Get's better with your age!

Rating: 9/10 (20 July 2007)

Wow, I totally didn't get this film the first few times I watched it, being born in 1970 I was a teenager when I 1st saw it and I was bored senseless and similarly when in my 20s. I couldn't understand how anybody could endure such a lengthy and lethargic movie without falling asleep! I guess it's something to do with patience when you're younger, all those distractions and being hard to impress. Whenever I heard this film mentioned I would always go to great lengths to dismiss it and recommend you spend the 2 hours 20 minutes of your life elsewhere. But now in my late 30s I noticed this film at a bargain price online and felt compelled to buy it and give it another chance and I tell you, I was gripped. The effects even by today's standards are amazing, even though the film is nearly 40 years old. I know it's a bit premature regarding how far humanity would advance by 2001 but I believe our selfishness as a race hinders our progression tremendously. Anyway I digress, I was in awe of the over engineered mechanics on just about every device you see in the movie, the quality of the sets were stunning, if not a little clinical (maybe it was thought we'd tidy our acts up by then a little too!). It must have taken days if not months for them to perfect. I could go on for ages, but to summarise I was totally convinced by the film, the thought of extraterrestrial interference to elevate us to the next level of realisation is something we all consider during our lifetime, and being immortal and starting over again is something we hope for. This film captured my imagination, enthralled and excited me right until the end, then with it over I felt numb realising I did this great movie a serious injustice by discrediting it. A couple of days later I had to watch it again and it still amazed me. Never again will a bad word about this film pass my lips. A truly astounding achievement by all involved in creating this masterpiece.