breakthrough in film history

Rating: 10/10 (22 June 1999)

I remember when i was about 12 years old or so, and my father brought home a laser disc of 2001 (not in widescreen). My father (not having seen the movie before) said, "this is supposedly the best movie ever". So i didn't argue, and i attempted to watch the movie for the first time. As all of you know, the first part of the film is THE DAWN OF MAN. And after watching Moon-Watcher, and his group of monkeys, i left the room, disappointed, thinking it was so boring. Later that year, I watched the movie again in it's entirety, but i wasn't impressed.
At the time, i was immature in my critique, not knowing the difference between a good movie, or a bad movie, not knowing whether Plan 9 from Outerspace is better than The Day the Earth Stood Still. So then, I grew older, having seen quality movies such as The Godfather, Goodfellas, and much of Stanly Kubrick's other films which i absolutely love. I then gave 2001 another go. When i was young, I complained that there were no aliens, no space lasers, no spaceship battles, no explosions or any John Williamesque musical scores. But as i grew older, I looked at the film differently, not as a run of the mill B sci fi movie (star wars) but as an artful cinematic masterpiece. Having being young, i could not appreciate well made movies, me being more interested in Spaceballs, and the Masters of the Universe (if you remember that He Man movie. I then interpreted the movie differently. I then came to my own conclusion that 2001 gave out a message that we should be careful about our own machines, and that if we make them so advanced, that it could take over us all. And i also came to the the humble conclusion that we, humans, are far behind in technology, than extra terrestials are, and that they will always be far superior to us. But that is only my opinion.
What i like about the movie so much is, that it leaves al ot for your own imagination. Films like the Star Wars trilogy doesn't leave anything for you're imagination. But 2001 allows you to think for yourself, which is what movies are supposed to do. Other people complain that there is no plot. Well I say that they are ignorant in their viewing, and they can't think for themselves, and i recommend them to watch film's like Power Rangers, which of course has a clear story line, and the over use of special effects!!! If you sleep during this movie, or even walk out on it, then it proves that you are just impatient and you can't appreciate good films.
In describing the film in general, I think everyone else had summed it up. I can only say that it is amongst Mr. Kubrick's finest films, and the finest film in movie history, and true milestone in filmmaking. The music is superb, and the sound from the simple beeping of a button, to the deafening noise of utter silence is amazing in so many ways. The effects are breathtaking, far surpassing that of Star Wars. And the acting is a lot more convincing. People complained that the acting was rather dull. But I say to those, "Thats how people in space act, they are isolated. Do you think isolated people would be acting uproariously?" The acting is just plain out accurate. The film is also prophetic of things to come in the future.
Well, I strongly recommend this picture to everyone else who hasn't seen it yet. And to those who found it rather boring, try watching it another time, and look hard for it's messages.