In defense of my favorite film

Rating: 10/10 (17 June 2002)

Few films in cinematic history have been as frequently dissected and analyzed as this Stanley Kubrick masterwork, so there is little one can say about the film hasn't already been said. "2001" will reward it's patient, open-minded viewers with a truly mind-blowing philosophical experience filled with breathtaking visuals and unforgettable moments. "2001" will bore those who are unprepared for it as well as those who are unwilling to approach it with a sense of wonder and imagination. The film has already received an enormous amount of praise here on IMDB, with many people repeating what others have already said. Since there aren't words to express how deeply I feel towards this movie, I will focus on trying to defend "2001" from it's countless enemies.
Obviously, the most common criticism is that the film is "boring" or "too slow." True, "2001" does have very slow pacing, and there are certain moments in which are downright tedious. However, such exhausting moments are totally necessary to establish the mood and to immerse the viewer into the film by its sheer realism. "2001" isn't like other movies. It doesn't try to build suspense or thrill its viewer in the conventional style. Personally, I wouldn't edit out a single millisecond of the space flight scenes, dull as they are.
Another complaint with the film is that the story is non-existent, therefore, there is no substance. This isn't an easy movie to understand, even with repeated viewings, but it does have a storyline to decipher. Some have read Arthur C. Clarke's "The Sentinel" in order to figure it out. If one is really confused as to what's going on, search the web for a 1969 Stanley Kubrick interview conducted by Joseph Gelmis. Kubrick gives a straightforward explanation of the plot without going too deeply into the more subjective ideas and meanings behind the action. If you're unwilling to come up with your own interpretation of the film, or if you're just curious to find out what the creator's intention was, I would definitely checking it out.
About 30% of the "2001" comments on IMDB are made up of people who absolutely loathe this film. Some of them, I'm sure, really did try to like this movie, but they don't know how to approach it. Others might have figured that the film isn't "hip" or "thrilling" enough for them, so they refuse to appreciate it. Others still may just lack the attention span or the patience to view a movie of this sort. But for those who are unable to decipher the reasons as to why people love this film should definitely take a look at the positive comments on this movie. After that, try watching the movie again, and approach it not with the mind of a cynical film buff, but with a sort of childlike wonder.