2001 Space Odyseey: Hit or Miss?

Rating: 5/10 (28 March 2006)

This film was 'interesting' to watch merely because of the hype i purchased it at a reduced price recently. I put it on, sat back and watched. There were several things that impressed me; firstly, the menacing character HAL whom we believe is programmed to have no emotion. HALs reasoning was completely justified, the two characters were going to disconnect him and this it's as though HAL feels betrayed, and switches to survival mode, just like an instinctive human response. Secondly, the Star Child, having the main character placed in a lab etc etc, very peculiar but intriguing nonetheless. Thirdly, the use of silence to create a feeling of isolation and to recreate the vastness and loneliness of space.
Having been impressed by these factors, I was left completely unimpressed by other pointers which I think ruin the film. The 'breathing' of the astronaut, nice idea but absolutely, gut-wrenchingly annoying. The huge portions of the film which show us 'space' for about fifteen minutes which seem completely and utterly, mind-numbingly boring. I know that technology has improved and if it was 1968 i'd appreciate it more. Modern technological films like the Terminator still took everyone's breath away but didn't carry on and on and on with stupid 'choir' moaning in the background. These bits of the film weren't even nearly as intimidating as the music. It almost feels like the 'choir' are sick and tired of taking shot after shot of seeing this dreary 'exploration', well let's face it at least their moans are genuine. I think I nearly competed with them when I was watching.
We can all see what Kubrick was trying to achieve and fair enough, the idea is there and as usual he's organised it in 'chapters', the end is truly scary and misleading enough, or open-ended enough (as Kubrick intended) for people to discuss it on boards like these and claim it's the best film ever.
People who think this film is art, are right,it was at the time and still is. But we all have to take this with a pinch of salt, and instead of gaping mouths wide open at these 15 minute bursts of opera and 'exploration' we merely sit and appreciate it for three minutes before going 'this is actually ridiculous'. I don't want to be cynical, it's not fair or realistic to judge the films effects by todays standards, but we can judge the ideas, the script and direction. The ideas, provided by a very interesting and descriptive novel, the script which correlates with the bland presentation of this film, and the characters (HAL is genuinely horrifying) are all superb.
I just can't figure out whether or not I like this film. I like certain elements but other bits are truly pathetically long-winded and uninteresting.