Rating: 
Summary: unbelieveable... Kubric meets Clarke= incredible
Review: This movie was hands-down one of the best of all time. The special effects are still good, the music was immortal, the characterizations great... but what will always get me is the way it was not just entertainment, it was art. Who can forget the swirling colors of Jupiter and Beyond? or the plunge into fantasy scapes reminiscent of Salvador Dali and our own dreams? And let's not forget the Toilet scene- every Stanley Kubric movie has a toilet scene, and this one has a kind of tounge in cheek quiet hilarity (set against immortal classical music) that is really, truly wonderful- but not only does it not detract from the movie, it adds a sence of mortality to space travel that creates a whole different level of the movie! if i can rave like this about a toilet, then you have to see it.
Rating:
Summary: Simply Amazing
Review: One of the most compeling movies ever made. 2001 set the groundwork for all other sci-fi movies that have come after it. Kubrick is not simply a movie directer but an artist, one of the greatest artist of our time and this work protrays the genius this man had. The underlining themes in this movie is enough to anaylsis for generations to come and the visuals for the time is simply mind blowing!!!
Rating: 
Summary: A SCREENSAVER FOR YOUR TV
Review: Yep. That about wraps up what this movie is: A super-long screensaver. There's the music, the 15 minute docking scenes, etc. If you ever like to keep your TV on, "just to have it on" then this is the movie to buy. This movie just has apes and spacestations and mad computers. I don't believe that man evolved from apes, but who knows? Only an ape could think an audience would be interested in a 2 hour screensaver!
Rating:
Summary: Understanding 2001 Is More Interesting While Watching It!
Review: It is amazing how many stories and interpretations I have read and heard about 2001: A Space Odyssey. All seem to be off the mark and lacking the background of this epic film. Accordingly, here is my understanding of the film and you are free to disagree or inform me otherwise. I felt the film was about the struggles of the evolution of man. I learned from NASA Physicists that few know that the first five minutes of the film was left off by Kubrick. In those first five minutes, he actually showed discussions from leading Astronomical Physicists. They were deliberating in theory the different levels of civilization and the advancements on each level. Type I Civilization are the Apes and other lower life we see in the movie that are just evolving. Few advanced civilizations would be interested in watching and more importantly waiting to see such evolution since it so far from their own. The same with a Type II Civilization as we are known today as modern man. Although more interesting, again few advanced civilizations would want to wait around watching us evolve. The difference is as Civilizations advance the technology increases the speed of our evolution as we can see from examples of computers and genetics. Thus, Monoliths are placed where they can observe and inform the futuristic civilizations as we progress to an higher type of enlightenment. HAL the computer knows as man evolves each technological advancement means he will become obsolete and closer to extinction or change. HAL knows this is even more true especially when humans are near the birth of a new life form. Hence, he attempts to sabotage such a meteoric change in mans progression by making sure humanity avoids contact with the Monoliths. The Monoliths were put there by the in advance civilizations as listening or recording posts. They can keep tabs on man's growth and change on earth. The Moon is one place that can monitor the entire earth at all times. When human beings come in contact with the Monoliths they in turn send the signal that man has evolved into a higher Type Civilization with the advancement of space exploration and all technological changes that requires. This is reinforced, as the Astronaut tells his wife something wonderful is going to happen soon. He is referring to the birth of the star child which means man as moved to higher Type Civilization. Upon the Monoliths signals the highly evolved civilizations will be making first contact on many levels including galaxy exploration, time travel and dimensional shifting. This is why there are more than one. Therefore, Kubrick film is intended for those seeking a deeper knowledge of exploration and evolution just like in the movie. Those thinking otherwise are depicted as HAL trying to stop humankind elevation. Overall, when you watch 2001 from the aspect of the evolutionary scales of civilizations ratings, it is far more interesting and explains the mysteries few could understand when seeing the movie for the first time. Critics along with lazy pseudo intellectuals did not ever understand the film, much like "Eyes Wide Shut." This is known whenever one can not explain the meaning of the black rectangular alien monoliths. Often they say Kubrick left it open to our imaginations which you now know to be ridiculous. I look forward to anyone giving me an alternative view! Either way, the film is magnificent and you should buy it to watch it 5 or 6 times for additional value and discernment. and understanding.
Rating:
Summary: A memorable and stunning piece of science fiction
Review: 2001: A Space Odyssey Score: 97/100 The...greatest...science...fiction...film...ever...made? Could be. 2001: A Space Odyssey is a film that explores the planets and does it beautifully, and is a grand scale epic that will be forever remembered by moviegoer's and critics alike. It's simply a little mastermind of an adventure sci-fi flick that gets more intriguing with every movement of the characters. The monoliths have been watching us. They gave us the "evolutionary kick in the pants" we needed to survive at the Dawn of Time. In 1999, we discovered a second monolith on the moon. Now, in the year 2001, the SS Discovery and its crew, Captains Dave Bowman (Keir Dullea) and Frank Poole (Gary Lockwood), and their onboard computer, HAL-9000 (voiced by Douglas Rain), must discover what alien force is watching us... 2001: A Space Odyssey is an ultimately confusing film the first time you watch it, but after you see it a couple more times (you will see it more than twice, guaranteed!) you'll start to hook on to the odd but endlessly amazing story-line. The special effects are truly extraordinary for Stanley Kubrick's 1968 film, and Kubrick himself does a brilliant job of trying to show the world his vision of the future in science with his stunningly put-together script, that's always open to frightening and new ideas. There are many more reasons to see this great film, like to watch Keir Dullea's ignored but excellently controlled performance, for Douglas Rain's voice portrayal of HAL-9000's evil, which is bound to send a chill down your spine, and last but definitely not least, Kubrick's unexplainably great effort in directing such a memorable piece of film. Impossible to miss, impossible to forget. See it immediately.
Rating:
Summary: Poor Quality Transfer for 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY on DVD
Review: "2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY" was a great innovative, thought provoking and enigmatic space epic. Stanley Kubrick's visuals uniquely represent his vision for the future on one hand and on the other asks the viewer to expand his or her thinking into multi-dimensional avenues, which will always remain irrational for the conventional thinker. As for this DVD, it is in definite need of some multi-dimensional repair. This is one of the poorest transfers I have ever seen. There are cracks, scratches and frame jumps in the film. The print used for the 25th Anniversary edition of "2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY" on VHS letterbox and Laserdisc was in pristine condition. That print and presentation was excellent. The Dolby Surround was also much better on the 25th Anniversary edition than the Dolby Digital 5.1 on this DVD, which seems contrived.
Rating: 
Summary: Great Film, Bad DVD
Review: Since there is no way to properly sum up the greatness of experiencing this movie, I would like to point out how terrible the DVD version is: The video is grainy, shakes, and the resolution is unacceptable for a DVD. It reminds me of a rental VHS tape that has been played a few too many times. The trailers are presented with more care and respect. This is not at all a tribute to Stanley's work. The audio was digitally remastered which does add something to the experience. We can be thankful for that. Overall, I have to recommend the film because of the vision and philosophy it contains, but the anniversary edition on VHS looks much better. This is a movie that is very much dependent on the visuals to understand what is happening. The DVD version fails in this regard.
Rating: 
Summary: Great film, LOUSY print
Review: Imagine my annoyance to realize that the power of DVD, composite video, and all that, has been employed to capture a rather worn, scratchy, and in some places broken print of the film. Utterly bootleg quality. For example, seconds after the famous bone-to-spacecraft segue, there is an obvious white crack in the celluloid! There are other obvious scratches and video artifacts, the overall picture quality is poor, and the sound is muddy! They couldn't find a better print or clean up the one they had? I've seen VHS copies that are better and my vinyl soundtrack album has more depth! Five stars for the film, zero stars for the reproduction effort.
Rating:
Summary: This movie was shot before I was born - it looks almost NEW!
Review: You have to get this for your DVD collection. The picture quality is amazing for a movie made in the sixties. Also, a great addition to your interest in spotting Kubrick's tricks and techniques with lighting and the camera.
Rating:
Summary: Forget Nytol, This is My Sleep Aid
Review: C'mon people this really is not a good movie. I understand the "groundbreaking" aspects of the film but there isn't even a true plot. Symbolism is present as man grows blah, blah, blah. If Kubrick had wanted to create an art form on the growth of man through the ages then for Godsakes he should have written a five paragraph pamphlet. That would have been more interesting. I'm sorry to those that think this is the greatest movie ever, I'm not trying to insult you, I just think this is a waste of time. Try reading The Discoverers, by Daniel J. Boorstin
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