A timeless classic

Rating: 9/10 (16 February 2020)

When this released one year before the Moon landings, the timeline was plausible, unfortunately popular interest in space travel diminished as did its funding.
It is difficult to quantify the mastery in film-making that this encompasses, there is good reason Kubrick is regarded so very highly. Make no mistake this film is not for everyone, it requires patience and thought. By the end, you will probably be left confused, and admittedly I still am somewhat unsure of the ending but I do not seek for it to be explained. I prefer the confusion, it allows for my thoughts to be provoked and to draw my own conclusions, this is a good thing and successful outcome of fantastic film crafting.
When you stare at the credits and try to comprehend what you have just seen, for me, that is a truly great film. In context though, this is only relevant when the build up to the finale is so perfect and for this particular film, so accurate in its portrayal of events leading to it.
It's astonishing to think this is now over 50 years old, it still very much holds up as it was so grounded in realistic foresight. If you allow it around 20 years grace because of the de-funding of space travel you will find it will still hold up in most aspects for another 10 years or more.
2001: A Space Odyssey has been the benchmark for all space/science-fiction for me having first seen it at around age 12-13 back in 1992-93, it still has no competition in that regard.