A Cinematic and Sci-fi masterpiece

Rating: 10/10 (20 September 2004)

Stanley Kubrick's '2001: A Space Odyssey', aside from being one of the best and greatest movies ever made (these are two different things), is one of the 4 Cornerstones of Science Fiction filmdom. (The other 3 cornerstones are Fritz Lang's 'Metropolis', 'King Kong', and (although it is actually the ultimate in Science-fiction fantasy) 'Star Wars'). (Frankenstein (Karloff version) almost makes the list, but since there would be no Frankenstein if it weren't for Metropolis, the list stands as is, however, if there could be 5 cornerstones, Frankenstein would be it, since it was so influential in it's own right)(back to 2001).
The adaptation of Arthur C. Clarke's book (I recommend this as a great read) to film that Kubrick accomplishes is magnificent. The opening sequence with the apes (to the music of 'Also Sprach Zarathustra') is cinematic legend. Another reason why this movie so important is because it is the first Science Fiction film in outer space that plays and looks completely real. This movie is an amazing feat of film-making and editing restraint in that, in this movie, things happen in space at the pace that they should and would - which is slow! The reason why today's younger audience find this film unwatchable is because you need an attention span than is greater than that of a gnat to be able to sit through it. Any human being who does not require non-stop, rapid-cut-edited mindless action and zero to no story in order to be entertained has a good chance of thoroughly enjoying this masterpiece that will be remembered decades from now and long after all the Matrix-junkies have forgotten that they even saw the movie. (Interesting note - 2001 was made in the days before rampant and annoying product placement - The movie-makers actually had to pay a certain telephone company to use their name/logo in an early space scene).
This movie is the beginning of intelligent AND realistic looking sci-fi. All the high-brow, cerebral, and/or detailed sci-fi films that followed all owe a debt to Kubrick for showing the way. The attention to detail - the pace - the classical music soundtrack - no movie to this day or before it has ever put all 3 together in one movie so perfectly! Star Wars, Close Encounters, Alien, etc - all these movies owe their existence to Kubrick's vision and execution.
Leonard Maltin gives this movie 4 stars (and I whole-heartedly agree). AFI's list of 100 Greatest American Films puts this at #22. Entertainment Weekly's list of 100 Greatest Films put this at #26. My list of 200 Greatest Films puts this at #7. (Fortunately, being a movie purist, I have no sci-fi (or any other genre) prejudices).
Please feel free to ignore the sequel to 2001 - '2010' (not done by Kubrick). All of Kubrick's other films are worth watching - but those worthy of note are The Killing, Spartacus, Paths of Glory, Lolita, A Clockwork Orange, Dr. Strangelove, The Shining, Full Metal Jacket, and Eyes Wide Shut - (Wow, that is almost all of them anyway - Boy I would have loved to seen his version of AI).