2001: A Space Odyssey

Director: Stanley Kubrick

Cast: Keir Dullea, Gary Lockwood

Genre: Sci-fi

Year: 1968

A massive step in the sci-fi genre, '2001: A Space Odyssey' creates an awe-filled universe with some incredible special effects and is a spectacular, absolutely quintessential science fiction film.


There is very little to say about '2001' that hasn't already been said. It is one of the most genre-defining films and one of the most inspiring films ever made. So much of what is used in '2001' has been replicated in countless other films, such as the famous graphic match from the bone to the space ship, which skilfully fast forwards time thousands of years into the future as well as showing the accomplishments of mankind, from discovering how a bone could be a tool and a weapon, to being able to live in space. '2001' is packed with such symbolism as this that it invites the viewer to dissect it to see what it might be trying to convey and there are plenty of interpretations.

Essentially, the main plot follows David Bowman (Dullea) and his partner Frank Poole (Lockwood) on the Discovery One, a ship which holds many other crew in cryo-sleep. They are also accompanied by the A.I. known as HAL 9000. Frankly any other plot points would give away too much about the story- the best way to understand this spectacle is to watch it.

This film is crammed full of memorable shots, iconic music (see the opening shot of the planets aligning for both) and quotable dialogue. This film is another example to confirm the fact that Stanley Kubrick was and is a visionary and brilliant director- to quote him 'If it can be written, or thought, it can be filmed' and it is clearly true in this case being a movie completely ahead of its time with its CGI being some groundbreaking technology, putting to shame some of the CGI from films decades later.

This film is flawless, thanks to Kubrick's meticulous style of directing. He is willing to reshoot a scene as many times as possible until it is perfect and perfection is definitely portrayed here. It is shocking that '2001' only won one Oscar (Best Visual Effects 1969). Regardless, this movie confirms that film can be a work of art.

Verdict: 10/10