Rating: 
Summary: It's over hyped
Review: The effects are cool, the space scenes and what little dialogue really help the movie. The music adds to the power of the whole film but, what the hell was the point of the movie? I haven't read the book, and haven't seen the sequel yet so i hope answers may be found there. The point is, everyone say's, KUBRICK LEAVES THE VIEWERS PONDERING THE ANSWERS, i'd like to know, what ARE the question's...beside's: WHAT'S THE POINT OF THE MOVIE. If there is no point, and you are just supposed to wonder at the end what you just saw, then it's a good movie, otherwise, skip it. Star Wars is better, it has action, and dosen't stretch for 15 minutes showing apes jumping around going banana's (pun intended).
It's a fun fantasy that may put you to sleep, see it, appreciate it, then forget it.Stop calling it a classic. It's trash like this that gets overhyped (Like Harry Potter & Tomb Raider), that turns fun little film into something to hurl by.
Like the film, hate the hype.
Rating: 
Summary: Brilliant Masterpiece
Review: Warning: This is a film for intelligent people. If you're looking for action without plot, get something else. This film is a wonderful adaptation of the Arthur C. Clarke novel, which is one of the most pivotal books of our time. The movie is a fantastic look into a very possible future for our kind, as we venture into space and attempt to solve the mysteries of the deep. The special effects are beyond comprehension, absolutely stunning. A definite "feast for the eyes and mind."
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely One of the Best Films of All Time!
Review: You cannot match Stanley Kubrick's style in this masterpiece! His complete genius in filmaking that leaves a lasting impression is apparent in every aspect of this film. His artfulness in using classical music for the soundtrack,and then using great composers such as Strauss, and Ligeti made the movie take precedence over all other sci-fi films of it's time. The cinematography is spectacular, and the sets elaborate! Yet they do not overpower the story being portrayed. The film is mysteriuos from the start, and questions are posed from the get go. And they never stop!
Rating:
Summary: IF YOU DON'T GET IT, THEN WATCH IT AGAIN....
Review: a quick tip. this movies' best storyline and character is the one we never see! THE ALIENS! don't despair, most everybody misses this one, even the people that love this film. so, just to spell it out for everyone [ including all you kubrick fans with your "blah, blah, blah." ]
THE ALIENS put the monolith in front of the "pre-humans," obviously starting a new course of events for the group. curious and frightened, they examine it with extreme caution. is there some transfurence of knowledge, NO, it is simply smooth, which leads to the idea that it's forged, which starts the chain reaction. at the same time, THE ALIENS leave another monolith buried on the moon, to be found when our technology is advanced enough to explore our immediate space. when found the monolith emits a radio signal towards jupiter, which tweaks our natural curiousity to explore and know, spurning the rest of the events of the film. it's easy to say and, indeed a lot of people do, that this film speaks to the dangers and consequences of mans' ever-expanding technology; especially artificial-intellegence. and i must admit HAL was entirely disturbing. but the true story is HUMAN development and the 4 million year old mission of an unseen puppeteer. if you understand that, you understand everything.
this film is quite possibly the finest ever made. many people believe so including some noted reviewers. it is long and extremely vague and pretty much void of dialog which leads to bordem for the casual viewer. but, for those who consider film a medium of art, or, if you're like me and the ordinary just doesn't cut it anymore, this is for you.
Rating:
Summary: I'm not sure what this is supposed to be...
Review: I'm sorry but this movie is boring. If you get your kicks from watching a 5 minute clip of an astronaut change out a component on a communications dish, you will really enjoy this movie. For the other 99.995% of the population, it is flat out boring.
Rating:
Summary: Also Sprach Zarathustra
Review: Stanley Kubrick's "2001- A Space Odyssey" still stands today as a classic above all others. This film brings author Arthur C. Clarke's unique view of the evolution of man. Our movie begins with a brilliant sunrise and Richard Strauss' "Also Sparch Zarathustra." We are then taken to a desert and words that read, "The Dawn of Man." From there, we see apes fighting over land and water. The apes awaken one day to see a black monolith sitting in their sleeping spaces. The apes are fightened as horrific music arouses in the background. The apes battle more, now armed with animal bones as weapons. The next segment is not titled, but takes us to the future. We are now in the year 2001, and see that space technology has swept the solar system. Dr. Heywood R. Floyd (Sylvester) is giving a speech about a new epidemic, and then visits the moon. He was given information that a black monolith was found under the surface, and that it was deliberately buried... When Floyd and other explorers go to inspect it, they are suddenly surrounded by a very high pitched siren. The scene ends and brings us to the Jupiter Mission. We find Dave Bowman (Dullea) and Frank Poole inside their spacecraft with their robot companion, HAL 9000. HAL tells the two men that something outside the ship is going to break down. After inspections, the men find there is nothing wrong with the device, and discuss shutting down HAL. HAL becomes angry, and eliminates Frank. Dave battles with HAL before successfully pulling the plug. A pre-recorded message appears, informing Dave that a black monolith was discovered on the moon, and that its purpose was unknown. The only thing known about this monolith is that it generated a high beam ray towards Jupiter. The third segment, Jupiter and the Infinite Beyond. Dave is cast through time and space, and lands in a strange room, where he finds himself rapidly aging. He lies in bed, old and crippled. Dave lifts his arm and points at something at the end of his bed, the black monolith. Dave is turned into a Star Child, and this brilliant film ends with the superhuman Star Child looking on towards Earth as "Also Sparch Zarathustra" is heard for its final time. This film, not only a masterpiece in every possible way, is a movie that stretches your beliefs, your thoughts, in a way, your mind. Kubrick and Clarke created and gave something to us that mankind can never forget.
Rating:
Summary: It's truly one of the greatest sci-fi movies of all time
Review: Some might have criticized the movie for its slow pace pretty much throughout. But it's not an action oriented movie. Instead the emphasis is on drama. The acting on the whole is excellent. The character development focuses mainly on the 2 crew members of Discovery and their 'interactions' with HAL9000. The movie does make the viewers believe that a computer can be intelligent and it is precisely because of artificial intelligence that the theme of the movie came about. A computer wants to take over the control of a spacecraft and its mission from the humans but the humans would not allow it to. Consequently tension and animosity developed between the humans and the computer.
Considering 'The Space Odyssey' was produced in the late 60's, the special effect is very good without computer technology. But it is the story development that is most praise-worthy. The main point basically comes down to this: whoever is more intelligent has the ruling power, ever since the pre-historic age with primates to the present. It is a must for not just sci-fi movie fans, but for all movie-goers. It is a pinoeer of movies about space explorations and artificial intelligence that no one can afford to miss!
Rating: 
Summary: Just as dull and boring as "The Shining".
Review: But it's a little bit better. That's not saying much though. Just as he did with "The Shining", director Stanley Kubrick tests the audiences' patience here with agonizingly slow pacing, little to no story or character development, and dull visual details. The one interesting thing in this movie is the HAL 9000 computer. He is one of the great screen villians of all time, and the AFI honored him as such recently. His character and the classical music on the soundtrack are just about the only things I like about this movie.
Rating:
Summary: A great movie for art film students
Review: A must see for anyone studying Kubrick's works. Lots of stationary cameras centered in rooms filming long scenes of ordinary people doing idle chit-chat. Lots of full scale spaceships being raised and lowered by cranes in huge sound stages. Great choice of fill music. And an ending that is open to all kinds of interpretation. This version is of better quality than previous WB and MGM DVD versions. This release, however, does not included an interview with Arthur C. Clarke.
Rating:
Summary: So-so overall
Review: This is widely considered a monumental, artsy, thought-provoking masterpiece by an acclaimed director. This film has some cutting edge special effects - for 1968. Sparse on dialogue and long on visuals, with an interesting juxtaposition of classical music and futuristic sets, it has all the makings of a great movie. However, after just seeing it yet again, I really only enjoyed the middle portion, in and around the USS Discovery. The "dawn of man sequence" was OK, and yeah, the cut to the spaceship was like groovy, man, but extended docking and spaceship movements seemed drawn out for their own sake. I liked the stewardess stuff, though. The "Jupiter and Beyond" portion went over my head, I guess. 2 of 5 stars for the parts I liked, and an extra star for the visuals makes it a 3 of 5. "Open the pod bay doors, HAL."
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