2001: A
SPACE ODYSSEY
STARRING:
Keir Dullea, Gary Lockwood, William Sylvester, Daniel Richter,
Douglas Rain, Leonard Rossiter
1968, 139 Minutes, Directed by: Stanley Kubrick
 Critics hated this movie when it first saw theatrical release.
Pauline Kael said it was a
"monumentally unimaginative movie." "A disaster." Andrew Sarris in The Village
Voice called it a "disaster." Stanley Kauffman in The New Republic simply
labeled it "dull."
Audiences however -
particularly hippies high on acid - dug the psychedelic special effects scene at
the end and made it a box office hit. Years later, one would be hard pressed for
a critic who admits to disliking this film. It has made the so-called "canon" of
critics' favorite films.
But
how does this film look today, almost 30 years later, to
audiences weaned on the special effects wizardry of Star Wars and its
ilk? Except for perhaps a midnight showing at some obscure cult
cinema, audiences are also unlikely to see the film as it is
supposed to be seen: on the BIG screen.
No,
it doesn't look as good on video or television as it should. As
far as special effects go, it pales in comparison to Star Wars
and many films made afterwards. Sure, some of the ‘Sixties
fashions look terribly dated. Okay, there are some terribly slow
moving bits that will drive audiences crazy.
Is
it a good movie? Of course! 2001 has survived for the same
reason it made such a splash back in the late 1960s: its
bewildering and willfully obscure screenplay. The story (or lack
thereof - depending on whether you liked the film or not) drove
critics to distraction. What is Kubrick trying to say? What is
the message? Who knows? But this is the kind of movie that will
give audiences plenty to talk about afterwards - something few of
today's formulaic films can manage. For this alone it is worth
seeing.
Entire
books by various academics and film critics have been written
about this movie. Try doing that with most of today's movies. 2001
is pure unadulterated sci-fi and there's nothing like it and
probably never will be again . . . and that includes 2010, the 1984
sequel to it!
Voted
# 1
of the
Top 100 Sci-Fi
Movies
of all time
by:
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