you say you want an evolution, well you know....

Rating: Null/10 (7 February 2001)

Impenetrable, mystical, beautiful, hilarious, moving, inspiring, baffling. Kubrick's vision was never realised so completely as in this masterwork. Kubrick himself said he didn't want to impose a meaning on the viewer; this is a film that rewards attention and a willingness to suspend the quest for a clear direct meaning. Few filmmakers understand the rather obvious fact that cinema is primarily a visual medium; Kubrick's gem is among the most visually stunning movies ever made.
The plot, such as it is, revolves around a big black monolith that seems to act as some sort of accelerator of human evolution; we first encounter it at the Dawn of Humanity as it appears to inspire the first use of tools. There's an amazing jump cut from a bone thrown aloft by an exuberant ape to a spiralling spaceship - the connection of technologies is made beautifully. The most famous aspect of the film is HAL, the all-powerful computer that controls the ship sent to investigate the Black Monolith. HAL is possessed of the ultimate deadpan voice, which is used to both hilarious and moving effect. Overall 2001 - A Space Odyssey is truly the ultimate trip.