The meaning of 2001

Rating: 7/10 (30 April 2016)

Many reviewers have been puzzled over the underlying meaning of the movie. As one who has seen it several times, plus read the book, and is also a science nut (Phd, applied physics), here's my take (some of what follows was in the book): Several billion years ago intelligent life evolved on another planet, reaching and then surpassing human capabilities. Eventually they learned how to store intelligence in the structure of space and were therefore free of a material existence, with their evolution culminating in a cosmic network of essentially infinite intelligence, and taking on stewardship of planetary "incubators of life", the earth being one of many. They assumed this role because, to them, newly-evolved intelligence was more precious than anything else in the universe. The monoliths were their catalysts for key quantum jumps in the ascension of life, beginning with the first primitive life form (not shown in the film), then the jump from primate to human, and later from human to uber-human (an overlord watching over and protecting humanity). They also, of course, had other purposes, as messengers telling of man's spacefaring abilities and as entry points to the stargate. So the film relates to humankind's origins, its final destiny, and its place in the "grand scheme of things".