Review of 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) by Victor T — 07 Aug 2015

In this new millennium the sci-fi genre is a pretty popular genre that has a massive following, but it wasn't always like that. In the 50´s and 60´s sci-fi was just B movies that rarely gave noticeable films ("The Day the Earth Stood Still", "The Invasion of the Body Snatchers" and "Planet of the Apes") but it all changed in 1968 when audiences saw Stanley Kubrick´s polarizing masterpiece and one of the most influential and innovating films of all time: "2001 A Space Odyssey".

Normally I write a small synopsis, but with "2001 A Space Odyssey" I won't as it is a film that is opened to interpretation.

In an age when mankind didn't know a lot about the universe (and we still don't know much about it) and when the Space Race was at its peak, how could you possibly make a serious sci-fi film about mankind exploring the final frontier? "2001 A Space Odyssey" is one of those films that are so near to perfection: The visuals are hypnotic and unforgettable (you can see how influential they were as you can see how many films they have inspired), the story is relatively simple but what makes it beautiful and thought provoking is the ambitious and masterfully executed storytelling, an appropriate use of dialog when it is required, jaw dropping special effects that were revolutionary for their time and they have endure the test of time flawlessly, it has the perfect amount of ambiguity, it has ideas that go from existentialism, nihilism, humanism, mysticism, psychedelia, and spirituality (among others); a humongous sense of wonder by witnessing this possible future for mankind, an insane amount of detail, an appropriate lack of narration (which is something new in Kubrick´s career as there was narration in all his previous films) there are some pieces of "Dr Strangelove" sense of humor, performances that are exactly what the themes needed, iconic characters (both the pair of astronauts and the unforgettably creepy computer), a slow pacing that's all about buildup and tension, the most beautiful and impactful ending I´ve seen, and Kubrick´s directing is at its peak (The jaw dropping cinematography, the precise use of classical music, the production design, long takes, and the execution of themes). It must be said that "2001" is not a film about plot and character development, is about the themes/ideas and the visually hypnotizing and mind-blowing experience (This is a real mind-blowing film, it isn't heavy handed or exposition heavy as some other so called "mindbenders").

"2001 A Space Odyssey" is the ultimate proof that cinema is an art form. This is a film that offers one of the most unique, thought provoking, mesmerizing, and unforgettable experiences that a movie can offer due to its insanely ambitious storytelling. While it is not for everyone, this movie needs to be seen at least once, even if you don't like art films or despise old films. It is Kubrick´s definitive masterpiece, one of the best films of all time, and the greatest science fiction film ever made. It definitely ranks in my top 10 favorite films.