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Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey is a truly groundbreaking, unforgettable, incredible science fiction experience unlike any other film you are ever likely to see. Kubrick is a true visionary, and the entire film is a visual feast that will be devoured by the eyes of science fiction fans.
Many filmgoers will look upon 2001 as a load of tripe that is boring beyond belief. While these people are entitled to their own opinion, I still regard the film as a masterpiece of the highest order.
2001 is a vastly unique film that is mysterious, thought-provoking and just immensely fine filmmaking. The special effects won an Oscar for a very good reason, as they present viewers with an astounding vision of the future. The state-of-the-art special effects are still fundamentally impossible to fault; the filmmakers use models, matte paintings and extensive sets. For a film of the 1960's, it most certainly does not feel dated one little bit.
As the movie opens, we are shown the dawn of man; a time when monkeys still occupied the planet. Fast-forward many thousands of years and we are looking at space-crafts in the depths of space. The film mainly centres on the crew aboard a space ship controlled by the advanced HAL 9000 computer (voiced by Rain).
The crew are on a voyage to the moon to investigate a mysterious monolith discovered beneath the surface. The plot is expanded over the film's 140-minute running time, and to be honest I felt that Kubrick wasted no time during the film's duration.
While many will think the pacing is painfully slow, I found the film not slow but fascinating. The visual effects showcase some marvellous special effects that even had me in awe. The effects were created in the pre-CGI days, and yet the effects are still even more effective than much of the CGI we see in modern productions. It's blended seamlessly and Kubrick uses brilliant camera work to further solidify its overwhelming impression. It never seems to be in a hurry to get anywhere; and thus takes its time for maximum impact. Some scenes are merely shots played out to minor voices or heavy breathing. And the conclusion of the movie is simply hypnotic imagery with spellbinding music.
The film was much talked about after its initial release, and it is still widely discussed to this very day. The movie is very mysterious, with multiple layers piled on top of each other to present the audience with the opportunity to make their own interpretation. The magnificence of the filmmaking lies in the fact that the film defies explanation. It's a visual marvel and a groundbreaking achievement in motion picture history because of this very fact.
When I was younger I couldn't understand what on Earth was going on because of how enigmatic the film was. But I've grown to understand that this was the very point of the movie. It was never meant to surround the viewing audience with blatant information, but rather the unfathomable nature lets the audience draw their own conclusions.
The end of the movie leaves a baffling, profound impact on the viewing audience; it's overwhelmingly different, it sets a new genre, it sparks thought. In a nutshell, 2001: A Space Odyssey is a sci-fi masterpiece that cannot be missed. It's provocative, brilliant, fascinating, engrossing, stimulating, enthralling, captivating, influential - and any adjective branching off from those words, as the film wears them all with aplomb. This is by far Kubrick's best work, and is still up there with the best films of all time.
9/10
