the problems associated with everyday human interactions. Perhaps the most recognizable piece of music ever put on film, the score helps dictate the mood. Everything happens in dibilitatingly slow fashion. We become so accustomed to this slowness that we are caught off guard at the end, when the movie picks up. Hal is not a computer, he is rather a definition of the modern man. Anyone with no appreciation for art in film should go rent some Hollywood sellout movie. For the rest of us, let us sit back and enjoy this almost flawless film.

There are very few movies that can be classified "genious" and this is one of them. Mankinds baby steps into space, and gets much more than he bargains for. Kubrick's warning about AI has been echoed but still goes unheeded.

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