A Prophetic Sci-fi

Rating: 10/10 (29 January 2019)

The film struck me as it was made in 1968, 50 years ago, but it explores topics such as the initial of human intelligence, space travel, alien and artificial intelligence, which made it a Plato-like figure in the history of sci-fi films. The questions it reveals are still widely discussed in current sci-fi films.
It has a peculiar style of story-telling, which is highly metaphysical and sensational. It is the reason why some dislike the film very much, as it, unlike a thriller, tells the story in a very slow pace, or saying, instead of telling a story, as the film portraits an image of the future life, and questions the origin of human intelligence: are we just innocent animals turned cruel but smart by an alien civilization?
The images of the film are sophisticated, as the scenes with the space ship are detailedly made. Even though it is made in 1960s, the scenes look real. And the techniques used for creating the perception of time travelling is so futuristic and way ahead its time. The idea of Hal 9000 is amazingly well thought, as AI is gradually making its place in the world nowadays.
If you like indie films and would like to see the peak of the sci-fi films in the 20th century, this is definitely the option. Still, if you are expecting a thriller or alien war, the film might disappoint you.