Don't Waste Your Time

Rating: Null/10 (2 July 2000)

If you haven't seen this movie, don't bother. It has no redeeming entertainment value whatsoever. There is no plot, no dialogue, no action, no deeper meaning. Nothing. THERE'S NOTHING THERE!!

How 2001 gets such high marks is beyond me. I'll accept the fact that it had groundbreaking special effects for the 1960's (and which are still pretty good). I'll further accept the fact that it may have had greater significance then, being released before man had even landed on the moon. I'll even go so far as to say that it might take on a greater significance if you've read either of Clarke's books (The Sentinel or 2001), which I freely admit I have not.
All that being said, I fail to see the attraction to this movie. Even as a "cult" piece, it fails. Typical of several Kubrick films, it is tedious with far too much static. Is it really necessary to focus on the hibernation chambers for 20 seconds when five seconds would more than adequately make the point? Or to show the probe flying through space for more than a minute when you already know it's there? Some call this art -- I call it an effort to stretch a 30-minute Discovery Channel special into a 140-minute movie.
The ending itself is totally incomprehensible, with the absolute lack of dialogue providing not even the shadow of an explanation. There's not even enough there to be open to interpretation. Again, not having read either book, I may be at a disadvantage. However, translating a novel into a screenplay should at least leave some *clue* as to the conclusion, even if you want to keep the audience guessing.
If there is a deeper meaning to this movie, it is overwrought by today. Maybe the point is that computers aren't perfect even though they're promoted as such. Or that computers can take over if man gives them too much power. Ho-Hum! Haven't we been here before?
Kubrick-philes may say I'm missing it here, but I don't owe anyone an apology or explanation. This is a terrible movie that is worth viewing only if you like to see early generations of special effects, or if you want to see Kubrick's heavy-handed, pedantic, static filmmaking at its worst. Take my word for it -- DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME! You'll be glad you did (or didn't)!