Seminal sci-fi classic that still amazes and beguiles.....

Rating: 9/10 (2 December 2009)

After 15 years, I've finally managed to see '2001' after reading the book. I've no idea why it took me this long to get round to it but it was worth it only in that '2001' is the first film I've watched on Blu-ray and it has been excellent. The film is an existential look at man's possible place in the universe. Beginning at the dawn of man and jumping to the 21st Century, this film charts a theoretical look at man's evolution in progress.
The film poses questions on man, space and being. How you are to decipher the whole film is really up to each individual. What makes us human? Are we truly as advanced as we think we are? Is there life elsewhere? Thought provoking questions each one, yet surprisingly not over burdened in the film. Putting a philosophical question in a movie can be asking for derision, as cries of pretentiousness abound. In '2001' the film is one of the few that manage to do it and actually be praised for it. The points are accessible by anyone.
Viewers must also note that this was made before man went to the moon, so much of it is really analysis on space travel as well. That goes even down to the basic aspects (e.g. how do you do the toilet in space?).
You will be intrigued and amazed by it all, and be sitting there at points figuring out how they made some of the scenes before CGI etc was ever around. The scene where the man is running around the circular shuttle is even now quite brilliant. You will be sitting there wondering how they did the scene (over to the DVD extras).
One for repeat viewing, and one that can little ever be questioned to be nothing less than a seminal classic of all film making.