Where lies the boundary between humanity and non-humanity?

Rating: 10/10 (21 February 2005)

I saw the first-run of this in 1968 in Cinerama and its original 159 minute uncut version. I was so stunned at age 12 that I saw it again a couple of weeks later.
Imagine the shock on seeing it on its return to Cinerama in 1973 when it lost 20 minutes and some really quirky scenes. (Kubrick cut it just a few weeks after first-run.)
The only hope I have is that, since Kubrick's demise there might be a special edition of this, which I believe to be the greatest movie on earth to date, for the usual reasons. Maybe there could be a 2-disc DVD with all deleted scenes RE-INSERTED. After all, there really were two versions released, so where is the missing premier version?
If you've never seen this (I wish I were you to have that first experience again), please be calm and patient. Its slow, classy buildup is like that of a Rolls Royce - not a Ferrari! - So, turn off your mobile, lock up, try to have a good widescreen system at least and be just a little awed.