The greatest film ever made. 2001: A Space Odyssey is, as anyone will tell you, open to interpretation. In my opinion, "2001" approaches the theory of evolution. We begin at The Dawn of Man sequence. We see that our ape-man ancestors are driven by curiosity. At this point, man is weak and stupid, but he is also adaptable and energetic. A monolith appears and as the film progresses, we see how the apes learn how to use a primitive bone as a tool, hence the evolution of technology, and the apes eventually evolve into man. As one of the apes throws the bone into the air, a jump cut ensues, bringing us to the film's present time. Another monolith is discovered which descends from Jupiter, and it's on the moon.

At the beginning of the "Jupiter Mission" sequence, astronauts David Bowman and Frank Poole, along with three scientists, who are in hibernation, set off for Jupiter on a spaceship named Discovery One, controlled by HAL 9000, a new, revolutionary computer system. The Discovery One is being sent to Jupiter - namely to find out what the monolith's transmission means, and where it goes. When HAL endangers the crew's lives and begins to malfunction, it's up to Dave to disconnect the computer, in order to save his life, then set forth to the home of the new monolith. We then enter the "Jupiter and Beyond the Infinite" sequence, as he is then sent into another dimension, where we see that his human body is laid to rest and he is reborn as a new member of the next evolutionary species: a starchild.

I'll admit the movie is hard to appreciate, but if you can appreciate it for what it is, it is probably one of the most beautiful composed films in cinematic history. I haven't read the books, but the movie is enough for me, it can convey 101 different messages without a word.

2001 has been my favorite film since I first saw it when I was about 14. It was the first time I watched a film and realized that there could be more to a movie than just the story on the screen. I watch it occasionally, but it is still fresh every time and still has the power to amaze. It continues to blow me away. The effects still bring a smile when I watch it now. My understanding of the film has also continued to grow and develop over the years. As has my understanding of HAL.

I think Kubrick/Clarke has said that if anyone has understood this film, they (Kubrick and Clarke) have failed. You are not supposed to understand the ending, especially not the first time. I think the point of this film is that your are supposed to think about it for a long time. I like to think that Kubrick and Clarke left the ending open for everyone to interpret their own opinion on upcoming events after David Bowman is reborn as the star child.

One of Dre's albums.

All I have to say is HAL is a scarier character than any gay fucking Freddy Kruegar.

The start of the 21st century and the 3rd millenium. Despite people celebrating it in 2000, the new millenium was actually started in 2001.

2001 is a film quite unlike any other to date. It's difficult to put in a box - you could call is sci-fi, but it breaks many sci-fi conventions. It breaks many conventions of any genre - for the first time, Kubrick was a law unto himself.

My take on the whole "mystery" aspect of the film is that it's meant as an *experience*, more than a fictional narrative. This isn't a movie about good vs. evil or the perils of technology (although it contains these elements). This is a film that causes the viewer to experience a feeling of wonder, awe and yearning.

Kubrick made a comment about it being a "religious" movie. In many ways it is.

From the time it was released some people have called it boring or emotionally detached, but I dissagree. Over time the film has acquired a status of "legendary", and has penetrated pop culture in ways no other work has done. In spite of it being a subjective experience, it's had a profound effect on those who have seen it.

Far from being unemotional, I found the closing scene of 2001 to be the most touching expression of human optimism ever put to celuloid.

A very interesting year. The beginning of it was a time to be alive. The 90's were still going full speed, the economy was booming, and the world seemed like it was finally resolved. It truly felt like the "happily ever after" part after a shit show of a century (the 1900's). As the roaring 20's should have taught us, though, good generations come to a very abrupt end. 9/11 happened in September of 2001 and it brought this great generation to an end. The US was just getting over the cold war and then we once again entered a war. The economy has struggled ever since, and it seems kids are becoming more and more dysfunctional. The end of 2001 was depression. It felt like the 90's had been given to us and then taken away in a heartbeat.

The worst year but the best rap album.

The second year of the new millennium and of the 2000s. 2001 was a really good year (Excluding the 9/11 event).

It was the last year of the 90s setting, but not the decade which ended two years before. (In 1999 - of course, however the setting was still there in 2000 and half in 2001). GameCube and Xbox were born, Nickelodeon aired shows like As told by ginger, Rugrats, Hey Arnold, CatDog, etc. meanwhile, social media did not exist back in 2001, so everyone talked to each other with their eyes locked, rather than using their phones to text each other, even though they are literally sitting next to each other. The year where iPhones were flip phones, and the first iPod was born. Great music was up, like It wasn't me from Shaggy or Can't get you out of my head.

When I waz 13, and entered highschool, It sucked, one of the worst years ever ever ever. September 11, Mobile Phones, Newgrounds, Hip Hop, Emienem, Gorillaz, Pot, DVDs, Dragon Ball Z