Regular Price $19.98

Starring: Keir Dullea,  Gary Lockwood,  William Sylvester,  Daniel Richter,  Leonard Rossiter, 
Directed By: Stanley Kubrick, 
Rated: G (General Audience)
Release Date: 1968-04-06
Studio: Warner Home Video
Format: Anamorphic,  Closed-captioned,  Color,  Dolby,  DVD-Video,  Original recording remastered,  Widescreen,  NTSC, 

Editorial Reviews and DVD Information about 2001 - A Space Odyssey

Product Description
Studio: Warner Home Video Release Date: 05/31/2005 Run time: 148 minutes Rating: R

Amazon.com essential video
When Stanley Kubrick recruited Arthur C. Clarke to collaborate on "the proverbial intelligent science fiction film," it's a safe bet neither the maverick auteur nor the great science fiction writer knew they would virtually redefine the parameters of the cinema experience. A daring experiment in unconventional narrative inspired by Clarke's short story "The Sentinel," 2001 is a visual tone poem (barely 40 minutes of dialogue in a 139-minute film) that charts a phenomenal history of human evolution. From the dawn-of-man discovery of crude but deadly tools in the film's opening sequence to the journey of the spaceship Discovery and metaphysical birth of the "star child" at film's end, Kubrick's vision is meticulous and precise. In keeping with the director's underlying theme of dehumanization by technology, the notorious, seemingly omniscient computer HAL 9000 has more warmth and personality than the human astronauts it supposedly is serving. (The director also leaves the meaning of the black, rectangular alien monoliths open for discussion.) This theme, in part, is what makes 2001 a film like no other, though dated now that its postmillennial space exploration has proven optimistic compared to reality. Still, the film is timelessly provocative in its pioneering exploration of inner- and outer-space consciousness. With spectacular, painstakingly authentic special effects that have stood the test of time, Kubrick's film is nothing less than a cinematic milestone--puzzling, provocative, and perfect. --Jeff Shannon

Amazon.com
When Stanley Kubrick recruited Arthur C. Clarke to collaborate on "the proverbial intelligent science fiction film," it's a safe bet neither the maverick auteur nor the great science fiction writer knew they would virtually redefine the parameters of the cinema experience. A daring experiment in unconventional narrative inspired by Clarke's short story "The Sentinel," 2001 is a visual tone poem (barely 40 minutes of dialogue in a 139-minute film) that charts a phenomenal history of human evolution. From the dawn-of-man discovery of crude but deadly tools in the film's opening sequence to the journey of the spaceship Discovery and metaphysical birth of the "star child" at film's end, Kubrick's vision is meticulous and precise. In keeping with the director's underlying theme of dehumanization by technology, the notorious, seemingly omniscient computer HAL 9000 has more warmth and personality than the human astronauts it supposedly is serving. (The director also leaves the meaning of the black, rectangular alien monoliths open for discussion.) This theme, in part, is what makes 2001 a film like no other, though dated now that its postmillennial space exploration has proven optimistic compared to reality. Still, the film is timelessly provocative in its pioneering exploration of inner- and outer-space consciousness. With spectacular, painstakingly authentic special effects that have stood the test of time, Kubrick's film is nothing less than a cinematic milestone--puzzling, provocative, and perfect. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews for 2001 - A Space Odyssey

Boring
"2001" is the most boring SF film of all time. If it had been edited to a 15 minute film, including the docking of the Earth-to-space ship with the artificial satelite (the best scene) it would still be too long. In addition to which, I always have felt that it expressed a real dislike of humanity. Why this is still considered a "classic" I will never understand. And, the special effects have always been terrible. Also, to call the acting "wooden" is kind.2001 - A Space Odyssey

Fantastic
Always been a fan of the 2001 series and finally having the capability to watch 2001 on blu ray has made all the better. After I picking up the movie I popped it in to check to make sure it worked and everything was perfect, not only did it look crisp and clean but I couldn't even turn it off until I forced myself to say ok you have class get to it. A good buy and worth the time.2001 - A Space Odyssey

A Visual Delight!!!
The sets, lights and almost everything about the movie seemed to have been meticulously (and intelligently) planned and executed to create a modern-day masterpiece! Akin to watching a series of paintings by Dutch and Italian masters.2001 - A Space Odyssey

A Great Film
After years of watching and admiring this film, it dawned upon me that this is a tale of romance between man and the universe.

We're conceived as "early man" in the beginning, are touched with a revelation that puts us on the path towards (some kind) of maturity.

The pivotal event defining that maturity is when humans discover a beacon, the monolith, on the moon. Now begins the final step towards man's evolutionary destiny.

The process of Bowman changing from man to star child is depicted as a metaphorical act of sexual intercourse. (Ever wonder why the Discover 1 is shaped so long with a round head?) Once Discovery 1 has ejected its pod and penetrated the slit-shaped monolith, conception and procreation begins, and finally ends with a planet-sized fetus, the star child.

I wonder if Kubrick (not Clarke, because his script was absent of the visual metaphors that Kubrick used) had knowledge of the medieval quest for the creation of the Philosopher's Stone.2001 - A Space Odyssey

Kubrick's masterpiece
For many years 2001 was the standard by which all science fiction films were compared. Much of that changed after the release of George Lucas' STARS WARS & Steven Spielberg's CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND in 1977. Over two hours and twenty minutes, the film has less than 30 minutes of actual dialogue. Beginng with the an alignment of the Sun, Moon and the Earth you are thrust into the Dawn of Man sequence. Life for our distant ancestors is slowly presented and their salvation from extinction by a never seen alien species whose only visible sign is the black monolith. When the bone is thrown into the air and the satellites appear orbiting the earth, it isn't said but those are actually supposed orbiting nuclear platforms. Originally to have an Alex North score, Kubrick opted instead for classical music. Best remembered for Douglas Rain as the voice of "HAL", it also stars Keir Dullea, Gary Lockwood and William Sylvester. The year 2001 may have come and gone but much of Kubrick's vision is still potent.2001 - A Space Odyssey