Undoubtedly the greatest piece of science fiction ever produced

Rating: 10/10 (19 February 2015)

Undoubtedly the greatest piece of science fiction ever produced, 2001 is a stunningly beautiful, thought provoking masterpiece that is an absolute requisite for anyone even mildly interested in science fiction. Stanley Kubrick's inspired tour de force is rightfully ranked among the finest movies of all time.
For some films, particularly in science fiction, it is necessary to introduce new viewers with the pretext of "remember that this was groundbreaking cinematography back in the day before we had such and such technology". While this is definitely something to keep in mind when viewing 2001, the movie does just fine without the faint praise of being "good for its time." That said, one certainly gains an additional appreciation for the film when it is placed in the context its 1968 release - the climax of the space race, one year before the Apollo 11 mission. Despite having few reliable images to work off of, Kubrick's depiction of the lunar surface was so realistic that moon landing conspiracy theorists have suggested that Kubrick himself was employed by NASA to stage the landings.
2001: A Space Odyssey represents the gold standard of what I would identify as "true science fiction". That is, movies which revolve around fictional science and its impact on humanity as opposed to movies which are commonly grouped under "Sci-Fi" but which simply use a futuristic setting as a gimmick for an action/adventure/horror driven plot. This means that if you're expecting Star Wars or Alien style action/adventure, you will be disappointed. If, however, you're interested in an intellectually stimulating experience that you will remember for the rest of your life, you've come to the right place.