The 40th Anniversary of a Stanley Kubrick masterpiece. A landmark achievement in the science fiction genre

Rating: Null/10 (18 December 2008)

When "2001" was released in 1968 it was breathtaking excitement. But this was a film that you watch in order to be entertained or amused. Instead it provides you with a banquet of food for thought,images that linger in the mild's eye long after the movie itself is over and it is a film that you could mediate on. At a running time of 151 minutes with about 2 and half hour of film with 45 minutes of dialogue. There are still two schools of thought until this very day. First one will agree that it is one of the greatest science fiction films ever made,a technical achievement unheard of when it was released in 1968. Second,one may agree that it is also one of the most horrifically boring and confusing movies ever made. The story(based on Arthur C. Clarke's novel of the same title,who wrote the screenplay)while,seemingly simple,is profound. Sequentially,several mysterious black monoliths are discovered and basically trigger certain events integral to the film. What are they? Where did they come from? What do they do? These are all questions one asks oneself while watching the story develop and is asked to find his own way. While most come away with a general idea of what took place in the story each individual will have to decide what it means to them. Any way one decides to answer these questions results in profound solutions. Its not left entirely up to interpretation,but in some aspects it is. Experience it for more clarification. The end result is quite chilling,no matter what your personal solution. "2001: A Space Odyssey" was not a regular motion picture with a complex plot,extensive dialogue,numerous characters,but rather,a story told in a series of carefully crafted pictures,which serve the purpose of not only amazing us through the breathtaking visual effects,but also of provoking our thought and imagination.
Rather than telling us about it or explaining it to us Kubrick has decided to allow the audience to experience for itself thus unforgettable epic journey. The music of "2001" is as essential as any of the other elements in creating the atmosphere of the film,from the hallmark opening theme to Strauss' "Blue Danube". Although the first 2 hours of the film are,undoubtedly,visually stunning and rich in its metaphors. It is the last 20 minutes of "2001" that truly amaze and boggles the mind. From the cold,creepy shots showing Jupiter and its satellites(accompanied by the spine-chilling music),to the flabbergasting journey through the infinite,and finally,to the famous ambigous ending,Kubrick is provoking us to see the big picture:the fact that we have not even begun to understand the vastness of the universe and,even more than that,the infinite nature of our existence. Kubrick was a genius when he made this masterpiece,since this movie is to be experienced more than understood,and it is one of the few films that has stood the test of time,some 40 years after its release.
What makes it work so well? The sheer scope and mastery of it all. This is film in its purest form and one of the most multi-layered motion picture ever made. It is one of the few films that can be incredibly artistic and succeed in being so without coming across as pretentious or inaccessible,unlike many other "classics". Most of all,it is a film of unparallel visual beauty. Its obvious Kubrick spend three years in the making and production on the look of this film,and he pulled off everything he set out to do. Its a feast for the eyes that only improves with each viewing. However,if you have a true appreciation for the fine art of cinema and its potential to illuminate and inspire,then you will certainly find that "2001" is one of the most important and profound works on film ever produced. Experience this with a food of thought. Have an open mind when you see this masterpiece of science fiction brilliance. "2001" stirs the emotions and penetrates the subconscious of the viewer and its astounding from beginning to end. The way to experience this movie is not on any DVD,but to see it in its entirely in the cinema on a widescreen in full 70MM and super Dobly Stereophonic sound.