Wow...what just happened?

Rating: 10/10 (24 October 2008)

After I watched this movie, I thought to myself "Wait...what just happened?" And if I had immediately posted a comment on it, I probably would have given it a 7.
However, I read up on the movie and whatnot and found out the point was to actually BE disoriented. I thought to myself "Hey...I WAS confused as anything! Kubrick and Clarke did their job right!" Kubrick's movies are always perfect to me, and after re-thinking this movie, this one was no different.
Lets start off with the acting. Very well done. The best performance was by Keir Dullea as Dave Bowman, the protagonist. There were excellent supporting roles by Gary Lockwood, William Sylvester, and Leonard Rossiter. I particularly enjoyed the performance of Douglas Rain, who played the voice of HAL, the computer on board of the ship and "extra crew member". I also really liked the "Dawn of Man" scene with the gorillas. Particularly Daniel Richter as the lead ape, "Moon-Watcher". I thought he did a very VERY good job and the costumes and whatnot were very authentic.
Next for the effects. All I can say is WOW! The effects in this movie were better than movies TODAY. I did not believe this movie was really made in 1968 until I looked it up again. The effects were just THAT good! The ship scenes were some of the best ever seen on film.
Now for the plot. Very very very good but very very very confusing. I was thrown off several times and every time I got back on track I was thrown off again. This seems to have been intended however. Well, their aim worked and I ended up leaving with more questions than answers.
This movie is a work of art and there are literally none like it these days. Its sad that such a great movie like this is so unique and that no more are like it, then again they would find a way to mess it up eventually.
10/10.
Kubrick fans do not wanna miss this one.