Rating: 
Summary: Two Distinct Movies
Review: 2001: A Space Odyssey can be divided into two separate movies. There is the first part up until HAL 9000 is deactivated and the second part which follows.The first part of 2001 would get a three star rating from me. I was mildly entertained by the visual aspects of the movie and by the soundtrack, which happens to be one the best ever scored. The second part would receive an abysmal rating of zero stars if I could give it. But, since Amazon only goes as low as one star, then that's what I'll give it. The best scenes of 2001 are at the beginning. While the idea of aliens having been the cause of mankind's development as a species has always been a part of science fiction lore, I find that idea laughable at best. However, this does not ruin the opening scenes of 2001 as Kubrick makes an even greater statement about humanity than the imposing monolith would suggest. Kubrick shows with an economy of pictures exactly what it means to be human: violence. Humans survived and evolved by violently taking what they needed. Whether or not it was some alien race that spurred man's development, the use of tools for physical advantage over rivals and enemies was the key step in mankind's evolution. The final part of 2001 is a complete mess. The 20 to 25 minutes that must be endured after the monolith is sited around Jupiter is just too much. Instead of making his point and moving on, like he did earlier in the movie, Kubrick decides to bash us over the head with this scene. It's as if he's saying, "See, look here. Look at how great of a director I am that I can put these random images together and make people think that I'm actually saying something with this. Suckers!" A better method would have been the one that Kubrick employed in A Clockwork Orange. The random image scene in this movie was done quickly and with real intent behind it. 2001 is definitely not Kubrick's best work. For that I would see the aforementioned A Clockwork Orange, Full Metal Jacket, or Dr. Stangelove.
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Summary: Science Fiction Grows Up
Review: Science fiction movies can be put into three categories: before "2001 A Space Odyssey"; between "2001" and "Star Wars"; post-"Star Wars". Before "2001" most science fiction films were good for more laughs than thinking. "2001" is a masterpiece of imagery, minimal dialogue loaded with meaning, haunting music, and stunning, artistic special effects. Before it, the only films to even come close were "The Day the Earth Stood Still" and "War of the Worlds", and they were still well behind the complexity of this Stanley Kubrick/Arthur C. Clarke collaboration. Even though reality has not kept up with art in this case (our space program is sadly well behind where it should be), this movie is still an entrancing glimpse into the future. Sit back, watch, and be mesmerized.
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Summary: 2001: A Space Odyssey (Limited Edition Box Set): GREEEAAAT!!
Review: Since yesterday I own this box set. It is for sale NOW in the Netherlands (PAL version) and NOT in the USA until june. I buy all my DVD's on line in the States because I am an early adopter. And now for the first time I have a major release earlier than you guys in the States. Well, that's off my chest and now the DVD itself: IT IS GREAT. The anamorphic picture is amazing in comparison with the laserdisc. Also the sound (music) have got a major improvement. I can't tell you how excited I am: see for yourself in June!!
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Summary: An Awe Inspiring Vision of a Future Which Never Happened
Review: It's very difficult to explain to anyone who came of age after 1968 what it was like to see 2001 for the first time in a theater. It was to say the least the most awe inspiring cinema experience I had ever had. And that was not the least because people seeing the film for the first time truly believed that they were seeing a peek of what the actually 2001 really would be. It was but a year before Apollo 11, but the future of a great age of space exploration seemed to stretch on forever. The only exasperation I remember having back then was the thought it would be over thirty years before I might too visit the Moon. Seeing the movie in the actual 2001 is an exercise in sadness. The future of lunar settlements and nuclear powered space craft plowing the heavens is still-well-in the future. And that is a blot upon our civilization.
Rating:
Summary: Supreme Space Adventure
Review: I believe that there is no doubt in anyone's mind that "2001" is a classic for our time, now and forever. Robert Holdstock, consulting editor of "The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction", published in 1978, describes "2001" as "destined to be the ultimate in special effects movies until 1977's 'Star Wars' exposed it for what it really was: a special effects masterpiece in search of a plot." I disagree. To me, "2001" is an excellent example of how one need not have a tremendous amount of dialogue between actors to tell a terrific story. Wonderful use of classical music is made, of course, and even the heavy breathing sounds heard during Dave Bowman's scenes in outer space can be considered musical if one listens to them correctly. A movie like this one only comes along once in a lifetime.
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Summary: # 1
Review: By far my favorite film of all time and the only one which I will give five stars to -- quite literally it goes beyond the infinite. Nearly unparalleled in terms of scope and depth made even better by the fact that you don't know the half of where its going two hours into the movie. The most common criticism of 2001 is that it drags and tends to be a bore and a chore. Get through it. You'll be sucked into an interesting plot about a mission to the moon and jupiter that will seem mundane after the true journey of mankind blows it out of the water. One of the best things about this movie, I think, is its powerful optimism. There are epic films out there that expose weaknesses of humanity, explore the "heart of darkness", and so forth -- its nice to finally see something with a vision so far reaching and at the same time life-affirming. After finishing 2001, I think I can honestly say that this film is the only one that truly, undoubtably "blew me away". As a final note, the original DVD (or two actually) released are shoddy as everyone else says. I'm getting a little irritated first with the new re-mastered releases w/ extras and now this $60 supposed limited edition box set. I'll buy the latter, albeit reluctantly -- do it right the first time.
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Summary: This just goes to show you how stupid people really are.
Review: Another great movie to have. Almost as goos a Bladerunner I you are considering buying this movie it is a definate yes. Don't listen to the numskulls who gave it one star just because they can't regester it with zero. Have a little dicipline people. Many of these people who claim that it sucks are just morons. They can't see a good movie when it is staring them down in the face. Okay it gets a little lengthy in the middle and such but just sit back and listen to the good music. And as for the monkey suits, who doesn't like to watch a guy dance artound dressed as amonkey? (Actually women n monkey suits) It alos makes it much more enjoyable if you have read the book and the sequal books. Good Movie! -END TRANSMITION-
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Summary: 2001 Scores big on the Sci-Fi Charts!
Review: After reading the book by Arthur C. Clarke entitled 2001: a space odyssey, I was soon informed that there had been a movie made based on the book. Since I was fascinated and interested with the ideas and plot of the book, I decided to rent it. Now, three years later, I own the movie, book, and all the sequels. If you don't know what that means to me, I'll explain. Simply put, I found 2001 to be one of the singularly most interesting books ever, whether science fiction or not, and the movie and DVD are just as good. Though the movie version departs a bit from the book (Jupiter is substituted for Saturn, Planet-Io La Grange subbing for Iapetus {Japetus}). It is still very fascinating. Not just that, but most sci-fi movies of the time were concerned with the threat of some little green men with space-ray guns invading Planet Earth, and suddenly we're the ones seen invading (at least in my opinion) another little world. Or, as Jupiter is, another big, very big, world. Certainly Stanley Kubrick understood what Clarke was trying to portray in the book; the sheer length of time it takes to travel from point A to point B in the Solar System, and the intelectual curiosity of Man.
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Summary: Dissapointment from brilliant direcotor
Review: I know it sounds like heresy not to like this movie but it just was not very good. This film gets real boring real fast. Most of the movie there is no dialouge. Just classical music and space ships. this gets boring. hell the first 15 minutes all we see are a bunch of apes running around. i turned this movie off half way through. i could not bear it. some good visuals but overall i just cant deal w/ the fact that there is little dialouge and we just have to watch things float through space. you may say i am not educated but whatever, this movie is boring. only people who saw it in 67 will think it was cool because at the time it was. now its just stupid. Just like "psycho" is no longer scary because now there is stuff 10 times as scary. this movie does not stand the test of time. I love Kubrick though. He is a brilliant director who did such great movies as "Dr> Stangelove" , "the shining" and my personal favorite " A Clockwork Orange" in addition to " Full MEtal JAcket". All those are great movies. but Kubrick actually can do bad movies as proven here. other bad movies he did were "eyes wide shut" and "sparticus". dont see this movie unless you saw it in 67 and loved it. unless you have insomnia and have no way to fall asleep.
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.
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