The Ultimate Trip of the Imagination

Rating: 10/10 (9 August 2002)

After 30 plus year, 2001: A Space Odyssey still continues to amaze and astound. The art of film making has made long strides since Kubrick's masterpiece, but it still stands the test of time. Influencing countless directors from George Lucas to Steven Spielberg, 2001 is definitely the jewel of Stanley Kubrick's career.
In 2 ½ hours, the film is able to span from the dawn of man to the space age. Watched and influence by the mysterious monolith, man is able to used tools to manipulate his environment and also kill. There is possibly no greater juxtaposition of images than from the thrown bone to the orbiting satellite. In a few brief seconds, we are able to see how man has gone from cave-dweller to space-dweller. It is also hard to forget the masterful scene of the space ship floating to the "Blue Danube Waltz." This is perhaps no greater use of images and score in the history of film. The sequence is just a marvel to look and stirs up emotions of wonder, marvel, and pure excitement. The film then jumps 18 months to the future where a larger than life ship is on an interception course for Jupiter. The "Discovery" is perhaps Kubrick's greatest accomplishment. The meticulous detail is scene on the ship and the attention to its detail allows it to be as grand as anything that is in film today. There are also great scenes in this ship including the rotating living quarters and the classic death scene of HAL in the red brain room of the computer. The last 20 or so minutes of this film are one of its mysteries. The star show followed by the eerie hotel scene followed by the "space baby" turn off a lot of viewers, because they are seemingly incomprehensible. Whatever the explanations are, one has to admire the imagination it required to create that ending

There are a lot of detractors to this film saying it is to slow, there is not enough dialogue, and the ending is confusing. It is true that this film is different from other movies, but that is one of its strong points. Kubrick took risks with this movie at that is why is often considered one of the best movies of all time. People should not worry about the plot to much, because this movie is all about visuals and the sheer wonder of the unknown. All you have to do is sit back and enjoy the ride.