Science fiction of the highest order; recommended.

Rating: Null/10 (4 March 2001)

It comes as no surprise that Kubrick is so often lauded and misunderstood when it comes to his greatest works. For those who are patient and perceptive, 2001 can work on a number of levels; the entire production exudes brilliance, thought and vision. Given the state of filmmaking, computers and space exploration in the 60's, it is highly disingenuous to criticise this film as if it were released yesterday. I think the sets and minatures are quite convincing, great attention was paid to detail and the earmarks of the 1960's are more subtle than one would expect. To embrace Kubrick's vision those who watch 2001 must extrapolate from the images their own interpretations. One should also appreciate how skillfully Kubrick and Clarke avoided dogmatizing their assumptions about evolution and creation, leaving the question open and variable to those who will embrace it in their own way. It's easy to cry self-indulgence when one avoids the deeper philosophical underpinnings of the story; Admittedly, at times some sequences seem banal and overextended, but I find them hardly enough to undermine the credibility of Kubrick's art, and the higher metaphysical questions raised here. Give Kubrick a chance to fuel your imagination, not replace it.