2001 : A Space Odyssey - bbc2 now

Scientists detect a mysterious black monolith on the moon is transmitting a signal to Jupiter. A spacecraft is sent on a mission to investigate the origins of the strange object, but as they near their destination, the astronauts realise the computer controlling the ship is turning against them. Stanley Kubrick's sci-fi epic, with Keir Dullea, William Sylvester, Gary Lockwood and Leonard Rossiter

IMDB review :

Bluntly, 2001 is one of the best science-fiction films made to date, if not the very best. Stanley Kubrick was a genius of a film maker and this is one of his very best works. And although it is misunderstood by many, and respectively underrated, it is considered one of the best films of all time and I'll have to agree. Back in 1968, no one had done anything like this before, and no one has since. It was a marvel of a special effects breakthrough back then, and seeing how the effects hold up today, it is no wonder as to why. The film still looks marvelous after almost forty years! Take note CGI people. Through the use of large miniatures and realistic lighting, Kubrick created some of the best special effects ever put on celluloid. This aspect alone almost single-handedly created the chilling void of the space atmosphere which is also attributed to the music and realistic sound effects. I can't think of another film where you can't here anything in space, like it is in reality. Not only is the absence of sound effects in space realistic, it is used cleverly as a tool to establish mood, and it works flawlessly.

Aside from the magnificent display of ingenious special effects, there are other factors that play a part in establishing the feel of the film. The music played, all classical, compliment what the eyes are seeing and make you feel the significance of man's journey through his evolution from ape to space traveler.

The story, while seemingly simple, is profound. Sequentially, several mysterious black monoliths are discovered and basically trigger certain events integral to the film. What are they? Where did they come from? What do they do? These are all questions one asks oneself while watching the story develop and is asked to find his own way. While most come away with a general idea of what took place in the story, each individual will have to decide what it means to them. Any way one decides to answer these question results in profound solutions. It's not left entirely up to interpretation, but in some aspects it is. Experience it for more clarification. The end result is quite chilling, no matter your personal solution.

While it is a long film, and sometimes slows down, it has to be in order to accurately portray the journey of man. It's not a subject that would have faired well in a shorter film, faster paced feature. Those with short attention spans need not apply.

Last but not least, is the epitome of a remorseless antagonist, HAL 9000, the computer. Never has a machine held such a chilling screen presence. Which reminds me, for a film with such profound ambition and execution, there is surprisingly little dialogue. Another sign of Kubrick's genius.

All in all, one of the best films made to date and one of the very best science fiction films made. A personal favorite. Everyone must see this film at least once.

Very highly recommended.

Pan America ceased operations in 1991....they got that wrong (on side of spaceship)

A typically sh1te imdb review. Still, a good film, and worthy of a watch, but it doesn't really answer the question, i.e. did man ever land on the moon?

Was it....I didn't read it.....haven't seen it for 20 years....not sure will watch all the way through tonight

Hilton still around.

For a film that was made almost a mind boggling 50 years ago, the special effects and cinematography in this stand up unbelievably well. When you think about the standard of other films from the 60s, it's a different league.

Only the CGI like realism of Thunderbirds even comes close.

A great film........

yes they need to cross out Pan American and put Virgin on it..

Bored the chit out of me when i first saw it. Still does. I hated The Shining as well. Loved The Killing and Paths of Glory though. Mr Kubrick was a taste of marmite indeedy.

any space fans should check this out from Public Service Broadcastings new album

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIf4ZbyJFmo - listening to this, I was suddenly transported back to 1969, 7 years old, sat on the floor in the assembly hall of my primary school watching the moon landing on the school TV

https://soundcloud.com/psbhq/the-other-side-public-service-broadcasting  - music set to audio of Apollo 8 first manned flight around the moon - the tension when mission control lose radio contact sent a shiver down my spine.

inspired stuff from PSB (again)

Best seen on the big screen with a good sound system.

I agree that the special effects and cinematography were way ahead of their time but other than that I'd have to agree with guiness.
I got bored very quickly and couldn't fathom out the rave reviews it got.

The book confused me even more but the film is worth watching for the docking scene alone. Reminds me of the hours wasted playing Elite on the ZX Spectrum

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqOOZux5sPE

is this on the iplayer????

I just checked and unfortunately not (on Virgin media at least)

I enjoyed watching that again Ovalman, thanks for posting, but the music made it.

a great film - slowly draws you in until you actaully feel like you are there

Did the film come out before the Arhur C Clarke book?

Rumoured to be a CIA inspired piece about space travel which heightened tensions between Russia and America at the time. Kubrick was rumoured to have worked on the fake moon landings, with indirect references pointed out in the Shining and the documentary Room 217.

A Twonky review from the time read, and I quote,

" bag of Shiite and boring as fugg. Only worth watching for the theme music and Leonard Rossiter does his best not to do an impression of Rigsby."

I read the book and I think it made more sense. The film kind of goes a bit mad towards the end.

Though if I ever log onto chit chat and there is a thread "look in the sky right now, below the moon and to the left of venus, there's a ****ing massive baby floating in a bubble" I'll take that back.

Though it's quite possible to live for a period in a vacuum, so the emergency air lock scene is quite possible, what it misses is that you are apparently likely to cr*p yourself when exposed to a vacuum, which makes sense as things will try to 'escape'.
"Dave .. what's that smell Dave .. can you at least light a match please Dave..".

Kubrick was rumoured to have worked on the fake moon landings

As a conspiracy theory this has always appeared very weak to me

There were 6 Moon Landings

To fake all this would have required as much effort as actually landing on the moon, and why?

The ending baffled me a bit, but seemed to suit the film

TheBetterBettor • February 21, 2015 11:51 AM GMT
is this on the iplayer????

Get the blu ray, it's stunning, pin sharp and excellent audio.

I saw it when it came out in some special cinema - cinerama or some such thing. Didn't really get it until I read the book and understood the significance of discovering the monolith on the Moon. Never really rated the film because of the final segment, but thought the book was excellent.

Top film , watching for the umpteenth time ....missus and son  ,who both like sci -fi , think it is far too slow ......heathens.