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Director: Stanley Kubrick

Release Date: 6 April 1968

Tagline: Let the awe and mystery of a journey unlike any other begin.

Main Cast:

Keir Dullea … Dr. Dave Bowman

Gary Lockwood … Dr. Frank Poole

William Sylvester … Dr. Heywood R. Floyd

If ever there was a film to divide people, then this is surely it! For some it’s confusing and dull, but for others it’s a beautiful masterpiece that depicts the journey of the human race coming full circle. I’ve seen it about three times now during various phases of my life. As a child I was firmly in the ‘confusing and dull’ camp. In my twenties I had one foot in each camp. But now I’m in my thirties and have come to rest in the ‘masterpiece’ camp.

In a nutshell, it’s a film about the dawn of man and his evolution.

You can take from it what you will. Some believe that the journey is the work of aliens, and for others it’s the work of God. Either way is fine. It’s not about who is responsible.

Visually stunning with an absolutely perfect soundtrack, 2001 is a seminal film that deserves watching until the end (many people get frustrated at their lack of initial comprehension and give up).

I would advise watching it twice. After the first viewing, read up on what others believe the film symbolises and then watch it again. An excellent website can be found at The High Weirdness Project: 2001 and Beyond the Infinite.

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