Go back
2001: A Space Odyssey (review)

2001: A Space Odyssey (review)

General

P
Mystic Meg

tinyurl.com/3sbbwd4

Joined
27 Mar 03
Moves
17242
Clock
01 May 11
Vote Up
Vote Down

Is this one of those movies no one likes but pretends to like so they can seem cultured or a true sci-fi fan of some kind? I don't think there ever was or will ever be a movie more boring than this one. The package should have a warning like you see on some medications, "may cause drowsiness, do not operate heavy machinery!" with the sleepy eye guy right on the sticker.

I watched most of the movie at 1.4 speed and still almost everything took forever to happen. Wow, guys are walking to a ship! Wow, a ship is flying to the moon! Wow people are going to a meeting on the moon! Wow, some dude is going to replace the parts on a dish! Wow, some dude is putting out in a little shuttle to get his dead buddy! Wow, its a GDBF Black Obelisk!

Next you have no idea what is going on, dude is all going hyper warp to land in a white well illuminated room with Victorian style. He's old, older, even older... next he's some kind a GD Space Baby! Next to top it off, that's the end of the movie! What kind of sick joke is this?

If anyone can honestly tell me they enjoy this movie they are a LIAR! No one likes it, they can't. It's impossible. You just have something to prove is my guess. Why pretend to like it, do you think it's going to help you score with the ladies? The only person you're going to score with is that guy who works at the comic book shop and lives in his mother's basement.

I rate this movie F minus minus.

P-

divegeester
watching in dismay

STARMERGEDDON

Joined
16 Feb 08
Moves
120562
Clock
01 May 11
Vote Up
Vote Down

Originally posted by Phlabibit
Is this one of those movies no one likes but pretends to like so they can seem cultured or a true sci-fi fan of some kind? I don't think there ever was or will ever be a movie more boring than this one. The package should have a warning like you see on some medications, "may cause drowsiness, do not operate heavy machinery!" with the sleepy eye guy right ...[text shortened]... ok shop and lives in his mother's basement.

I rate this movie F minus minus.

P-
I think the real question is how bored do you have to be to bother to watch this film at 1.4 speed?

b

Joined
11 Jul 06
Moves
25902
Clock
01 May 11
1 edit
Vote Up
Vote Down

1st, it might help to know that a lot of the explanatory stuff that Arthur C. Clark had in the screenplay was taken out because of the length of the movie and I suppose the costs. you can read some good explanations online (i bet wikipedia probably does a good job explaining it - without even looking to see)

2nd, the movie was groundbreaking at the time. you can't compare the technology of the original king kong or godzilla movies, or even worse ones, with todays technical cinema achievements. that's like comparing a 1920 Model T Ford to a modern car and saying how stupid they were back then to make such a lousy slow and inefficient automobile.

3rd, the movie was quite a revelation when it first came out. that's because it was well done and by cutting out a lot of the explanations left more to the imagination. Today, HAL is an idiot robot. The space station is real. What is far more interesting is how far off the predictions for space travel are. We're 10 years past 2001 and nowhere near leaving earth's gravity for the other planets. what the heck? Jupiter? right.

w
If Theres Hell Below

We're All Gonna Go!

Joined
10 Sep 05
Moves
10228
Clock
01 May 11
Vote Up
Vote Down

the best scifi movie ever made. FACT!

Sahuaro

old pueblo

Joined
03 Apr 11
Moves
17421
Clock
01 May 11
Vote Up
Vote Down

Originally posted by Phlabibit
Is this one of those movies no one likes but pretends to like so they can seem cultured or a true sci-fi fan of some kind? I don't think there ever was or will ever be a movie more boring than this one. The package should have a warning like you see on some medications, "may cause drowsiness, do not operate heavy machinery!" with the sleepy eye guy right ...[text shortened]... ok shop and lives in his mother's basement.

I rate this movie F minus minus.

P-
It's not just that I don't like it; I don't get it, either. I rate it "three Calvin pissing" symbols.

mwmiller
RHP Member No.16

Joined
25 Feb 01
Moves
104472
Clock
01 May 11
Vote Up
Vote Down

I would suggest reading the book first, then watch the movie. It probably helps to explain things at least a little. Especially on this one.

w
If Theres Hell Below

We're All Gonna Go!

Joined
10 Sep 05
Moves
10228
Clock
01 May 11
Vote Up
Vote Down

Originally posted by Phlabibit
...
now you'll also know why bowmann was bowmann. or you WOULD, if you hadn't FAST-FORWARDED the movie!?!!

divegeester
watching in dismay

STARMERGEDDON

Joined
16 Feb 08
Moves
120562
Clock
01 May 11
Vote Up
Vote Down

It lost credibility with me at the point Reggie Perrin appeared.

Suzianne
Misfit Queen

Isle of Misfit Toys

Joined
08 Aug 03
Moves
37388
Clock
02 May 11
Vote Up
Vote Down

Originally posted by wormwood
now you'll also know why bowmann was bowmann. or you WOULD, if you hadn't FAST-FORWARDED the movie!?!!
His name was David Bowman.

Bowmann was someone, or perhaps something, entirely different.

Suzianne
Misfit Queen

Isle of Misfit Toys

Joined
08 Aug 03
Moves
37388
Clock
02 May 11
Vote Up
Vote Down

Originally posted by Phlabibit
If anyone can honestly tell me they enjoy this movie they are a LIAR! No one likes it, they can't. It's impossible. You just have something to prove is my guess. Why pretend to like it, do you think it's going to help you score with the ladies? The only person you're going to score with is that guy who works at the comic book shop and lives in his mother's basement.

I rate this movie F minus minus.

P-
I like this movie a great deal, and the book is better. The first time I saw it, it blew me away. There is nothing like this film even today. It's an iconic example of classic sci-fi.

"Oh my god, it's full of stars!"

Perhaps the problem is that Arthur C. Clarke is a little too good for some of us. Same with Ray Bradbury.

s

England

Joined
15 Nov 03
Moves
33497
Clock
02 May 11
Vote Up
Vote Down

the chimp with the bone is easy to understand. the big block is not, a talking computer that could interact was si fi

AttilaTheHorn
Erro Ergo Sum

In the Green Room

Joined
09 Jul 07
Moves
526248
Clock
02 May 11
Vote Up
Vote Down

I saw the movie when it first came out in about 1968. During the scene early in the movie where HAL-9000 plays chess with one of the astronauts, HAL beats him and then describes where his opponent went wrong, verbally using algebraic notation. HAL screws up the notation and I caught that immediately. To me, this had to be a deliberate act by the producer, so after that, I knew that the computer would screw up the whole space flight, and therefore the rest of the movie was a total bore for me. It still is.

P
Mystic Meg

tinyurl.com/3sbbwd4

Joined
27 Mar 03
Moves
17242
Clock
02 May 11
Vote Up
Vote Down

Originally posted by billyray
1st, it might help to know that a lot of the explanatory stuff that Arthur C. Clark had in the screenplay was taken out because of the length of the movie and I suppose the costs. you can read some good explanations online (i bet wikipedia probably does a good job explaining it - without even looking to see)

2nd, the movie was groundbreaking at the time. ...[text shortened]... nowhere near leaving earth's gravity for the other planets. what the heck? Jupiter? right.
The Jetson's view of the future was even worse. The show takes place In The Future circa 1999.

I can't think of any movie or TV show names off hand right now, but when they show 'The Future' they now make it 2224 or 2190 to avoid this.

P-

n
Ronin

Hereford Boathouse

Joined
08 Oct 09
Moves
29575
Clock
02 May 11
Vote Up
Vote Down

Originally posted by wormwood
the best scifi movie ever made. FACT!
Probably would agree. This is a movie where pretty much every detail is intentional and you need to give it some thought.

On a chess note, it is interesting that Hal was incorrect in calling out forced mate in X moves. Probably it was intentional....

b

Joined
11 Jul 06
Moves
25902
Clock
02 May 11
Vote Up
Vote Down

Kurbrick was a chess player. I think I recall that he was actually a pretty good amateur. An error in the chess theme was almost certainly intentional, unlike the idiotic chess garbage that is shown in almost all films and television.

Cookies help us deliver our Services. By using our Services or clicking I agree, you agree to our use of cookies. Learn More.