2001 A Space Odyssey

2001 A Space Odyssey is an all time epic science fiction film. Based on the novel of the same name by Arthur C Clarke and directed by Stanley Kubrick the film is notable for its scientific realism and pioneering special effects. The film stars Keir Dullea, Gary Lockwood, William Sylvester and Douglas Rain.

When it was originally released in cinemas the film split critical opinion, one half ecstatically loving it and the other panning the slow moving, complicated story and the confusing ending. However, over the years the film has since achieved the cult classic status it truly deserves. The film did earn Kubrick an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects plus a string of other awards and so he was justly revered at the time.

Despite being more than 30 years old the special effects still look fantastic today as does the plot and the convincing acting of the cast. One of the greatest things about the film is it use of total silence, many films nowadays have far too much background music which tries to tell the audience how to feel. The absence of sound can be more atmospheric and emotionally stirring at times.

The film is set in the near future and an artificial object is discovered buried on the moon. A spaceship is sent to Jupiter to investigate the destination of a signal the object has sent. On the way the onboard computer suffers an apparent mental breakdown and the men on the ship have to fight to keep on course. At the climax of the film the remaining astronaut encounters another similar object in space and is forever changed.

Cinema release 1968

Certificate U

Available on DVD and Blue Ray