A masterpiece 50 years later

Rating: 10/10 (23 August 2018)

I watched this classic film the other day on blu-ray, and all the things I love are there : the masterfully chosen classical music pieces (especially the Strauss pieces and Khatchaturian's Gayane ballet piece for the establishing shots of the Discovery ship), the intricate model work of the ships and moonbase - featuring those influential cut out shots to show tiny crews and computer screens - and the abstract ending, which has been dividing audiences for decades. I was taken to this film as a child in one of its 70's revival theatre showings (it was one of my parents' favourite films) and I can't really remember what I made of it then, but this film has been there with me at different stages of my life (like the monolith in the film at different stages of evolution) and probably always will be.