What is the point?

Rating: 4/10 (26 February 2003)

I admit I've always been curious about this film as The Shining really impressed me and turned me instantly into a Kubrick fan. As for Arthur C. Clarke I have been a big fan of his since I read his Rama novels (anyone whose never heard of them or never read them I highly recommend you do so immediately). Coupled with the fact this is supposedly an epic and one of the best films ever made meant I was determined to see it but somehow never got round to it. Well I eventually watched it today and I have to ask what was the point? I kind of got the idea of what was going on but found the whole thing pointless. From the apes at the beginning (the most drawn out boring piece of cinema in history) to the whole idea of the monoliths just utterly bored me senseless. Don't get the idea that I'm an action addict and too shallow to enjoy a thought provoking film, I love something I can get my head round but this was just awful. As for the special effects I find it hard to believe Kubrick was not on LSD when he made this it's just absolutely ridiculous. In future if I want a sci-fi film I'll stick to the likes of The Matrix, Minority Report or my all time favourite The Abyss. If I want thought provoking cinema I'll stick with The Shawshank Redemption , Road To Perdition or even The Green Mile. Each to their own opinion though this is just mine.